The HIV virus poses one of the biggest viral threats to human society today. It is
contracted through bodily fluids such as blood and semen, and sometimes even saliva and
tears. AIDS kills 100% of its victims and puts them through agony before they die. It
has been a threat for about 15 years, and it is not going to stop now. In fact, AIDS is
just getting started: It consumes more people each year. There is no known treatment
for it either, only antibiotics to slow the reproduction of the virus.
HIV is passed from one person to another by bodily fluids only. It is usually gotten
through sexual intercourse or other intimate contact, through the exchanging of
unsterilized intravenous needles, or by the contact of HIV-infected bodily fluids and an
open wound. It cannot permeate though intact skin, hence it cannot be spread through
informal contact. AIDS has not been found to travel in insects or tame animals. In
pregnant women, the virus only infects the infant near or at the time of birth. The
virus dies quickly without a host.
AIDS (Acquired ImmunoDifficiency Syndrome) weakens the body's immune system so it is
sensitive to infection. The AIDS virus primarily attacks the T lymphocytes, which are a
main part of the immune system. The virus is also incubated in cells called macrophages,
where it is accidentally sent to other, healthy cells in the body like neurons and
lymphatic cells.
After HIV is contracted, the person looks and feels healthy for up to 20 years before
symptoms start occurring. During this time, the person can give the virus to another
even though it cannot be detected by sight or smell. Usually, symptoms start developing
within 1 to 2 years. Typical indications of the virus are fever, weariness, weight loss,
skin rashes, a fungal mouth infection called thrush, lack of immunity to infection, and
enlarged lymph nodes.
When AIDS overtakes the body, the body becomes especially susceptible to tuberculosis,
pneumonia, and a rare form of cancer called Kaposi's Sarcoma. Once AIDS has fully taken
hold, the body may suffer damage to the nerves and brain. The life expectancy of an AIDS
victim after the birth of symptoms is 1 to 5 years.
AIDS was believed to have begun in Central Africa around 1979. Nearly all of the first
AIDS patients were male homosexuals. However, after 1989 90% of all new cases of AIDS
were from heterosexual intercourse. Public awareness rose as famous people began to die,
like Rock Hudson, Perry Ellis, Michael Bennett, Robert Mapplethorpe, and Tony Richardson.
Basketball star Magic Johnson also reported having AIDS. The approximate number of AIDS
cases in the U.S. alone is 65,000 and growing.
So far, there is no treatment or vaccination for AIDS. With most viruses, the body
produces antibodies that eventually destroy the virus. However, with HIV, natural
antibodies are completely ineffective. Blood tests will not give accurate results of
infection of HIV until between 2 weeks and 3 months after the initial infection. In
1987, the drug AZT (azidothymidine) had proved effective in slowing the growth of the
virus, but it was lethal in large doses and some patients could not handle taking it at
all. There was a new HIV-fighting chemical scientists found called DDI (dideoxyinosine)
that was not as harmful to the patient and could be used in AZT's place for more
sensitive patients. In 1992 DDC (zalcitbine) was found to be useful for delaying the
reproduction of HIV in patients with advanced AIDS, but only in conjunction with AZT.
AIDS is one of an epidemic of super-deadly viruses like Ebola, Hanta Virus, and Dingae in
Puerto Rico. In my opinion, this is nature's way of fighting back from overpopulation.
However, AIDS is a formidable disease and is a force to be reckoned with.
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