HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS Vocabulary

HIV• Human (only in

humans)• Immune (fights

infections)

deficiency (lack something)

• Virus (infection that cannot be cured)

AIDS• Acquired (to get or

catch)• Immune• Deficiency• Syndrome

(characteristic of a certain disease)

OI• Opportunistic • Infection

HIV/AIDS

A Brief History

Summer of 1981

• CDC reports the first cases of a rare pneumonia (PCP) occurring in a small group of previously healthy young, gay men in Los Angeles

• CDC reports on the occurrence of a rare skin cancer (KS) among previously healthy young, gay men in New York

Pneumonia

Cancer

Naming the disease:The Gay Cancer…GRID…

1981

• Epidemic A new disease that is new in humans, it is growing very quickly

• Endemic: Common to a certain population– The 4 H’s

• Pandemic:Growing quickly globally.

• In 1982, the CDC linked HIV to blood.

The 4 H’s1982

• Homosexuals• Hemophiliacs• Heroin users• Haitians

1987

• CDC states that HIV is not transmitted through casual contact

1991:

Magic Johnson announces that he’s HIV+

Transmitting HIV

Fluids• Breast milk• Blood• Semen/ Pre cum• Vaginal fluids

Openings • Vagina• Penis• Anus• Mouth• Opening in the skin

The Immune System

• A healthy individual has approximately 1,200 T-cells

• A T-cell is like a “soldier cell”. They go out and attack the bacteria or virus.

• The immune system then forms anti-bodies to protect you.

HIV and the Immune System

• When the HIV virus attacks the body. The virus takes over the T-cells and makes them HIV factories.

• T-cell count decreases and the HIV viral load increases.

• HIV antibodies appear 3 weeks to 6 months after infection.

• When the individuals T-cell count drops below 200, an AIDS diagnosis is given.

• Once you are given an AIDS diagnosis, it does not change. Regardless of your T-cell count.

• The virus is the same…the only thing that has changed is the number of T-cells.