AIDS is Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. AIDS is an infectious disease which is caused by human immunodeficiency retrovirus HIV-1, HIV-2. Immune system failure and debilitation are the result of AIDS. Millions of people have already been infected with AIDS and been killed and many more would continue to become infected with HIV.

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus which infects the cells of living organisms and reproduces within those cells. HIV spreads in the course of direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person. Person infected with HIV is said to be 'HIV+' or 'HIV positive'.

Why is HIV dangerous?
Our body has an immune system which is a group of cells and organs to protect our body by fighting against viruses and infections. Various viruses may attack the skin; others may attack lungs, and so on. Immune system fight against these viruses making us free from these viruses but HIV is a dangerous virus which particularly attacks a special type of immune system cell known as a CD4 lymphocyte. Once our body is infected with HIV the immune system can never fully get free from this virus.

How HIV is diagnosed:-

Just by looking at HIV infected person no one can make out that he is affected with AIDS as he may look or feel well for many years.
HIV can only be diagnosed with the aid of Blood test. It takes three months to detect after the virus first entered the body.

How you can be infected with HIV:-

• having sex with an infected person
• Contact with an infected person's blood
• From mother to child being born to infected mother, or drinking the breast milk of an infected woman.
• Use of infected blood products.
• Injecting drugs use of infected needles

Treatment for AIDS

There is a treatment for HIV but there is no cure. Antiviral drugs used for the treatment of person infected by AIDS can improve the life span for more duration than they otherwise would. These antiviral drugs may no doubt sluggish the reproduction and progression of HIV in the body.

The Antiviral drugs which are often referred are:
• antiretrovirals
• anti-HIV drugs
• HIV antiviral drugs