what is the meaning of HIV?

Answer 1

Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

It's best known for the virus that causes AIDS.

Answer 2

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that attacks the immune system. The role of the immune system is to protect the body against germs (virus, bacteria, fungi, parasites). When the immune system is damaged, the body becomes more easily infected by germs, and is less able to fight them.

There are two types of HIV: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is responsible for almost all cases. HIV-2 is found mostly in Western Africa. They are both transmitted the same way and can cause the same diseases, but HIV-2 transmits less easily and takes longer to cause diseases than HIV-1. When one refers to HIV, they refer to HIV-1.


When were HIV and AIDS first recognized ?
We do not know with certainty about the origins of HIV. Although reports indicate it may be as early as 1959, AIDS was first recognized only in 1981.

HIV was found in 1983-1984 by the Pasteur Institute in France and by Robert Gallo at the National Cancer Institute in the United States.

Who can get HIV and how is it transmitted ?
Because HIV is found in the blood, vaginal fluid, semen and breast milk, anyone can get HIV if they:

have unprotected sex with an infected person
share a needle with a person who is infected
are born to a mother who is infected, or drink the breast milk

Answer 3

Human immunodeficiency virus (commonly known as HIV, and formerly known as HTLV-III and lymphadenopathy-associated virus) is a retrovirus that is the cause of the disease known as AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), a syndrome where the immune system begins to fail, leading to many life-threatening opportunistic infections.

HIV primarily infects vital components of the human immune system such as CD4+ T cells, macrophages and dendritic cells. It also directly and indirectly destroys CD4+ T cells. As CD4+ T cells are required for the proper functioning of the immune system, when enough CD4+ T cells have been destroyed by HIV, the immune system functions poorly, leading to AIDS. HIV also directly attacks organs such as the kidneys, heart and brain, leading to acute renal failure, cardiomyopathy, dementia and encephalopathy. Many of the problems faced by people infected with HIV result from failure of the immune system to protect from opportunistic infections and cancers.

HIV is transmitted through direct contact of a mucous membrane with a bodily fluid containing HIV, such as blood, semen, vaginal fluid, preseminal fluid or breast milk. This transmission can come in the form of: penetrative (anal or vaginal) sex; oral sex; blood transfusion; contaminated needles; exchange between mother and infant during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding; or other exposure to one of the above bodily fluids.

Infection in humans is now pandemic. As of January 2006, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) estimate that AIDS has killed more than 25 million people since it was first recognized on December 1, 1981, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in recorded history. In 2005 alone, AIDS claimed an estimated 2.4—3.3 million lives, of which more than 570,000 were children. A third of these deaths are occurring in sub-Saharan Africa, retarding economic growth by destroying human capital. Current estimates state that HIV is set to infect 90 million people in Africa, resulting in a minimum estimate of 18 million orphans. Antiretroviral treatment reduces both the mortality and the morbidity of HIV infection, but routine access to antiretroviral medication is not available in all countries

Answer 4

(HIV) Human Immunodeficiency Virus. The virus that causes AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome).

Answer 5

Habitual Indegestion Virus.

Answer 6

Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Since it attacks the primary immune system of the human, it was named so!

Answer 7

H - Human
I - Immuno Deficiency
V - Virus

A - Acquired
I - Immuno
D - Deficiency
S - Syndrome

Answer 8

human imunodeficiency virus

Answer 9

human immuno virus.

Answer 10

what all them ppl above me said