AIDSAIDS

Aquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

1982 – infests homosexual communityBy 1997 6 ½ million related deathsHow educated are you?How would you react if you tested

positive?

HIV - AIDSHIV - AIDS

HIV-Human Immunodeficiency syndrome.

AIDS is the final stage of HIVTransmitted – Semen-Vaginal

Secretions- Blood – Breast Milk – Sharing Needles – Blood Transfusions

Immune SystemImmune System

Lymphocytes made in Bone Marrow (White Blood Cells)

Helps body fight diseaseB-Cells – T-CellsT-cells stimulate B-cells to

produce antibodies

HIV - AIDSHIV - AIDS

HIV enters blood stream and attacks T-cells.

HIV reproduces its genetic material infests the body which makes it hard to fight off any illnesses.

Can you die from HIV?

HIV TESTINGHIV TESTING

2 weeks to 6 month window where disease may not show up on test.

ELISA test screens for presence of HIV antibodies in Blood.

Followed by confirmatory test.Western blot-IFA-RIAAsymptomatic

Related illnessRelated illness

AIDS opportunistic illnessesBacterial infectionsFungal infectionsPneumonia Dementia and nerve damage

Research and TreatmentResearch and Treatment

HIV enters body copies itself at a rate of 1 billion cells per day.

Immune System is weakened by fighting this infection.

Treatment is geared toward fighting virus as soon as it enters body

Research and TreatmentResearch and Treatment

Protease Inhibitors interfere with the ability of HIV to reproduce.

Combined with antiviral medications like AZT 3TC- reduced amount of HIV in individuals.

Research and TreatmentResearch and Treatment

Retrovirus-difficult to combat$ - Expense of Many DrugsLack of $ for researchLack of animal models