AIDs

• When are people with HIV classed as having AIDs?

  When symptoms of their failing immune system start to appear or their helper T-cell count drops below a certain level
• What do people with AIDs generally develop?

  Diseases that wouldn't cause serious problems in people with a healthy immune system
• What is the length of time between INFECTION with HIV and the DEVELOPMENT of AIDS?

  • Varies between individuals
  • WITHOUT TREATMENT usually 10 years
• 1. What do the initial symptoms of AIDs include?

  Minor infections of mucous membranes (e.g. inside of ears) and recurring respiratory infections
• 2. As aids progresses, what happens?


  • The number of immune system cells decreases further
  • Patients become susceptible to more serious infections including chronic diarrhoea
• Why do the infections become more and more severe?


  as there are fewer and fewer immune system cells to fight them
• 3. During the late stages of AIDs, what happens?


  • Patients have a very low number of immune system cells
  • Patients can develop a range of serious infections eg toxoplasmosis of the brain
  • It is these serious infections that kills AIDs patients
• What type of infection is toxoplasmosis of the brain?


  a parasite infection
• what are some factors that affect the progression of HIV to AIDS and the survival time of AIDS?


  • Existing infections
  • The strain of HIV they are infected with
  • Age
  • Access to healthcar