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AIDS: AN OVERVIEW

The CDC reports that there are currently 42 million people in the world who are living with HIV/AIDS. Of these, 38.6 million are adults, 19.2 million are women, and 3.2 million are children under 15 years of age. In 2002, it was estimated that over 5 million people acquired the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). During this same year, approximately 3.1 million people died of the disease. While the number of AIDS cases in America is smaller in comparison to global statistics (816, 149 cases reported in 2002), these statistics are nonetheless staggering in scope. The purpose of this paper is to present a brief overview of HIV/AIDS. The disease is first defined and described in terms of its general physical effects. This is followed by a delineation of its psychological and social effects. The overview ends with a prognosis for the disease, both on an individual and social basis.

Nature of AIDS and Its Physical Effects

AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. According to Stine (2002), AIDS is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) which operates to weaken the human immune system to the point that it has difficulty fighting off certain infections. These types of infections are known as "opportunistic" infections because they take the opportunity a weakened immune system gives to cause illness. As the virus weakens the immune system, the individual's ability to fight off disease decreases until it is virtually non-existent. It is only at this point that a person is said to have full blown AIDS. Stine also notes that scientists estimate that about half the people with HIV develop AIDS within 10 years after becoming infected. This time varies greatly from person to person and can depend on many factors, including a person's health status and their health-related behaviors.

Barnett and Whiteside, (2003) state that the psychological effects of being diagnosed with HIV/AIDS can be devastating. Living with th...

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AIDS: AN OVERVIEW. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 06:04, March 29, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1706512.html