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HIV is a virus that infects humans and causes AIDS, which is the final stage of the infection. HIV is a retrovirus, which means that its genetic material is RNA instead of DNA. HIV attacks the immune system, specifically a type of cell known as T-cells. T-cells help the immune system fight infections and cancers. HIV is spread through the bodily fluids of infected people, most commonly through sexual encounters and sharing needles. There is no known cure for HIV, but there are treatments available that can help a person live for a long time.
HIV is the virus that infects humans, and AIDS is the final stage of the infection caused by it. It is a deadly disease, which can have fatal consequences. There are 3 stages of HIV infection: acute, clinical latency and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
One of the deadliest diseases in human history is HIV/AIDS. It has claimed millions of lives since it was first discovered in the 1980s, and is also a major contributor to social isolation. However, contrary to popular opinion, HIV doesn’t actually kill you. Surprised? It’s true. Before getting into details, let’s understand what makes this virus so special.
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Virus Vs Retrovirus
Viruses lie on the border of the living and nonliving. By themselves, they are said to be nonliving until they can infect a suitable host. Viruses are usually just DNA or RNA strands protected by a protein coat.
Human cells store their information in the form of DNA. This acts as a template to create RNA, which further acts as a template to create proteins. Thus, information is passed on from DNA to RNA to proteins.
Retroviruses have RNA as their genetic material. Once they infect our cells, they convert their RNA to DNA and then integrate themselves with our own DNA. Our cells then act under the assumption that the viral DNA is part of itself, and sets out making multiple copies of it. In this way, our own cells end up producing the parts of the virus that are assembled to form viral particles. These then leave the cell and are capable of infecting other cells.
In contrast to this, normal viral particles take over our cells, rather than become a part of them. They are, therefore, detected quickly and eradicated from our body.
Another factor that makes them resilient is that their ability to convert their RNA to DNA makes them more susceptible to mutations. Hence, they are harder to cure, as they can evolve faster.
Also Read: Where Did Viruses Come From?
HIV – Human Immunodeficiency Virus
HIV comes under the category of retrovirus. This virus attacks our immune system, specifically a type of cell known as T-cells, among others. T-cells, apart from fighting off infections, are also responsible for preventing our immune system from attacking its own cells.
Once it infects our immune system cells, it starts multiplying and destroying our cells in the process. This weakens our immune system, leading to infections and cancers from which we wouldn’t normally suffer.
The virus is spread through the bodily fluids of infected people. The most common causes are sexual encounters and sharing needles. Blood transfusions and organ transplants, although rare, can also cause infection. They are rare, due to the screening tests performed before the procedures are carried out. A mother can also pass on the infection to her child, as the virus is capable of crossing the placental barrier.
Also Read: How Does Our Body Fight Viruses?
HIV Infection
Once inside our body, the virus starts spreading and killing our cells. The infection occurs in 3 stages.
- Acute HIV Infection: This is the first stage of infection. People report influenza-like symptoms, such as fever, rashes, swollen lymph nodes, headaches, etc. This is the initial infection stage where the virus particles are multiplying at a phenomenal rate. The body then starts attempting to bring the virus under control, so the number of virus particles will drop, and T-cells will increase. It is at this stage that a person has the highest chances of transmitting the infection, as the number of virus particles is very high.
- Clinical Latency Stage: This is the second stage of the infection, in which the viral particles are multiplying inside the body without exhibiting any symptoms. This can also be called the chronic stage. This stage can last for an average of 10 years. Although symptom-free, the person can still spread the infection to others. This stage eventually leads to AIDS.
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS): This is the final stage of the infection. In this stage, the number of viral particles has been built up to a great extent, and the immune system is beat. A person can live on an average of up to 3 years with AIDS. However, every case of an HIV infection may not necessarily lead to AIDS.
Now comes the interesting part – the reason that HIV doesn’t kill you. HIV is an infection that renders our immune system useless. This makes us highly susceptible to other infections, like a spaceship without its shields. It’s not the loss of the shield that directly kills, but rather, the fact that it’s now open to attack. Similarly, it’s not the infection that kills us directly, but the other opportunistic infections we suffer through as a result of a weakened immune system.
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Antiretroviral Therapy
There are no known cures for HIV. However, there are options available that can allow a person to live for a decent lifespan. These are called Antiretroviral Therapy (ART). These are a combination of drugs that can slow down the spread of the infection and allow a person to live longer. The sooner they are started, the better their effects will be. These can be started at any stage of infection, including AIDS, but it’s best to start them in the first stage. People have been known to live for 15-20 years without any serious health issues with the help of ART.
However, keep in mind that it is impossible to completely get rid of HIV. Once a person contracts the virus, they must live with it forever.
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