In 2008, about 2 million people, including 280,000 children, lost their lives to autoimmune deficiency syndrome, or AIDS, according to the World Health Organization. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more than 18,000 people in the United States die each year from AIDS. AIDS is caused by human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, a special type of virus that attacks the immune system.
Infection
HIV targets specific cells, known as T cells, which are very important to the body's immune system. T cells are a type of white blood cell vital to the process of adaptive immunity, or the ability to tailor the body's reaction to fight off different pathogens. T cells seek out and destroy invading organisms. HIV destroys T cells, rendering the body unable to launch diverse defensive actions against different viruses and bacteria that may infect the body.
T cells are named for the thymus gland in the neck, where young T cells mature into various types of T cells. When an infection invades the body, T cells are activated.
Changes in the Immune System
HIV is not only capable of destroying T cells, HIV can actually invade the nucleus of T cells and change the genetic code, the set of instructions a cell needs to perform its duties. AIDS changes the T cell's instructions from fighting infection to creating more HIV. This ability to make these changes to a cell's genetic code puts HIV in a special group known as retroviruses. When this cell is activated, it may remain inactive or it may begin to replicate itself, and the spread of the HIV virus within the body begins.
Opportunisitic Infections
AIDS makes the body vulnerable to infection. Certain germs are known as opportunistic infections, which are germs that affect those with weakened immune systems. Opportunistic infections can include bacterial infections like tuberculosis, or viral infections like hepatitis. Fungal infections can cause candidiasis, certain types of meningitis, and pneumonias. Parasitic infections may result in conditions known as cryptosporidiosis and toxoplasmosis.
Treatment Efficacy
AIDS weakens the immune system and makes infections harder to treat, according to MedlinePlus, ao people who suffer from AIDS may experience more complications from common illnesses like the flu. People suffering from AIDS may have to take stronger medications for a longer period of time than people without the disease.
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