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What changes take place in the immune system of a person infected with HIV?


What changes take place in the immune system of a person infected with HIV, and how might that infection develop into AIDS?

HIV targets the T lymphocytes (a part of the white blood cells), which really sucks because they are the ones that fight off infections. HIV enters the lymphocyte and uses its nucleus and DNA to make more copies of HIV because the HIV cell itself cannot duplicate it own genetic material. Then the infected cell ruptures the membrane releasing the newly formed HIV cells into the blood to target more lymphocytes.

Because of the death of the WBC's, a person becomes more likely to contract any number of infections or diseases that wouldn't affect a normal person. After the T lymphocyte numbers drop below 200 per milliliter and the presence of HIV mediated opportunistic infections occur, the person is classified with having AIDS. But that may take years.

The count of white blood cells increases as the red blood cell level decreases. Bumps and bruises often take longer to heal. Blood may sometimes not reach the finger tips so sensation may become obsolete in those areas.


http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hiv-aid...

the AIDS virus starts killing off your white blood cells (the cells responsible for fighting harmful things). you are then extremely vulnerable to all sickness. in a severe case, you could die from a simple cold.

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