HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS Vocabulary HIV • Human (only in humans) • Immune (fights infections) deficiency (lack something) • Virus (infection that cannot be cured) AIDS • Acquired (to get or catch) • Immune • Deficiency • Syndrome (characteristic of a certain disease) OI • Opportunistic • Infection HIV/AIDS A Brief History Summer of 1981 • CDC reports the first cases of a rare pneumonia (PCP) occurring in a small group of previously healthy young, gay men in Los Angeles • CDC reports on the occurrence of a rare skin cancer (KS) among previously healthy young, gay men in New York Pneumonia Cancer Naming the disease: The Gay Cancer…GRID… 1981 • Epidemic A new disease that is new in humans, it is growing very quickly • Endemic: Common to a certain population – The 4 H’s • Pandemic:Growing quickly globally. • In 1982, the CDC linked HIV to blood. The 4 H’s 1982 • • • • Homosexuals Hemophiliacs Heroin users Haitians 1987 • CDC states that HIV is not transmitted through casual contact 1991: Magic Johnson announces that he’s HIV+ Transmitting HIV Fluids Openings • • • • • • • • • Breast milk Blood Semen/ Pre cum Vaginal fluids Vagina Penis Anus Mouth Opening in the skin The Immune System • A healthy individual has approximately 1,200 T-cells • A T-cell is like a “soldier cell”. They go out and attack the bacteria or virus. • The immune system then forms anti-bodies to protect you. HIV and the Immune System • When the HIV virus attacks the body. The virus takes over the T-cells and makes them HIV factories. • T-cell count decreases and the HIV viral load increases. • HIV antibodies appear 3 weeks to 6 months after infection. • When the individuals Tcell count drops below 200, an AIDS diagnosis is given. • Once you are given an AIDS diagnosis, it does not change. Regardless of your T-cell count. • The virus is the same…the only thing that has changed is the number of T-cells.