Aids Essay Research Paper IntroductionThe fate of

Aids Essay, Research Paper Introduction The fate of a person who has contracted the virus, which causes AIDS, HIV (Human Immuno-deficiency Virus) is undeniably grim. However when diagnosed with aids it should not be taken as an immediate death sentence. AIDS sufferers can fight off most of the symptoms and live a fairly productive life for many years after diagnosis. The following will be entailed in the body of this AIDS analysis; a description as to what AIDS is, and the difference between AIDS and HIV. The cause of AIDS and what can be done to treat it once it is contracted. A complete description as to how the virus works and why it s so hard to find a cure for the virus. Finally all of the components and parts that make the virus function will be included. Virtually all

issues and information regarding the AIDS virus will be touched upon throughout this informative report. AIDS what is it? AIDS more formally known as acquired immune deficiency syndrome, is not itself a single disease. More of a drastically damaged or restricted immune system, which leaves AIDS sufferers highly susceptible to a wide range of infections and diseases other than the AIDS itself. AIDS is known to be caused by the human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV), which is spread in several ways. Infected semen, vaginal fluids, and blood are some of the ways it is transmitted. (The Medical Advisor 1997, p.96) Before going too much further into the specifics of AIDS and HIV it is important to clarify the difference. AIDS vs. HIV what is the difference? When the disease was first

discovered people were only thinking AIDS and what the effects of it would be. But if only AIDS is thought of then an entire stage of the disease is missed. Since AIDS is really only one stage of the HIV virus. Thinking in more correct terms the disease of concern is the HIV infection. AIDS is merely the end stage of the initial infection. A person can become infected with HIV and not have AIDS simply because the AIDS stage has not come into effect yet. Progression of HIV infection, leading to AIDS: HIV is a chronic infection meaning that it will continue over a long time, it is also a progressive disease meaning that it will continually get worse. What it actual does is attack and destroy the immune system and produces a wide range of sick and devastating symptoms. These

symptoms may however vary from patient to patient. The progress of the disease simply put advances in distinct stages. Also the rate of progression is different among patients. (Packer 1998, pgs.41-2) The different stages of HIV infection: The initial exposure to HIV is the first stage to the viral infection. Exposure to HIV as mentioned earlier can be in several ways; through sexual contact in anyway, needle sharing, or blood exposure, or even from mother to infant during child birth. It takes about six weeks after exposure before the victim begins to feel like he/she has the flu. This is known as the early HIV infection stage. Also known as the acute stage. The flu like symptoms may or may not be severe, lasting from 3 to 14 days, in rare cases longer than that. However the

downfall to these symptoms is that often victims are unaware of the illness they actually have or are in denial because the individual will recover and seem completely healthy after the flu stage. Once these symptoms dissipate the next stage is then entered. This stage is a more complex stage of the virus known as the asymptomatic stage. At this point there are no symptoms of illness and the person will feel perfectly normal, and this stage can often last up to 10 years or more. Unfortunately during the early HIV infection and the asymptomatic stage the disease is highly infectious. This is a result of such high levels of virus in the body. After the end of the asymptomatic stage the flu like symptoms will return. This time, however a little more severe. The infected individual