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What does the HIV virus actually do?

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What does the HIV virus actually do?

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that attacks the immune system. (The immune system fights infections and diseases in a person’s body.) Over time, HIV weakens a person’s immune system so it has a very hard time fighting diseases. HIV causes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).

What kind of virus is HIV?

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks cells that help the body fight infection, making a person more vulnerable to other infections and diseases.

What causes HIV?

HIV infection is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus. You can get HIV from contact with infected blood, semen, or vaginal fluids. Most people get the virus by having unprotected sex with someone who has HIV. Another common way of getting it is by sharing drug needles with someone who is infected with HIV.

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What is the HIV virus found in?

HIV is found in the body fluids of an infected person. This includes semen, vaginal and anal fluids, blood and breast milk.

How does a person acquire the HIV virus?

having sex,including oral,vaginal,and anal sex

  • sharing needles,including tattoo needles,needles used for body piercing,and needles used for injecting drugs
  • coming into contact with body fluids,such as semen,vaginal fluid,blood,and breast milk

    • How does HIV virus affect the human body?

    AIDS can affect every body system. As HIV slowly invades a specific immune cell, the CD4 T-cell, HIV uses the immune cell’s genetic material to reproduce itself and then kills the CD4 T-cell. The immune system gets weaker as CD4 T-cells die and the amount of HIV in the body increases.

    What cells does the HIV virus infect?

    HIV infects white blood cells in the body’s immune system called T-helper cells (or CD4 cells). The virus attaches itself to the T-helper cell; it then fuses with it, takes control of its DNA, replicates itself and releases more HIV into the blood.

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    What disease causes HIV?

    Infections common to HIV/AIDS. Cryptococcal meningitis. Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes and fluid surrounding your brain and spinal cord (meninges). Cryptococcal meningitis is a common central nervous system infection associated with HIV, caused by a fungus found in soil.