A RNA virus that exists as two major types, HIV‐1 and HIV‐2. The genetic material is in the form of messenger RNA and is classified as a retrovirus. The targets of infection of HIV are primarily the T4 helper (CD4+) lymphocytes.
A retrovirus that can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in humans in which the immune system begins to fail, leading to life-threatening opportunistic infections.
HIV infection is caused by this retrovirus that becomes incorporated into host cell deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and results in debilitating and fatal disorders. Delirium and dementia are common psychiatric sequelae.
The virus which causes AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). In many developing countries this virus is acquired by heterosexual intercourse, and may also be acquired ‘vertically’, either at the time of birth or in breast milk (around 25 to 30% of all vertical transmission by breastfeeding mothers). The level of access to specific treatment is still much lower in poor countries.
The retrovirus that is at least partially responsible for AIDS. At this writing (1993) it is not clear what other disorders besides AIDS may come from HIV infections. AIDS is a syndrome, partially (perhaps totally) produced by HIV. As with EBV, it is quite possible that the virus may cause only moderate immunosuppression in some people, while in others it will progress further to AIDS. The jury (all of them/us) is still out.
The human immunodeficiency virus (a retrovirus), which can lead to AIDS. The immune system makes antibodies in an attempt to combat the virus; the presence of these antibodies in the blood confirms the presence of HIV.
AIDS by attacking the body’s immune system making infected people vulnerable to fatal infections, cancer, and neurological disorders. The target is the T4 subset of T lymphocytes, which regulate the immune system.
The retro virus (RNA virus) that causes AIDS and AIDS- related complex (ARC), HTLV-III.
Virus that attacks the body’s immune system; the virus is thought to cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Retrovirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), resulting in loss of immune function and subsequent opportunistic infections.
The virus responsible for causing acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS); formerly called human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV III).
A virus that attacks the body’s immune system and leads to associated infections and malignant tumors. HIV is the virus that leads to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, which is known as aids. HIV was identified in 1984 as the cause of the widespread epidemic of severe immunosuppression called AIDS. Because HIV destroys the body’s ability to fight off disease, common infections from which healthy people generally recover can prove fatal to people who have contracted the virus.
Human immunodeficiency virus: the virus that is responsible for aids. It is one of the family of human T-cell lymphocyto-trophic viruses, others of which may cause lymphomas in humans.
A retrovirus of the subfamily lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The most common type of HIV is HIV-1, identified in 1984. HIV-2, first discovered in West Africa in 1986, causes a loss of immune function and the subsequent development of opportunistic infections identical to those associated with HIV-1 infections. The two types developed from separate strains of simian immunodeficiency virus. In the U.S., the number of individuals infected with HIV-2 is very small, but blood donations are screened for both types of HIV.
Human immunodeficiency virus attacks white blood cells (T-cells), weakening the immune system. It has an incubation period of up to 12 years during which a person feels fine and may have no symptoms. When enough of the immune system is destroyed, symptoms may include chronic fatigue swollen lymph glands, weight loss, fevers or night sweats, poor appetite, and diarrhea.
The virus that primarily infects cells of the immune system and that causes AIDS.
A virus that infects cells such as the CD4 helper T lymphocytes that can start a process that eventually leads to acquired immunodeficiency disease syndrome (AIDS).
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is an acronym referring to the viral pathogen responsible for the development of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It is a type of retrovirus that infects and gradually breaks down the cells of the immune system, potentially leading to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). There are two related viruses: HIV-1, which is the predominant cause of AIDS globally, and HIV-2, mainly found in West Africa.
HIV is spread through body fluids like blood, semen, and vaginal secretions. The virus commonly enters the body during sexual activities such as vaginal, anal, or oral sex, especially when these fluids contact broken skin. Other routes of transmission include unsterilized needles, commonly among those who use intravenous drugs and share needles or syringes, and contaminated blood transfusions in certain parts of the world. Additionally, an infected pregnant woman can pass the virus to her fetus through the placenta. However, HIV is not transmitted through casual physical contact like handshaking or hugging.
HIV targets cells that carry a specific structure known as the CD4 receptor on their surface. These include immune system cells, namely CD4 lymphocytes, which combat cancerous and infected cells, as well as specific cells in other tissues like the brain. The virus replicates within these cells, leading to their death and subsequently releasing more viral particles into the bloodstream. If the virus remains untreated, the count of CD4 lymphocytes diminishes, undermining the body’s ability to fend off infections and certain kinds of cancer.
HIV is highly adept at evading the body’s efforts to eliminate it. Each time HIV reproduces, it alters its antigen structure, making it exceptionally challenging for the body to launch an effective immune response against it.
At the beginning, individuals infected with HIV may exhibit no symptoms. However, between six to eight weeks post-exposure, some might experience symptoms similar to glandular fever, such as fever, tiredness, sore throat, muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes. These symptoms typically subside after several weeks. Following this, some individuals may experience persistent swelling of the lymph nodes and occasionally the spleen, as well as signs of AIDS-related complex, like weight loss and fever.
Less severe indications of HIV infection can include skin conditions like seborrhoeic dermatitis. More serious symptoms encompass persistent herpes simplex infections, oral thrush, shingles, tuberculosis, and shigellosis, a bacterial infection of the intestine. HIV can also impact the brain, leading to a range of neurological disorders, including dementia.
Without treatment, HIV infection can progress to full-blown AIDS. This stage is marked by a significantly compromised immune system, leading to serious infections from organisms that are typically harmless, as well as the development of certain types of cancer.
HIV is identified by performing an HIV test, which is a blood examination that spots the existence of antibodies (proteins produced by the immune system) against HIV in the bloodstream.
Individuals diagnosed with HIV should undergo consistent monitoring to ascertain the appropriate time to start particular treatments, like antiretroviral medications. The predominant types of antiretrovirals used include protease inhibitors, like indinavir and lopinavir, along with reverse transcriptase inhibitors, such as zidovudine. These medications can decelerate the disease’s progression and potentially avert the emergence of full-blown AIDS.
In more affluent countries, an HIV infection doesn’t necessarily equate to a death sentence. Nonetheless, it’s still a serious health threat. The most effective measure to counteract it remains prevention of the infection itself.
The likelihood of HIV infection can be significantly reduced by adopting safer sexual practices. Individuals who use intravenous drugs should avoid needle sharing. Additionally, those in potential risk situations, like healthcare professionals who could be exposed to infected bodily fluids or needles, should strictly adhere to recommended safety protocols.