HIV/AIDS

HIV Pathogen

Virus that attacks immune system, can lead to aids without treatment

HIV transmission

anal or vaginal sex

sharing needles, syringes, or other drug injection equipment

mother/child transmission

Symptoms of HIV

Flu like symptoms 2-4 weeks after exposure (fever, sore throat, fatigue, chills, night sweats)

some have no symptoms - only way to know is to get tested

Prevention for HIV

• Using condoms the right way every time you have sex.

• Never sharing needles, syringes, or other drug injection equipment.

What are the three stages of HIV infection?

Stage 1: Acute HIV Infection

• People have a large amount of HIV in their blood and are very contagious.

• Many people have flu-like symptoms.

• If you have flu-like symptoms and think you may have been exposed to HIV, get tested.

Stage 2: Chronic HIV Infection

• HIV is still active and continues to reproduce in the body.

• People may not have any symptoms or get sick during this phase but can transmit HIV.

• People who take HIV treatment as prescribed may never move into Stage 3 (AIDS).

Stage 3: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

• The most severe stage of HIV infection.

• People receive an AIDS diagnosis when their CD4 cell count drops below 200 cells per milliliter of blood, or they develop certain illnesses (sometimes called opportunistic infections).

• People with AIDS can have a high viral load and may easily transmit HIV to others.

• People with AIDS have damaged immune systems.

How does HIV infect immune cells?

1. Attachment - HIV binds to the helper t cell recepter

2. Entry - Viral envelope fuses with the host cell membrane

3. Reverse transcription - Takes RNA into DNA

4. Integration - Viral DNA integrates into host genome, Cell now produces new HIV particles

How HIV damages the immune system

Direct killing of infected Helper T cells. If it escapes, kills more helper t cells

How damage connects to development of aids?

HIV infects and destroys helper t cells, weakening the immune system over time. When helper t cell levels fall critically low, the body becomes vulnerable to opportunistic infections and cancers, leading to AIDS. People have such a weak immune response at this point.