The immune system begins to produce antibodies in an attempt to fight the HIV virus as soon as the virus enters the body. HIV/AIDS tests screens for and diagnoses an infection by either detecting the antibodies, or by testing virus levels in the...
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that an estimated 44,000 new cases of human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, are diagnosed each year. The most effective medical approach to prolonging the development of acquired immune...
Misconceptions about HIV and AIDS exist because when the epidemic started, there were many unanswered questions. In addition, there are many stigmas attached to HIV and AIDS. Empower yourself with the truth about HIV and AIDS so that you can...
Human immunodeficiency virus infects and kills white blood cells. The decrease in the number of these cells, called T cells, affects the immune system, leaving the body vulnerable to certain types of infections and cancers. According to the...
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates more than 1.1 million Americans were living with HIV/AIDS as of 2007. Two pathogens cause the illness known as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS): HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is...
Human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, damages the immune system, weakening its ability to fight the viruses and bacteria responsible for various sicknesses and diseases. As the virus progresses, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome develops. Known...
HIV testing remains an integral part of public health efforts to control the spread of HIV/AIDS and provide early treatment for people with the illness. Different types of HIV tests detect HIV antigens or antibodies. An HIV antigen is a component...
About a quarter of Americans living with HIV are women. And although the warning signs of an HIV infection--including fevers, chills and night sweats--are often the same for men and women, there are some symptoms that are unique to women. Any...
Since the advent of the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, in the early 1980s, the development of antivirals for treatment has produced some very effective drugs. Antivirals have given hope to many with this chronic disease and have extended...
According to the United States (U.S.) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), in the U.S. there are 56,300 people infected with "Human Immunodeficiency Virus" (HIV). NIAID approximates that 33 million people worldwide are...
HIV is a disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus. HIV can be contracted through unprotected sex, contaminated blood or blood products, the sharing of contaminated intravenous needles, and through mother-to-child transmission during...
Approximately 40,000 people are diagnosed with HIV yearly in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, though most of these people have been infected with HIV for years prior to a diagnosis. The reason for the...
Retroviruses are a family of viruses characterized by the presence of RNA genetic material and a special enzymatic protein known as reverse transcriptase. The human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, is the most clinically significant human...
The human immunodeficiency virus, HIV, causes a chronic infection associated with progressive deterioration of the immune system. Many people experience a flu-like illness, termed acute retroviral syndrome, after initial HIV infection. Following...
HIV-related neuropathy is a chronic inflammatory polyneuropathy, which describes damage to nerves in the central nervous system or to nerves outside of the central nervous system. The term "polyneuropathy" means that several nerves are involved...
Night sweats are a symptom of many disorders, some quite serious. A comprehensive health history and physical exam by a physician is necessary to obtain an accurate diagnosis. Night sweats may indicate hidden infection in the body, an autoimmune...
When you are diagnosed with HIV, your physical health isn't your only concern. You need to care for your mental health as well. People who are HIV-positive may experience feelings of denial, anger, depression, fear, anxiety or sadness. All of...
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a communicable disease that can have fatal consequences. The virus replicates within the body and gradually harms the immune system, causing victims to develop serious infections. People with human...
The cap and stem of the reishi mushroom are used to make herbal remedies for a variety of ailments, including cancer, HIV and hypertension. According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, reishi mushroom's active compounds include...
Communicable, or infectious, diseases have a high public health priority for services and resource allocation. Surveillance by physicians and public health officials who gather information on communicable diseases is required for treating and...
Of the estimated 1.1 million Americans infected with HIV, approximately 232,000 do not know they have the virus, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). HIV testing remains a keystone activity in the effort to provide health...
