HIV, AIDS and Prevention

About HIV, AIDS and Prevention

“Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that can lead to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). HIV attacks the body through three disease processes: immunodeficiency, autoimmunity, and nervous system dysfunction. By damaging your immune system, HIV interferes with your body’s ability to fight the organisms that cause disease. HIV affects specific cells of the immune system, called CD4 cells, or T cells. Over time, HIV can destroy so many of these cells that the body can’t fight off infections and disease. When this happens, HIV infection leads to AIDS.

Unlike some other viruses, the human body cannot get rid of HIV. There’s no cure for HIV or AIDS, but there are medications that can dramatically slow the progression of the disease in a diagnosed individual.

In addition, there are available pharmaceutical options that can help prevent the HIV virus from establishing a permanent infection for those who have been exposed to the virus, are at high-risk of contracting the virus, or for mothers during pregnancy to prevent the transmission of their virus to their child.”