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HIV is the cause of the spectrum of disease known as HIV/AIDS. HIV is a retrovirus that primarily infects components of the human immune system such as CD4 + T cells, macrophages and dendritic cells. It directly and indirectly destroys CD4 + T cells. [88] HIV is a member of the genus Lentivirus, [89] part of the family Retroviridae. [90]
Two types of HIV have been characterized: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is the virus that was initially discovered and termed both lymphadenopathy associated virus (LAV) and human T-lymphotropic virus 3 (HTLV-III). HIV-1 is more virulent and more infective than HIV-2, [20] and is the cause of the majority of HIV infections globally. The lower ...
After the virus enters the body there is a period of rapid viral replication, leading to an abundance of virus in the peripheral blood. During primary infection, the level of HIV may reach several million virus particles per milliliter of blood. [2] This response is accompanied by a marked drop in the numbers of circulating CD4 + T cells.
What makes HIV so tricky is that once it finds its way into your body, it takes hold. HIV is a retrovirus, which means it can integrate its genetic material into your cells’ DNA.
In some cases, diarrhea may be a side effect of several drugs used to treat HIV, or it may simply accompany HIV infection, particularly during primary HIV infection. It may also be a side effect of antibiotics used to treat bacterial causes of diarrhea (common for Clostridioides difficile). In the later stages of HIV infection, diarrhea is ...
Contracting HIV can lead to the development of AIDS or stage 3 HIV, which causes serious damage to the immune system. [medical citation needed] While this virus is the underlying cause of AIDS, [3] not all HIV-positive individuals have AIDS, as HIV can remain in a latent state for many years.
Drug-induced liver injury is a common cause of prolonged hospital stays for people with HIV, and in more severe reactions can be life-threatening. Antiretrovirals may also cause damage to cells in a person with HIV, decreasing function of crucial cells and releasing toxins in the body.
HIV is a major cause of cardiomyopathy (problems with the heart muscle that reduce the efficiency with which the heart pumps blood). The most common type of HIV induced cardiomyopathy is dilated cardiomyopathy also known as eccentric ventricular hypertrophy which leads to impaired contraction of the ventricles due to volume overload.