Measles and HIV

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Created by
beth riley

Cards (23)

  • Viruses are an example of a pathogen
  • Pathogens are microorganisms that cause infectious diseases.
  • Viruses cannot be killed by antibodies
  • The first symptom of measles is often a fever
  • After around 3 days a patient with measles will develop a red skin rash.
  • The measles virus is spread in droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
  • The virus measles passes into a different person when the droplets in the air and inhaled.
  • In some cases, complications can develop when a person has measles. These can cause damage to the breathing system and the brain.
  • In severe cases, measles can be fatal.
  • Most children are vaccinated against measle when they are very young.
  • The first symptom of HIV is often a flu-like illness.
  • The virus is attacking the cells of the patient's immune system.
  • Over time, the immune system becomes severely damages by HIV.
  • At some point, the patient's immune system becomes so badly damages that it cannot fight off other infections that other people could easily deal with.
  • The damage that HIV does to the immune system is also unable to fight off cancer cells.
  • When the immune system reaches this highly damaged stage, the patient can now contract other infections such as TB. The patient may also develop cancer.
  • At this highly damaged stage, the patient is describes as having late-stage HIV or AIDS. Frequently at this stage, the disease if fatal.
  • Antiretroviral drugs stop the virus, HIV, from multiplying inside the patient so the virus does not damage the patient's immune system anymore.
  • Patients who take antiretroviral drugs do not go on to develop AIDS and they can lead a normal life expectancy.
  • Antiretroviral drugs are not a cure for HIV and AIDS. The patient must take these drugs for the rest of their life.
  • HIV is transmitted through the exchange of fluids between humans.
  • So HIV can be spread by unprotected sex. It can also be spread when drug users share infected needles.
  • Blood containing HIV can pass in the needle from one person to another.