AIDS- Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
HIV- Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Microbe:
The microbe that causes AIDS is a virus (HIV). The bacteriophage
is shaped like the illustration in the beginning of this page.
Kingdom: Since the AIDS is a virus, it does not fit into any of
the five kingdom taxanomic system
General overview of AIDS and the Virus that causes it (HIV):
AIDS, caused by the virus HIV. HIV and AIDS weaken the body's own
immune system, thereby making practically harmless diseases into
deathly ailments. Once symptoms occur, the body is less able to
fight off other secondary infections, leading to more serious
infections or diseases that can be fatal in time.
Prevetion, Cure, and/of Treatment of AIDS and HIV:
Abstaining from sexual intercourse and not injecting drugs are
sure bets from contracting the virus. Since this virus is unable
to live outside of the body, there is little or no risk of
associating with people with this disease.
Diagnosis:
Most outward signs of the AIDS disease are noticed within 10
years of the HIV infection, although some people might see them
in more or less time. During this incubation period, one can be
spreading the disease without knowing it. With this in mind, the
AIDS cases that we know of now are only the AIDS cases, and not
the people that have HIV. We will see that number in about 10
years from now.
Related sites on the web:
[CDC
National AIDS Clearinghouse -- AIDS Transmission]
[AIDS
101]
[Questions about
AIDS]
[AIDS
Facts]
[Planned Parenthood]
[The HIV InfoWeb]
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Last Updated: January 13, 1997
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