LESSON 3
HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS AND
ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME
3-1.
INTRODUCTION
In March 1985, there were more than 17,000 reported acquired immune
deficiency syndrom (AIDS) cases in the United States. By May 1987, there had been
more than 35,000 reported AIDS cases in the U.S. with more than 20,000 AIDS deaths
recorded. It is estimated that by the end of 1991, AIDS cases will number 270,000 with
AIDS deaths numbering 179,000. Currently, cases of AIDS-related complex (ARC),
those with AIDS-related symptoms but not the active disease, do not have to be
reported to a health authority. Because of this fact, it is estimated that perhaps 10 times
the number of people with AIDS may have AIDS-Related Complex (ARC). AIDS has
become a disease of epidemic proportions. Of the many things you should learn about
this disease are these facts:
a. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is NOT the same as AIDS.
b. People who have tested positive for HIV can, but do not always, develop
AIDS.
3-2.
TERMINOLOGY
The acquired immune deficiency syndrome AIDS is a disease in which the
patient's immune system has been so weakened that a second unrelated disease
produces the symptoms which may result in death. To understand this problem,
become familiar with the definition of these terms.
a. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). HIV is a virus which infects certain
types of white blood cells called the T-helper cells (T4 cells). The T-helper cells
regulate our immune system and protect us from various infectious agents.
b. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). AIDS, a diagnostic
category created by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), is a term used to identify
HIV-infected persons with life-threatening symptoms. CDC also terms such people as
having "CDC-defined AIDS" or "full-blown" AIDS. The most harmful result of HIV
infections is AIDS. AIDS is a disease at least moderately predictive of a defect in the
body's immune system; this disease can occur in a person with no known cause for
MD0580
3-2