| The waltz of death hovers above the ten million of | | | | the T-helper or CD4. The HIV virus aims at the |
| the over one billion youth in the age group of fifteen | | | | T-cells as it recognizes the CD4 protein on its |
| and twenty four and an average of six thousand are | | | | surface. These viruses, considerably smaller than the |
| getting infected every day with the deadly virus. To | | | | host T-cells grow using it's host's cellular resources! |
| the dismay of all, forty million deaths in this millennium | | | | The body desperately tries to replace the infected |
| are predicted. AIDS - the most dreadful and deadliest | | | | ones by producing billions of T cells, but right from |
| scourge that has afflicted mankind in the twentieth | | | | the word go it fights a losing battle. |
| century. The very name sends a chill down the spine. | | | | By reverse transcriptase RNA, the genetic material of |
| Shock, panic, shame, anguish, disgust and vulnerability | | | | the virus is converted into complementary DNA. This |
| have captured man, the most brilliant of all creatures. | | | | DNA is integrated into the host genome. This is the |
| Nothing could shatter the edifice so much so that the | | | | preliminary stage of infection. This latent phase of |
| whole world now is stark raving mad. With | | | | the infection can continue without showing any |
| dime-a-dozen misconceptions enfolding, the disease | | | | symptoms. The infected person if tested at this |
| and no cure in the vicinity, it is really difficult to cope | | | | stage shows the signs of being HIV positive but |
| with this problem. Before going deep into the how | | | | AIDS negative. As the virus multiplies in the body it |
| and where, let's see what this thorn in the flesh | | | | damages these cells and paves the way for other |
| called AIDS primarily is. | | | | fatal diseases like pneumonia and cancer. The HIV |
| AIDS is the acronym for acquired immune deficiency | | | | virus lives in the lymph nodes, which are an integral |
| syndrome. It is a disease which weakens the bodies | | | | part of the immune system. These lymph nodes, |
| immune system thereby making the body vulnerable | | | | with their net like structures that act as a protective |
| to other infections. Infections known as | | | | shield or filter, catch the infected T-cells and virus. |
| "opportunistic infections" and other illnesses capitalize | | | | Thus the healthy T-cells also get polluted as they |
| on this condition of the body and thrive on it. | | | | pass through infected lymph nodes. |
| HIV, acronym for Human Immune-Deficiency Virus is | | | | There are two major categories of HIV, namely |
| the virus that causes AIDS. HIV, hailing from a group | | | | HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1, with 10 subtypes, is the |
| of viruses called retroviruses, infects human cells. It | | | | most common. This form is prevalent in the US. |
| grows and multiplies using the energy and nutrients | | | | HIV-2 is not that active and is restricted to West |
| provided by those cells. The virus enters the body of | | | | Africa, where it is fast spreading. Now how and |
| a person and multiplies in the white blood cells that | | | | where did this scary disease first make its drastic |
| guard the entire immune system from infectious | | | | presence? Debates and arguments are in full swing |
| diseases. | | | | where in a licentious flight attendant to an ill-planned |
| HIV destroys a specific type of immune cell called | | | | vaccine programme are held responsible. |