Hiv/Aids
...cells within the body for nutrients and easier passage, and for energy as it proceeds to infect other human cells. This enables the virus to grow and reproduce. HIV is a member of a group of viruses called retroviruses, which means the HIV virus needs a host cell in order to survive. The cells that act as the “helper” cell are called CD4 cells or T cells, in which they function as an aid in the replication of the HIV virus. As the virus progresses and other opportunistic infections arise, the immune system becomes weaker, and one will be diagnosed with AIDS. AIDS is acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. AIDS is a disease that causes the body's immune system to break down and makes it unable to fight off infection. As a nation, and a community, we don’t stop to realize the affects and brutal significance of the disease. If we don’t understand its wrath or presence in daily life and how affected we all are by it, yourself or someone you love may become infected by HIV or AIDS, making the epidemic not just the worlds problem, but your own.
HIV/AIDS Transmission
HIV/AIDS is transmitted through blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk from an infected person. The primary means of transmission among adults and adolescents is through unprotected sex with an infected person (Landau, Meyers & Pryor, 2006, p. 872). For men transmission is likely to occur, through same sex contact and other high risk behaviors; while for women transmission is most likely to occur through heterosexual contact. Unprotected sexual intercourse whether it be male-male or female-male is the highest cause of HIV transmission. The use of drugs and alcohol can also inhibit ones choices to practice safe sex. For children common modes of infection are vertical or mother-to-child transmission (Landau, Meyers & Pryor, 2006). Women can pass the HIV virus along to there unborn and born child in one of...
View Full Essay
