what is hiv virus?
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Overview By Mayo Clinic Staff. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a chronic, potentially life-threatening condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). By damaging your immune system, HIV interferes with your body's ability to fight the organisms that cause disease. HIV is a sexually transmitted infection. It can also be spread by contact with infected blood or from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth or breast-feeding. Without medication, it may take years before HIV weakens your immune system to the point that you have AIDS.
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What Are HIV & AIDS? HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. Your immune system is your body's defense system. While many viruses can be controlled by the immune system, HIV targets and infects the same immune system cells that are supposed to protect us from germs and illnesses.
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Virus HIV is one of several viruses transmitted through sexual contact and by exposure to infected blood. The range of host cells that a virus can infect is called its host range. This can be narrow, meaning a virus is capable of infecting few species, or broad, meaning it is capable of infecting many.
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HIV/AIDS At Mayo Clinic, we take the time to listen, to find answers and to provide you the best care. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a chronic, potentially life-threatening condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). By damaging your immune system, HIV interferes with your body's ability to fight the organisms that cause disease. HIV is a sexually transmitted infection.
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- HIV infection means a person has been infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). HIV damages the body's immune system, the system that fights infections. Without the immune system's protection, the body is defenseless against serious and potentially life-threatening diseases.
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- The human immunodeficiency virus is the cause of HIV infection and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). HIV belongs to a family of organisms known as retroviruses. Once someone acquires the virus, it attaches to and enters human cells, especially cells known as CD4 T-cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells. HIV is the virus that causes HIV infection and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). 2  Anal or vaginal sexual intercourse and illicit injectable drug use commonly transmit HIV.
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HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS. Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a spectrum of conditions caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Following initial infection, a person may not notice any symptoms or may experience a brief period of influenza-like illness.
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AIDS: BAD SCIENCE OR HOAX? HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the virus that causes AIDS. HIV attacks the immune system, destroying a type of white blood cell that helps the body fight off infection and disease. Testing is the only sure way to determine if you have HIV.
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- HIV is a virus which is most commonly passed on by sexual contact. HIV attacks cells of the immune system. Untreated, the immune system weakens so that the body cannot defend against various bacteria, viruses and other germs. This is when AIDS (commonly now called late-stage HIV infection) develops.
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- The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is one of the most serious, deadly diseases in human history. HIV causes a condition called acquired immunodeficiency syndrome — better known as AIDS. HIV destroys a type of defense cell in the body called a CD4 helper lymphocyte (pronounced: LIM-foe-site). These lymphocytes are part of the body's immune system, the defense system that fights infections.
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HIV/AIDS Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes HIV infection and AIDS. The virus attacks the immune system. As the immune system weakens, the body is at risk of getting life-threatening infections and cancers. Once a person has the virus, it stays inside the body for life.
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- The human immunodeficiency virus is the cause of HIV infection and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). HIV belongs to a family of organisms known as retroviruses. Once someone acquires the virus, it attaches to and enters human cells, especially cells known as CD4 T-cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells.
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- For other uses, see AIDS (disambiguation). Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a spectrum of conditions caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Following initial infection, a person may not notice any symptoms or may experience a brief period of influenza-like illness.
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What are HIV and AIDS? What is HIV? HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system, which is our body’s natural defence against illness. The virus destroys a type of white blood cell in the immune system called a T-helper cell, and makes copies of itself inside these cells. T-helper cells are also referred to as CD4 cells. As HIV destroys more CD4 cells and makes more copies of itself, it gradually breaks down a person’s immune system. This means someone living with HIV, who is not receiving treatment, will find it harder and harder to fight off infections and diseases.
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HIV The human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes HIV infection and over time acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. AIDS is a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive. Without treatment, average survival time after infection with HIV is estimated to be 9 to 11 years, depending on the HIV subtype. In most cases, HIV is a sexually transmitted infection and occurs by contact with or transfer
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Why is HIV/AIDS a social problem and what has the government done? First I will briefly explain what exactly HIV/AIDS is: The human immunodefiency virus, otherwise known as HIV, is a virus that weakens one’s immune system. The virus attacks CD4 cells, cells that exist to fight infections and disease, and replicates itself rapidly.
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- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) facts. 1  HIV is the virus that causes HIV infection and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). 2  Anal or vaginal sexual intercourse and illicit injectable drug use commonly transmit HIV. 3  Infected mothers may also transmit HIV to their child during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
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HIV Testing Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). HIV destroys the body's immune system and eventually leads to AIDS.
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Prep-U HIV Answer: a) HIV is a retrovirus overtaking living cells to duplicate itself. Explanation: HIV is a retrovirus, a virus that overtakes the biosynthesis of living cells to duplicate itself. HIV invades a normal cell and uses that cell's biomechanisms to reproduce new HIV cells. The terms HIV and AIDS are not synonymous. HIV is the virus responsible for causing AIDS, but the person who is HIV positive does not automatically have AIDS. HIV is not curable, it is only treatable. The nurse is caring for a client undergoing testing for HIV.
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HIV and AIDS A. Human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, is the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). The virus weakens a person's ability to fight infections and cancer. People with HIV are said to have AIDS when they develop certain infections or cancers or when their CD4 (T-cell) count is less than 200. CD4 count is determined by a blood test in a doctor's office. Having HIV does not always mean that you have AIDS.
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- In this article. The HIV viral load is the number of copies of the human immunodeficiency virus in your blood and other parts of your body. The HIV viral load test involves taking a blood sample from a vein in your arm. The amount of HIV in your blood is then measured.
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HIV-Related Conditions: Entire Lesson HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. It is spread mainly through blood and sexual contact. You can have HIV and feel healthy. Over many years, however, the virus can wear down your body's immune system, making it hard for your body to fight off dangerous infections. Having HIV also can increase your risk of getting certain cancers.
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HIV & AIDS HIV/AIDS is a serious infection. HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It’s a virus that breaks down certain cells in your immune system (your body’s defense against diseases that helps you stay healthy).
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HIV HIV is a member of the genus Lentivirus, part of the family Retroviridae. Lentiviruses have many morphologies and biological properties in common. Many species are infected by lentiviruses, which are characteristically responsible for long-duration illnesses with a long incubation period.
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What are HIV and AIDS? FAST FACTS: 1  HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system. If untreated, a person’s immune system will eventually be completely destroyed. 2  AIDS refers to a set of symptoms and illnesses that occur at the very final stage of HIV infection.
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About HIV/AIDS HIV is a virus spread through certain body fluids that attacks the body’s immune system, specifically the CD4 cells, often called T cells. Over time, HIV can destroy so many of these cells that the body can’t fight off infections and disease. These special cells help the immune system fight off infections. Untreated, HIV reduces the number of CD4 cells (T cells) in the body.