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There are a variety of health issues Generation Y will have to face. One of the
more major viruses is called AIDS. Scientists say the AIDS virus started in
Africa in the 20th century, and because no one knew about AIDS, it spread all
across the world and is now a global epidemic.
AIDS is a disease that is caused by HIV. HIV,
or Human Immunodeficiency Virus, is a virus that
is transmitted through bodily fluids. HIV gets
into white blood cells (which help fight
viruses) making your body think that they're
attacking you. So your body slowly kills off
your white blood cells, making it harder for
your body to fight disease. Once the body gets a
virus it can't fight off, HIV turns into AIDS.
AIDS, or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, is a collection of infections
or symptoms caused by HIV. AIDS happens when the immune system has been damaged
and can’t fight infection. AIDS cannot be cured, and since its discovery on June
5, 1981 more than 25 million people have died from it, and 38.6 million people
are living with the virus today.
Although AIDS can’t be cured, it can be treated. One way of treating AIDS is
through a long radiation process called post-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP which
takes about four weeks. If you only have HIV then you will most likely be
treated with HAART. HAART is a combination of at least three drugs that help
slow down the HIV process and sometimes, after many years, get rid of it
altogether. Although there are many ways to treat HIV and AIDS, it is very
expensive and most people with the diseases can't afford it. Scientists are
working hard everyday to find better, less costly ways to treat AIDS and HIV,
and hopefully one day they might even find a cure.
More and more people with AIDS are turning up everyday. It's a worldwide
epidemic that's getting worse and there's not much people can do about it. So
that's why it's also important for people to get tested to see if they have the
virus. It's very simple to get tested, and it will help prevent further spread
of the disease.
CITATIONS: "AIDS.Org:
Frequently Asked Questions." aids.org
"AIDS." wikipedia.com
"The True But
Little Known Facts About AIDS"
http://147.129.226.1/library/research/AIDSFACTS.htm
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