How Does AIDS Affect the Body

When considering ‘how does AIDS affect the body’ you should firstly be aware of how HIV affects you. This is because a person can develop AIDS as a direct result of a HIV infection and AIDS are often considered as a defined possible end result of the HIV infection. People who have developed AIDS will have contracted the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) prior to developing AIDS as long ago as 10-20 years. HIV attaches itself to the body’s CD4 cells which are required as part of a healthy immune system. The HIV virus uses these cells to multiply and in doing so destroys the CD4 cell’s ability to fight the virus or any other possible infections. The longer HIV is present in your system the more damage it will do to your immunity making you susceptible to various “Opportunistic Infections”. Unfortunately, once you have contracted HIV there is no way to get rid of it. There are certain drugs you can take to slow the virus down and minimize the damage potentially extending your lifespan by around 20 years.

AIDS develops when a person’s CD4 count drops below 200 meaning their immune system is virtually non existent. AIDS can also be diagnosed when a person falls ill with one or more opportunistic infections that are otherwise uncommon or rare. ‘How does AIDS affect the body?’ once AIDS has developed this can be answered easily. If AIDS has developed the body will be suffering various medical conditions and even the smallest illness can be fatal. HIV will destroy the immune system allowing AIDS to develop, whereas AIDS is the resulting lack of defense your body has and the rare conditions you therefore suffer.