H I V VOCABULARY

HIV

Human Immuno-deficiency Virus virus which infects white blood cells, causes them to make more HIVs, and kills them.

Human

Of people (not other animals or plants).

Immuno-

Immune system bodys protective system against diseases/illness.

Deficiency Not enough of.

Virus

Small part of DNA or RNA which can go inside a specific cell and use the cells DNA or RNA to make more particles like it, eventually killing the cell and exploding into the blood to infect new cells.

Blood components

Component

One of many parts of something.

Cell

Small live part of the body with a special function.

Red blood cells

Cells that carry oxygen (02) to the other cells, and carry carbon dioxide (C02) away from the other cells.

White blood cells Antibodies

Cells that defend the body from illnesses.

Special particles produced by white blood cells which attach themselves to disease-carrying agents making them inactive not able to work.

HIV infects white blood cells

HIV specifically infects white blood cells. It causes white blood cells to make more HIVs. So, it kills the cells that protect the body from diseases. So, people eventually die from other diseases because the body cannot protect itself.

HIV hides in nerve cells

HIV hides, but does not use or kill, nerve cells.

Modes of transmission

Modes of transmission

1. Sharing of needles during IV drug use. 2. Mother to child at birth. 3. Sexual.

Mode

The way how.

Transmission

Sending from one place to another.

Blood to blood (white cells into blood)

HIV can only be transmitted when the infected persons fresh living white blood cells enter directly into the blood of another person.

1) Sharing of needles during IV drug use

An infected drug user injects drugs into his vein. Some of his blood goes back into the needle. He takes out the needle, puts new drugs into the syringe, and gives it to his friend. His friend injects the infected persons blood and the drugs into his blood. Prevention: Each person must use a clean new needle.

Needle

Sharp metal hollow (empty inside) object used to put drugs into the veins and arteries.

Syringe

The container that holds the drugs to be injected.

IV

Intra-Venous.

Intra-

Inside of.

Venous

Of the veins or arteries.

Artery

Part of the body (tube) that carries blood full of oxygen to all the other parts of the body.

Vein

Part of the body (tube) that carries blood full of carbon dioxide away from the other parts of the body to the heart.

2) Mother to child at birth

At birth, an infected mother bleeds, and the baby being born gets scratched and the mothers blood goes directly into the babys blood. Prevention: Mother must be given anti-viral drugs for a time before birth.

3) Sexual

Possible only through intercourse no other sexual activity can transmit HIV. During sex, an infected man causes an injury to his partner, and his semen enters his partners blood. The partner could be a woman or another man. During sex, the mans penis is injured or already has an injury, and when he causes an injury to his infected partner, the partners blood enters his blood through the injury. Prevention: The man must wear a condom.

Intercourse

The man uses his penis to put it into the womans vagina or into another mans anus.

Oral sex

Sex using the mouth; oral of the mouth.

Sexual organs

Penis

Male sexual organ.

Vagina

Female sexual organ.

Anus

The other mans sexual organ the part behind, that can receive a penis.

Semen

The fluid which comes out of the mans penis when he ejaculates.

White blood cells in semen

Besides sperm, semen is full of white blood cells to protect the semen.

Sperm

The mans cells that enter the woman and enter her egg to make a baby.

Homework write an essay about one of the following subject:

1.

What is the difference between HIV and AIDS? Can I look at a person and know that he/she has HIV? AIDS? Should couples of whom one or both partners is HIV+ (has HIV) be allowed to have children?

1.

1.