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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]
However, the cause of HAD can be difficult to discern because the central nervous system can be damaged by a number of other causes related to HIV infection: [citation needed] opportunistic infections; AIDS-related lymphoma or metastasis of other AIDS-related cancers; direct effects of HIV in the brain; toxic effects of drug treatments ...
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.
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 ...
Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) is a condition seen in some cases of HIV/AIDS or immunosuppression, in which the immune system begins to recover, but then responds to a previously acquired opportunistic infection with an overwhelming inflammatory response that paradoxically makes the symptoms of infection worse.
Many factors may contribute to depression in adults living with HIV, such as the effects of the virus on the brain, other infections or tumours, antiretroviral drugs and other medical treatment. [74] Rates of major depression are higher in people living with HIV compared to the general population, and this may negatively influence ...
Muscle cramps could also potentially stem from a nerve problem (such as nerve compression), exercising in the heat, a lack of stretching, muscle fatigue, body stress, medication side effects or ...
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.