Expert: Kristen Brannock, MPH - 3/16/2004

Question
I am doing a paper on aids for an english class.
What really happens in your body when you have aids? What symtoms can you get from aids? What kind of treatments can you take to help cure aids? How can aids infect your body and how can you prevent it?

Answer
First, you need to understand the difference between HIV and AIDS. HIV is a virus that attacks the body's immune system. Eventually, as a result of having low immune resistance to infections, a person will start to develop sicknesses that most healthy individuals do not. If the person also has a T-cell count of below 200, and these illnesses, they are diagnosed as having AIDS.

HIV is the virus that is transmitted; AIDS is not. When someone becomes infected with HIV, the virus starts replicating and attacking the body's natural defense system.

Some people can take medications to slow the replication of the virus and control it so they can keep a healthy immune system for a longer time. There are no cures for HIV-however, scientists are working on vaccines, which can help prevent transmission.

People who contract HIV may show symptoms similar to those of the flu shortly after infection (fatigue, swollen glands, fever, night sweats etc.) These symptoms last only a short time and then most people do not experience other symptoms until they have moved into the stage of having AIDS. At this point, people can display a large range of symptoms-it all depends on what illnesses they have contracted.

HIV is transmitted through unprotected anal, vaginal, and oral sex as well as through injecting drug use (sharing needles.) It can also be passed from mother to child during delivery. The best way to protect one's self is to always have protected sex if not practicing abstinence, and to never share needles with anyone. The use of drugs and alcohol can also put a person at risk because they have impaired judgement and may make decisions to participate in risky activities.

I hope this helps you with your paper. Let me know if you have more questions.