Understanding HIV and AIDS :: health, virus, medicine

HIV/ AIDSHIV/AIDS is an epizootic that effects both men and women of all ages. It has an impact on many another(prenominal) peoples lives either by themselves be give, knowing someone who is infected, or being a health c be worker. HIV is a virus that attacks the bodys resistant system. It also effects the blood cells (lymphocytes) and cells of the organs (bone marrow, spleen, liver, and lymph glands). It effects the lungs, central noisome system and gastrointestinal system. People begin with having the HIV virus. An HIV infected person is likely to stay fit and well for a massive time. In time, however the infected person develops rare illnesses or cancers because their resistant system is weakened. When this happens, the person now has AIDS. Some people live for several(prenominal) years once they put up AIDS, but it is always fatal.HIV is diagnosed with a blood test known as an HIV antibody test or HIV test. If the test shows that HIV is present, the person is refe rred to as HIV positive. It whitethorn take up to 6 months after contact to show up. The turning of women with HIV and AIDS in the United States is steadily rising. From 1985 to 1996, the proportion of report US AIDS cases occurring among women increased from 7-20% (Women and AIDS). An analysis from the National Cancer ground estimates that between 107,000 and 150,000 women on the U.S. are living with HIV infection (many of whom have not developed AIDS (Women and AIDS)AIDS presents a great baffle for women. It is the third principal cause of death among women ages 25 to 44 and the leading cause of death among African-American women of the same age group. (Women and AIDS) Although AIDS cases are reported in all 50 states, the highest rates in 1996 were in New York, New Jersey, Florida, Maryland and Delaware (Women and AIDS)HIV may not unwrap any initial symptoms. However, as this disease progresses, symptoms begin to appear. Among them are fatigue, undetermined weight lo ss, night sweats, fever, diarrhea, recurrent respiratory and skin infections, swollen lymph glands passim the body, genital changes, enlarged spleen and mouth sores. Vaginal yeast infections, crude and easily treated in most women, are harder to treat in HIV infected women. Bacterial vaginosis and common STDs such as gonorrhea, chlamydia trichomoniasis, and pelvic inflammatory disease are more common and aggressive in HIV-infected women.