V - Virus, because the organism is a virus, which means one of its characteristics is that it is incapable of reproducing by itself. It needs a human cell to reproduce itself.

What is HIV Disease?

Answer: The disease caused by HIV that attacks and destroys a person's immune system until it is not able to fight off infection. Most doctors use the term "HIV disease" to cover the entire HIV spectrum or progression, from initial infection to AIDS.

During the Asymptomatic HIV Disease, a person may be infected with HIV and not show any outward symptoms for up to 8-12 years. When a person begins to have severe and persistent symptoms, it is called Symptomatic HIV Disease.

However any individual who is infected with HIV (that is, anyone who tests positive on the HIV antibody test) has "HIV disease."

HIV most often spreads through unprotected sex with an infected person. AIDS may also spread by sharing drug needles or through contact with the blood of an infected person. Women can give it to their babies during pregnancy or childbirth.

The first signs of HIV infection may be swollen glands and flu-like symptoms. These may come and go a month or two after infection. Severe symptoms may not appear until months or years later.

A blood test can tell if you have HIV infection. Your health care provider can perform the test, or call the National AIDS hotline for a referral at (800) 342-AIDS (1-800-342-2437). There is no cure, but there are many medicines to fight both HIV infection and the infections and cancers that come with it. People can live with the disease for many years.

HIV is spread through some of the body's fluids. HIV is in:

blood
semen
vaginal fluids
breast milk
some body fluids sometimes handled by health care workers (fluids surrounding the brain and spinal cord, bone joints, and around an unborn baby)

HIV is passed from one person to another by:

having sex (vaginal, anal, or oral) with a person who has HIV
sharing needles with a drug user who has HIV
during pregnancy, birth, or breast-feeding if a mother has HIV
getting transfusions of blood with HIV

Human Immune Deficiency Virus or HIV is a virus that affects the immune system, the natural defense of the body against diseases and without a strong immune system; the body cannot ward off diseases. Both the virus as well as the infection is also called as HIV.

The white blood cells is a vital part of body's immune system but with the presence of HIV, the immune system becomes susceptible to other kinds of disease as HIV invades and damage the white blood cells CD4+ cells. If large quantities of CD4+ cells are damaged, the body becomes weak against harmful infections.

The disease is known to be identified by U.S Centers for Disease Control Prevention and the causes were first identified by French and American scientists during the late 1980's.

HIV or Human Immunodeficiency Virus is a deadly disease that strikes the immune system. Immune system is the natural defense of the body to fight diseases. If the body�s immune system is weak, then body is becomes vulnerable to diseases.

Important part of the immune system is white blood cells but with the presence of HIV, the body cannot fight off viruses as HIV invades and damage the CD+4 cells. Accordingly, if large quantities of CD4+ cells are damaged, then the body�s immune system will be totally weak.

HIV virus was first identified by U.S Centers for Disease Control Prevention while the causes of HIV virus were identified by American and French scientist in the 1980�s.

Understanding HIV Virus Recommended Resources:

University of Michigan

Northwestern University