Preview

Hiv/Aids and Homeostasis

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
431 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Hiv/Aids and Homeostasis
AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is caused by HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). HIV is transmitted usually through unprotected sex with someone who is already infected, but it can also be transmitted through infected blood. The immune system is greatly affected by the disease. Once it enters the body, the virus recognizes a protein on helper T-cells, called CD4 (Cluster of Differentiation Antigen No. 4), and it attaches onto that receptor to take over the CD4 cell. The result is a virus that looks and acts as a CD4 T-cell. In the first stage of HIV, the virus infects and kills a number of T-cells. B-cells then form antibodies, and the spread of infection stabilizes, and the symptoms disappear for a few months to several years. Your immune system uses B-cells, T-cells, and Macrophages to fight off pathogens and remember viruses for a stronger and quicker defense next time the virus enters the body, but during this time of stability, the immune system is less able to fight off other viruses. If a virus enters the body, the T-cells sent to fight the other virus may be already infected with HIV, meaning that the cells either die, or divide to make more cells, which will also be infected with the HIV virus. The virus slowly attacks the person immune system, making it unable to defend itself from viruses. A person can die from something as harmless as a cold, because as all the T-cells gradually die, the body can 't recognize foreign substances entering the body. The uninformed host with no symptoms spreads the virus to other uneducated people, uneducated in the sense that they don 't know that the person has the virus, nor do they know how to protect themselves from the virus. Our program will educate all of these people, it will show them that all of them are at risk to it, and a person may have it and not even know it. If we can teach this to them at a young age, they will know how to protect themselves and to stay away from the virus. With this program,


Bibliography: 1) BSCS Biology: A Human Approach. Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, 1997, 2003 2) (Janet Pieterse): How Does AIDS Effect The Immune System? http://ohoh.essortment.com/howdoeaidsef_rhts.htm (2002) 3) (Wikipedia) AIDS http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIDS
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    Unit 9 Assignment 1: Sexually Transmitted Infection
    • 1942 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Unit 9 Assignment 1: Sexually Transmitted Infection

    There is no cure for this disease, but medical advancements have produced treatments and therapies that allow infected individuals to function fairly normally and extend life expectancy. AIDS can be spread through any sexual contact as well as through blood via transfusions or needle sharing and from a mother to fetus or newborn. Initial infection may present flu-like symptoms. These include: diarrhea, fever, headache, sores, muscle soreness, rashes, sore throat, night sweats and swollen glands. However, many diagnosed with HIV/AIDS may present with no symptoms. In addition, it can be as long as 10 years before the virus is detected after infection. Most who become infected with HIV will develop AIDS eventually. Once the virus had progressed that far the immune system is significantly compromised and the individual is susceptible to many other threatening illnesses, particularly opportunistic infections. The long term effects of this syndrome include a plethora of medication and therapy to attempt to protect the body from illness and infection. Also, it is important for the individual to be aware and careful to prevent infecting others (HIV/AIDS…

    • 1942 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Nt1310 Unit 1 Assignment 1
    • 7619 Words
    • 31 Pages

    Nt1310 Unit 1 Assignment 1

    Human Immune-deficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) remains incurable and devastates many communities and nations. Since the first reported case in the United State in 1981, it has spread unremittingly to virtually every country in the world. The number of people living with HIV virus has risen from about 10 million in 1991 to 33 million in 2007. In the same year, there were 2.7 million infections and 2 million HIV related death. Globally, about 45% of new infections occur among young people (The Guardian, 2009).…

    • 7619 Words
    • 31 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Implecations of Hiv and Aids from the Perspective of Hipaa Confidentiality
    • 1732 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Implecations of Hiv and Aids from the Perspective of Hipaa Confidentiality

    Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is what causes AIDS. HIV destroys CD4 helper lymphocyte in the body which is a defense cell. The body’s immune system which helps fight off infections contains the CD4 lymphocytes. As HIV destroys the CD4 lymphocytes in the body, people start to get infections that they normally would not get. Once the HIV has destroyed the immune system the patient has acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).People with AIDS cannot fight off infections. There are several ways that HIV can be transmitted, such as; body fluids, breast milk, shared needles, from an infected person through semen, blood, and from infected mother to her baby during childbirth (Teens Health, 2009).…

