About AIDS/HIV
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that causes AIDS. HIV attacks an important type of blood cell, the CD4 T lymphocyte (also called T cell). T cells are a very vital part of the immune system. As T cells die, the body becomes more vulnerable to other diseases called OIs (opportunistic infections). When people with HIV get OIs, or their T cells get too low, they are then diagnosed with AIDS. A person with AIDS cannot as easily fight off germs and cancers as a non-infected person. It takes many years for HIV to weaken the body’s immune system to the point of AIDS.
Anti-HIV drugs help to slow down the weakening of the immune system. Although HIV medications cannot cure or completely eliminate the HIV virus from the patient’s bloodstream, HIV medications can control the reproduction of the virus and slow the progression of the HIV disease. Even when a person already has been diagnosed with AIDS, the right drug treatments can allow many with the HIV infection to lead healthy, fulfilling lives.
