AIDS (see also HIV)
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a condition that gradually destroys the body's immune defense system and makes the body vulnerable to opportunistic diseases. It is caused by infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). After HIV invades the body, it lives and multiplies in the white blood cells, which are the cells that protect the body from disease. As the virus multiplies, it damages or kills these and other cells, and the body becomes prey to a wide range of disease-causing microbes.
When HIV has destroyed enough white blood cells, the body is no longer able to fight off many infections. When there are very few white cells left, particularly of the kind called CD4+, and one or more serious diseases start occurring, the HIV-infected person has AIDS. An HIV infected woman can pass HIV to her baby through pregnancy or delivery. However, treatments can reduce the risk of passing on the infection to less than 2%. An estimated 280-370 infants are born infected with HIV in the U.S. each year.
Babies with AIDS get frequent infections, such as meningitis, fail to gain weight or grow at an appropriate weight, and frequently have diarrhea. Children with AIDS also may have severe forms of the bacterial infections all children may get, such as conjunctivitis (pink eye), ear infections, and tonsillitis. Early diagnosis of HIV, frequent follow-up, and treatment with drugs can help prevent or reduce the severity of some infections, keep children healthy longer, and delay the onset of AIDS.
For more information contact:
Children with Aids Project of America
480-774-9718
www.aidskids.org
Center for Disease Control
800-458-5231
800-243-7012 (Deaf Access)
301-562-1089
www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/facts.htm
AIDSinfo (Service of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
800-448-0440
301-519-0459 (International)
888-480-3739 (TTY/TTD)
www.aidsinfo.nih.gov/other/welcome.asp
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
888-499-HOPE (4673)
www.pedaids.org
Is HIV/AIDS A Disability? Legal rights of those living with HIV.
http://aids.about.com/od/legalissues/a/disability.htm
07/05