AIDS and HIV :: Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Issues

AIDS and HIVThe HIV virus poses one of the biggest viral threats to human bon ton today. Itis contracted through bodily fluids such as blood and semen, and sometimes evensaliva and tears. AIDS kills 100% of its victims and puts them through agonybefore they die. It has been a threat for about 15 years, and it is not goingto stop now. In fact, AIDS is just getting started It consumes more battalioneach year. There is no known treatment for it either, wholly antibiotics to slowthe reproduction of the virus. HIV is passed from one person to another bybodily fluids only. It is usuall(a)y gotten through sexual communion or otherintimate contact, through the exchanging of unsterilized intravenous needles, orby the contact of HIV-infected bodily fluids and an open wound. It trampnotpermeate though intact skin, then it cannot be spread through informal contact.AIDS has not been found to travel in insects or tame animals. In pregnant women,the virus only infects the infant near or at th e time of birth. The virus diesquickly without a host.AIDS (Acquired ImmunoDifficiency Syndrome) weakens the bodys immune system soit is polished to infection. The AIDS virus primarily attacks the Tlymphocytes, which are a main part of the immune system. The virus is alsoincubated in cells called macrophages, where it is accidentally sent to other, sanguine cells in the body like neurons and lymphatic cells. After HIV iscontracted, the person looks and feels healthy for up to 20 years beforesymptoms start occurring. During this time, the person can give the virus toanother even though it cannot be detected by sight or smell. Usually, symptomsstart developing within 1 to 2 years. Typical indications of the virus arefever, weariness, weight loss, skin rashes, a fungal mouth infection calledthrush, lack of immunity to infection, and enlarged lymph nodes. When AIDSovertakes the body, the body becomes curiously susceptible to tuberculosis,pneumonia, and a rare form of cancer called Kap osis Sarcoma. Once AIDS hasfully taken hold, the body may suffer damage to the nerve and brain. The lifeexpectancy of an AIDS victim after the birth of symptoms is 1 to 5 years. AIDSwas believed to have begun in Central Africa around 1979. Nearly all of thefirst AIDS patients were male homosexuals. However, after 1989 90% of all newcases of AIDS were from heterosexual intercourse. Public awareness rose asfamous people began to die, like Rock Hudson, Perry Ellis, Michael Bennett,Robert Mapplethorpe, and Tony Richardson.