Meaning of HIV/AIDS
Hi guys, today we are going to be talking about the meaning of HIV/AIDS and in the next few days I am going to post more about HIV/AIDS including the spread of HIV/AIDS, major signs and symptoms, importance of being tested, preventive measures, stigmatization of people living with HIV/AIDS, and a lot more so I would like you guys to follow up. Enjoy!
AIDS means Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is caused by a small germ called Human Immune Deficiency Virus. The Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) that cause AIDS is a small germ that is too small to be seen with an ordinary microscope. It only takes a few of those viruses to enter the human blood for one to become infected and later develop the condition we call AIDS.
AIDS is caused by a virus. Some people in Africa or Nigeria in particular believe that AIDS is caused by witchcraft, or directly from God, bad water or mosquitoes. **Funny right? but seriously certain people still believe that. I even know some one with such belief.**
HIV belongs to a group of viruses called retro viruses. There are several types or varieties of HIV. If a person is infected with any type of HIV and such person is not treated with anti retro viral drugs, it will certainly develop into AIDS, and the person will die within two to fourteen years.
Meaning of the common terms
HIV
Human: This means that the virus is only found in human. It is not found in animals, insects or plants.
Immune Deficiency: This means that the virus reduces the defence power of the immune system. The immune system has the job of protecting the body from all kinds of infections or invaders
Virus: A virus is a germ too small to be seen with a regular light telescope.
AIDS
AIDS is a group of signs and symptoms that develop towards the end of the life of of a person that is infected with HIV.
Acquired: This means a diseases that people get infected with and not that they get infected naturally or from birth. It is not hereditary.The virus is passed from one person to another ; more details will be discussed tomorrow under the Spread of HIV/AIDS.
Immune: HIV affects the immune system. The immune system protects the body fromgerms and other diseases that are harmful to the body system.
Deficiency: This denotes a situation of inadequacy, or the weaknes of a thing to perform as expected. In this case, there is a deficience or a lack of response to all diseases by the immune system.
Syndrome: Syndrome is a medical condition that produces a particular set of problems. In this topic, it refers to signs and symptoms as a result of the presence of AIDS in the human body.
So, if there is anything thing you guys will like to ask, feel free, or anything I missed or there is something you would like me to talk about, be sure to tell in the comment section below, and do not forget to visit tomorrow because we would be talking about how the virus HIV/AIDS is spread. Thank you and have a nice day.
Originally composed and written Esker Victor of eskervictorblog.blogspot.com