| Summary: | Introduction
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that
infects cells of the human immune system and destroys
or impairs their function. Infection with this virus results
in the progressive depletion of the immune system,
leading to immune deficiency. Acquired
immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) describes the
collection of symptoms and infections associated with
acquired deficiency of the immune system. The level of
HIV in the body and the appearance of certain infections
are used as indicators that HIV infection has progressed
to AIDS. HIV infection causes a gradual depletion and
weakening of the immune system. This results in an
increased susceptibility of the body to infections and can
lead to the development of AIDS (UNAIDS, 2005).
The Acquired Immunodeficiency Deficiency Syndrome
(AIDS) appeared in the 80’s and became a Pandemic
illness. Around the world, more than sixteen million
people with AIDS have died since 1983, and sixteen
thousands people become infected by Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) every day (Joint United
Nations Program on HIV/AIDS [UNAIDS], 2002).The
estimated number of diagnosed AIDS cases for 2002 in
the United States is 886,575. Adult’s and adolescent’s
AIDS cases total 877,275, including 718,002 cases in
males and 159,271 cases in females, with women
accounting for an increasing proportion of people living
with HIV and AIDS. In the same period, 9,300 AIDS cases
were estimated in children under age 13.
|
|---|
