Let’s Start with the Basics - HIV
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. ‘Human’ meaning it could only be transferred from one person to another - mosquito bites and other contact with animals do not spread HIV. ‘Immunodeficiency’ means that your immune system’s ability to ability to fight infectious diseases is compromised or entirely absent. And ‘virus’ is a small infectious agent which can replicate itself only inside living organisms - so if it is exposed outside of the human body it dies.
What is AIDS? What makes it different from HIV?
AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Having been infected with HIV, without proper care, medication and treatment, the bodies immune system begins to weaken. This makes the person more susceptible to being infected with various infections and diseases. Having opportunistic infections such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, and tumors to name a few would the person be considered to be in the AIDS stage.
Unprotected sexual intercourse and contaminated needles are the leading cause of the spread of HIV. HIV is transmitted through bodily fluids: Blood, Semen, Vaginal Fluids, and Breast Milk. It could not be spread through air, casual contact, sharing utensils, etc. Individuals of any sexual orientation, age, race or gender could contract HIV.Â
Why is it so hard to cure?
Once inside the body, the HIV infects cells which are part of the immune system - in particular Helper T Cells which help defend the body against bacterial and fungal infections. HIV is a retrovirus meaning it could write its genetic code into the genome (genetic material in an organism) of infected cells and using them to make more copies of themselves. Within the first stages of infection, the HIV replicates itself within the Helper T Cells and destroying many of them during this process. During this stage, the person may experience flu like symptoms. After, they may feel better and healthy again but the HIV continues to replicate. When T-cell count drops too low, the person infected is at risk at easily contracting deadly infections that healthy immune systems could normally handle. With the immune system being too low and the person having had contracted infections, this stage is considered as AIDS.
With Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), the person infected with the virus may expect to live a long and healthy life. But the person has to take his/her medication for the rest of their lives. Antiretroviral medication (ARV’s)  that are commonly prescribed prevent the viral genome being copied into a host cell’s DNA. Other drugs prevent the virus from maturing or assembling causing the virus unable to infect new cells in the body. Unfortunately, the virus hides itself within the DNA of Helper T-cells. During the process, many Helper T-cells die after being infected with HIV. At a small percentage instructions for making more HIV lies dormant within the infected T-cell. This would mean that even if we eliminate the virus within the body of an infected person, that T-cell could activate and start spreading the virus again.Â