    • 1732 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Best Essays

    The Involvement of Canadians in a Particular Global Health Problem or Issue
    • 2063 Words
    • 9 Pages

    The Involvement of Canadians in a Particular Global Health Problem or Issue

    Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that affects the human immune system and leads to a stat makes the patient unable to fight against diseases and so opportunistic diseases such Tuberculosis and others affect the individual (Worthington et al., 2010). HIV/AIDS was first realized in 1981 by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and is believed to have originated from West-Central Africa. HIV/AIDS has been termed as one of the greatest causes of death in the global society (Gibbs, 2010). The virus is spread when body fluids of a victim gets into contact with the body fluids of another person. Due to the nature of the disease, even unsuspecting individuals such as patients undergoing blood transfusion, unborn babies and others can become victims. HIV is primarily spread through sexual intercourse without any form of protection (Ford et al., 2007; Gardezi et al., 2008).…

    • 2063 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Best Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Does Haiti Affect America
    • 1437 Words
    • 6 Pages

    How Does Haiti Affect America

    AIDS is the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome where the immunity is severely damaged and lowers the bodies ability to resistance infection. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. Fluid from an infected person much encounter a mucous membrane, the bloodstream, or a cut or injured area of another person to transmit the virus ((Davis). Early symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and a sore throat within two to four weeks of being infected. There are three phases to the disease. Thee first stage includes the acute infection and many people do not experience any symptoms. The second stage is known as clinical latency and means that the virus is dormant and reproduces much slower rate than in the acute phase. The second stage can last for one decade although it sometimes progresses faster. The third stage is AIDS. Individuals have low T-cell counts and compromised immune system that make them easily susceptible to infections and cancer (Davis). Social and economic consequence of HIV include loss of job and income, decreased family income, increased expenses for seeking care, and greater economic consequence, shown by selling assets. Those with AIDS deal with the social measures of being discriminated against along with their physical, mental, and social wellbeing. The disease can lead to a weakened family support…

    • 1437 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    How Hipaa Violations Affect the Medical Billing Process
    • 1639 Words
    • 7 Pages

    How Hipaa Violations Affect the Medical Billing Process

    AIDS is caused by a retrovirus known as HIV, which infects and kills the T-cells of the body’s immune system. HIV destroys CD4 cells, which is a type of white blood cells that helps the body fight diseases. The more CD4 cells that die, the weaker your immune system will be. As the CD4 cells are destroyed by HIV, the body will begin to develop other infections that would not normally affect it therefore making those who suffer from AIDS unable to fight off infections. In order to become infected with HIV, vaginal secretions, semen, or infected blood must enter your body. A person can’t catch HIV from ordinary contact such as hugging, kissing, or even shaking hands. HIV can also not be transmitted through, water, air, or even a mosquito bite.…

    • 1639 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Hca 220 Final
    • 1879 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Hca 220 Final

    AIDS stands for acquired immune deficiency syndrome. It is related to HIV, but they are not the same at all. A person has AIDS only in the final stages of HIV, after the immune system becomes unable to defend itself against foreign invaders like bacteria, other viruses, and fungi, and allows for the development of certain cancers. As the virus (HIV) grows, it damages or kills most cells, weakening the immune system and leaving the individual vulnerable to various opportunistic infections and other illnesses, ranging from pneumonia to cancer. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines someone as having a clinical diagnosis of AIDS if they have tested positive for HIV. It is very important that you always protect yourself from these types of illnesses. Each day there are Americans who are affected with this virus due to not taking care of themselves or unprotected sex which is the main cause of this disease. One out of 250 people are affected with this disease. Most of the time people who carry it do not even know that they are carrying it. You must always go get checked to be safe and make sure that you are not a carrier of the disease. A person who is HIV-infected carries the virus in certain body fluids, including blood, semen, vaginal secretions, and breast milk. The virus can be transmitted only if such HIV-infected fluids enter the bloodstream of another person. This kind of direct entry can occur (1) through the linings of the vagina, rectum, mouth, and the opening at the tip of the penis; (2) through intravenous injection with a syringe; or (3) through a break…

