IB HL Biology

Christopher Wong

HIV and AIDS Assignment

What does AIDS stand for?
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
What is the difference between HIV and AIDS?
HIV is a virus that is contracted. AIDS is a result of HIV. People who have HIV
may not develop AIDS until later but people with AIDS have HIV.
At what point does HIV become AIDS in its cycle?
HIV becomes AIDS when the CD4 cells drop below a critical level (200 cells
mm-3). The immune system because ineffective and the individuals has
AIDS.
What will a person with AIDS eventually die from?
A person with AIDS is very susceptible to opportunistic infections once the
CD4 cells have dropped below a criticial level, making the individual extreme
prone to skin infections and viruses that the body can normal defend against.
However, as the CD4 levels drop lower and lower, progressively deadly
diseases affect the individual. Once the body is not longer able to defend
against any of the diseases, an opportunistic infection can prove fatal.