Contents

 Description
 Causes
 Symptomps
 Methods of prevention
 Diagnosis
 Treatment
 Description
HIV is the human immuno deficiency virus. It is the virus that can lead to acquired immune deficiency
syndrome, or AIDS.
 H – Human – This particular virus can only infect human beings.
 I – Immunodeficiency – HIV weakens your immune system by destroying important cells that fight
disease and infection. A "deficient" immune system can't protect you.
 V – Virus – A virus can only reproduce itself by taking over a cell in the body of its host.
 Causes
AIDS was first identified in the early 1980s and
now affects millions of people. The cause is a virus
(called the human immunodeficiency virus or HIV)
transmitted in blood and in sexual fluids, and
although the incubation period may be long and
treatment can slow the course of the disease there is
currently no cure or vaccine. In the developed world
the disease first spread among homosexuals,
intravenous drug users, and recipients of infected
blood transfusions, before reaching the wider
population. This tended to overshadow a greater
epidemic in parts of Africa, where transmission is
mainly through heterosexual contact
 Risk factors

•Have unprotected sex. Use a new latex or polyurethane condom every time you have sex.
Anal sex is more risky than is vaginal sex. Your risk of HIV increases if you have multiple
sexual partners.
•Have an STI. Many STIs produce open sores on your genitals. These sores act as doorways
for HIV to enter your body.
•Use IV drugs. People who use IV drugs often share needles and syringes. This exposes them
to droplets of other people's blood.
 Symptoms
 Sweats
 Chills
 Recurring fever
 Chronic diarrhea
 Swollen lymph glands
 Persistent, unexplained fatigue
 Weakness
 Weight loss
 Skin rashes or bumps
 Methods of prevention
Include safe sex,
needle exchange programs,
treating those who are infected, pre-
and post-exposure prophylaxis, and
male circumcision. Disease in a baby
can often be prevented by giving both
the mother and child antiretroviral
medication.There is no cure or vaccine
; however, antiretroviral treatment can
slow the course of the disease and may
lead to a near-normal life
expectancy. Treatment is recommended
as soon as the diagnosis is
made. Without treatment, the average
survival time after infection is 11 years
Diagnosis

Direct tests
ELISA (enzyme-linked-immunosorbent serologic assay)
Recombinant DNA techniques
Viral isolation in culture
PCR
Indirect tests
CD4 counts
Lymphopenia
Lymphnode biopsy
Treatment

The classes drugs include:

• Entry or fusion inhibitors
• Integrase inhibitors
• Protease inhibitors
• Nucleoside or nucleotide
reverse transcriptase inhibitors
(NRTIs)
• Non-nucleoside reverse
transcriptase inhibitors
(NNRTIs)