What is AIDS | Symptoms of AIDS | AIDS virus

What Is AIDS?

What is AIDS? AIDS or Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It can take 10-15 years for an HIV-infected person to develop AIDS; antiretroviral drugs can slow down the process even further.

The AIDS virus, attacks white blood cells, thereby causing the body to lose its capacity to ward off infection. As a result, many AIDS patients die of opportunistic infections that strike their debilitated bodies

Patients with AIDS have had their immune system depleted by HIV and are very susceptible to such opportunistic infections. Common symptoms of AIDS are fevers, sweats (particularly at night), swollen glands, chills, weakness, and weight loss.

Diarrhea thrush or a bad taste in one's mouth and a white coating on the tongue or the gums, these problems occur because the body is no longer able to fight off minor infections and the patient is more vulnerable to microbes.

Rapid weight loss and lip dystrophy are symptoms of AIDS that affect the proper distribution of body fats. One's arms may be bony while there may be buildups of fat on the stomach or behind the neck. This happens because the HIV virus attacks the mitochondria, or the cells which digest fats.

Some of the most serious symptoms of AIDS involve the respiratory system. Symptoms associated with breathing and respiration usually occur later in course of the disease.

Treatment of AIDS

Provided by James Sameul & Peter Sams

Article not intended to diagnosis, treat HIV or AIDS. Always consult your doctor for health care diagnosis and treatment.

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