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Infectious Disease

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Infectious Disease HIV/AIDS
Julie Maple
HCA/240
October 7, 2012
Elizabeth Day

Infectious Disease HIV/AIDS
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus was discovered in 1985. HIV is a virus that is transmitted from one person to another by many different ways. For example, HIV can be transmitted by bodily fluids. It could be fluids like blood or semen that transmits the virus, because they came from the infected person into the other person. HIV/AIDS is commonly spread by sexual intercourse. I have also seen people get HIV/AIDS by sharing needles when using them for street drugs.
HIV/AIDS reproduces, and as it reproduces, it tears down the body’s immune system, thus leaving the body susceptible to other illnesses and infections. The only environmental factors that could make a person vulnerable to HIV/AIDS would be the lack of recreational activities in the environment. There are also places in our neighborhoods that allow people to use drugs and engage in sexual activity. In my hometown there was this place at the community park called the rock. It was this huge rock that all the “cool” kids went to so they wouldn’t get caught doing their drugs or having sex.
With HIV/AIDS there are two inflammatory responses. According to Brown (1995), “the production by B cells of antibodies which circulate all around the body in the bloodstream, and eventually bind to the agent. There are mechanics available which are very good at destroying anything which has antibody bound to it. On the other hand, if the agent is one which goes inside one of our cells and remains there most of the time, the best response is the activation of cytotoxic T-cells which eliminate the agent through killing of the cell which contains the agent.
There are many treatments for the HIV virus. Many standard treatments can renew hope for individuals with HIV. However, they cause many side

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