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HIV

AIDS is an acronym for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. This is a disease caused by HIV, or Human Immunodeficiency Virus. This virus attacks the immune system, the body’s line of defense against diseases and infections. When the immune system breaks down, one becomes susceptible to serious, often deadly infections and cancers called opportunistic diseases, so named because they take advantage of the body’s weakened defenses. T-cells are the part of the body’s immune system, they help fight diseases. The average T-cell count for a healthy person is 800-1200 cells per cubic millimeter of blood. The HIV/AIDS virus lowers the T-cell count, as a result of this the body is less able to fight cancers, sicknesses, and even the common cold. When you have HIV/AIDS your T-cell count is continually lowered, when it reaches 200 you are diagnosed with AIDS, when it reaches zero, you die because opportunistic diseases have taken over your body and are destroying what is left of your immune system, as well as the rest of your systems.

Risk factors for acquiring HIV include s

not smoking or using smokeless tobacco

People diagnosed with AIDS also have specific indicator diseases or infections. These indicator diseases are opportunistic diseases that are generally linked with AIDS. Also, many of them are not helped by drugs or other therapy, and they may reappear often. People with AIDS usually die from these diseases, not from HIV. Indicator diseases include pneumocystis carninii pneumonia (PCP), invasive cervical cancer (only in women), and Kaposi’s sarcoma (a rare form of cancer which produces brownish- purple spots of lesions on the skin). Opportunistic diseases include tuberculosis, herpes, and other types of parasitic, bacterial, viral, and fungal infections.

Many missionaries have gone to the continent attempting to help the orphanage workers, as well as United Nations (UN), and Red Cross efforts for relief. Over one billion dollars has been sent to Africa by the UN, but unfortunately that money was not enough to combat the disease successfully. African leaders have asked the UN for 5-10 billion dollars more in relief, but so far this request for humanitarian aid has been denied. United States president George W. Bush has assigned 2.5 billion dollars to fight AIDS, and over $480 million of that money is going to Africa. More world leaders need to commit money to this case if any progress is going to be made.

The HIV antibody test can detect antibodies to HIV within a person’s body. Antibodies are substances produced in the blood to fight disease organisms such as viruses, fungi, protists, and bacteria. The ELISA test is one of the most common HIV tests given. ELISA is short for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Along with the ELISA test the Western Blot test is almost always performed. The Western Blot tests for the HIV antibody and is always performed after the results for the ELISA tests are known. New research has developed a do-it-yourself AIDS test, these can be bought in stores, and are given away for free at AIDS community centers, and public health centers. A possible 20 minute test may be in stores soon, with this test, the person gives urine sample and results are available within 20 minutes. All other tests require a blood sample.

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