HIV and AIDS are acronyms. An acronym is a word formed from the first letters of a series of words.
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Human: Disease that affects human
Immunodeficiency: Breakdown in the body’s defense system
Virus: Microscopic organism that feeds off living cells
AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
Acquired: Contracted by the sick person during his or her life
Immune: Affecting the body’s immune system
Deficiency: Weakness
Syndrome: All the signs characterize a disease
How HIV destroys the persons’ immune system
When one gets infected with HIV, the HIV travels in the blood stream attacking the CD4 cells. CD4 cells are an important part of the immune system. The immune system is a group of organs and special cells that protect the body from germs and disease. The CD4 cells in the body act like soldiers to find, attack and destroy infected cells.
When HIV enters the healthy CD4 cell, it uses a chemical to change the cell’s genetic information- the information the cell uses to make new cells. The cell is forced to make HIV, just like it would make new cells such as new skin cells. The production of HIV repeats itself over and over again. The HIV therefore uses the CD4 cells as a virus–making factory to make lots of copies of itself. The CD4 cell is now infected and is destroyed in the process because it no longer makes substances that help the body protect itself from diseases.
The new HIV mature and leave the CD4 cell into the blood stream. The new HIV travels in the blood stream attacking and destroying more CD4 cells. As more CD4 cells die, the body’s immune system grows weaker and weaker.
As more copies of HIV are made, the amount of HIV in the body increases, further weakening the immune system. A weak immune system makes it hard for the body to fight germs and avoid infections.
