BIOL 1200 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Incubation Period, Anal Sex, Sexual Intercourse
Document Summary
Wipes out the body"s lymphocytes, leaving the body defenseless against attacks. Primarily targets the t lymphocytes, but also affects macrophages. Transmitted through intimate contact and the sharing of bodily fluids. Hiv is fragile and easily killed by temperature change. Sexual intercourse (semen and vaginal secretions carry virus). Transmission rate is highest from male to female because females have microscopic vaginal tears during intercourse. Rate is even higher in anal intercourse because the rectum is very thin. In utero from infected mother to unborn child. Hiv passes through the placenta to the baby. Effective screening methods have made it nearly impossible for hiv infections to occur via blood transfusions. Large amounts of the virus are produced in the body, attacking cd4 t cells. T cell count drops below nodes are abnormally large). Development of mild bacterial, viral, and fungal infections. Mild symptoms like skin rashes, fatigue, night sweats, slight weight loss, fungal skin and nail infections, headache, and fatigue.