    • 1879 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Review of Six Modern Plagues
    • 944 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Review of Six Modern Plagues

    Centers for Disease and Prevention alarmed the public in 1981 about the emergence of an agent capable of suppressing the immune response on humans; a new virus. Because the virus attacks the immune system, they named it “acquired immunodeficiency syndrome”.…

    • 944 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    HIV/AIDS And African Americans
    • 401 Words
    • 2 Pages

    HIV/AIDS And African Americans

    “HIV is the virus that causes AIDS” (2010). The virus weakens the body’s defense system, this makes it hard on the body to fight off other health problems and as time goes by the body becomes less able to fight off diseases. In the United States there was one in four new cases, which women account for and two in three are African American women who got HIV from unprotected sex with a man.…

    • 401 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Aids
    • 763 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Aids

    AIDS (Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is a disease caused by a virus called HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). The illness alters the immune system, making people much more vulnerable to infections and diseases. This susceptibility worsens as the disease progresses.…

    • 763 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Hiv and Aids Science Report
    • 1435 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Hiv and Aids Science Report

    How do HIV and AIDS affect my body? HIV and AIDS affects you body because everyone has what is called an immune system. Your immune system has a specific cell that fights off bacteria and viruses. They fight off the bacteria and viruses so you don’t get sick. One of those vital cells that help make the antibodies (the cell that fights off bacteria and viruses) are Helper T cells. Helper T cells promote the activity and function of B cells. Helper T cells can be found in your blood, lymph nodes, and other places in you body. After HIV enters your body, it makes copies of itself using the Helper T cells. At first your body can handle the loss of Helper T cells, but after time more and more copies of HIV are produced. Eventually your body can no longer take it and your immune system weakens, that is when AIDS develops. With a weak immune system you cannot fight off bacteria and viruses. That is when you get sick and can cause death.…

    • 1435 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Aids
    • 4570 Words
    • 19 Pages

    Aids

    Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a lentivirus (slowly-replicating retrovirus) that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive (1).…

    • 4570 Words
    • 19 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    HIV/AIDS research
    • 1030 Words
    • 5 Pages

    HIV/AIDS research

    HIV is a type of virus that cannot make copies of itself(reproduce) on its own. Instead, HIV attacks the cells in your body and uses the cells’ “machinery” to make copies of itself. When HIV attacks and destroys CD4 cells, your body has fewer CD4 cells to protect you from infections. This means you are more likely to get sick.…

    • 1030 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    HIV/AIDS
    • 2061 Words
    • 9 Pages

    HIV/AIDS

    HIV and AIDS are a silent killer virus that many people have today, and even more that do not even know they have it. With the millions of viruses and diseases in the world, HIV and AIDS are the two that struck the world by surprise, becoming one of the most serious and most common diseases not just in the United States, but also around the world. HIV and AIDS is caused by genetics, accidental contamination, and sex; it therefore leads to medical doctors trying to find a cure, and raises awareness to people, but unfortunately, due to the lack of an indefinite cure, people are dying every day from the deadly virus.…

    • 2061 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    What Is HIV
    • 1777 Words
    • 7 Pages

    What Is HIV

    HIV stands for Human immunodeficiency Virus. This virus weakens a person 's ability to fight infections. During HIV infection, the virus attacks and destroys the infection-fighting CD4 cells, a type white blood cell. The loss of CD4 cells makes it difficult to fight infections, and so, one would be most susceptible to any and every illness. A person with the loss of 200 and more CD4 cells is said to have the more advanced stage of the HIV infection, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or AIDS. This is the stage at which all of a person’s ability to fight infections is lost.…

    • 1777 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More

Related Topics