AIDS

Definition

AIDS, or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, is a chronic and potentially life-threatening condition caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). It represents the most advanced stage of HIV infection, where the immune system is severely compromised, leaving the individual susceptible to a wide range of opportunistic infections and cancers.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. AIDS is the most severe stage of HIV infection, characterized by a severely weakened immune system and susceptibility to opportunistic infections and cancers.
2. HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, targets and destroys CD4+ T cells, which are essential for the proper functioning of the immune system.
3. Individuals with AIDS are at a high risk of developing a wide range of opportunistic infections, such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, and certain types of cancer.
4. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) can help manage HIV infection and delay the progression to AIDS, but there is currently no cure for the condition.
5. HIV can be transmitted through unprotected sexual contact, sharing of contaminated needles or syringes, and from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.

Review Questions

• Explain the relationship between HIV and the development of AIDS.
  • HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, attacks and gradually destroys the body's CD4+ T cells, which are crucial for the proper functioning of the immune system. As HIV infection progresses and the number of CD4+ T cells declines, the individual becomes increasingly susceptible to a wide range of opportunistic infections and cancers, leading to the development of the most advanced stage of HIV infection, known as Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
• Describe the role of opportunistic infections in the context of AIDS.
  • Individuals with AIDS have a severely weakened immune system, making them highly vulnerable to a variety of opportunistic infections that take advantage of the body's compromised defenses. These opportunistic infections can include pneumonia, tuberculosis, certain types of cancer, and a host of other diseases that are typically not life-threatening for individuals with a healthy immune system. The presence of these opportunistic infections is a defining characteristic of the AIDS stage of HIV infection and can lead to significant morbidity and mortality if left untreated.
• Analyze the impact of antiretroviral therapy (ART) on the progression of HIV to AIDS.
  • Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has revolutionized the management of HIV infection, significantly delaying the progression from HIV to the AIDS stage. ART works by suppressing the replication of HIV in the body, which helps maintain the number of CD4+ T cells and slows the deterioration of the immune system. While ART cannot cure HIV, it has transformed the condition from a virtual death sentence to a chronic, manageable disease for many individuals. By preventing the development of AIDS, ART has greatly improved the quality of life and life expectancy for those living with HIV, highlighting the importance of early and consistent treatment in the context of this disease.

Related terms

HIV:

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus, the virus that causes AIDS, which attacks and gradually destroys the body's immune system, particularly CD4+ T cells.

Opportunistic Infections: Infections that take advantage of the weakened immune system in individuals with AIDS, such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, and certain types of cancer.

CD4+ T Cells:

A type of white blood cell that plays a crucial role in the immune system, which is targeted and destroyed by HIV, leading to the development of AIDS.