Millenium Health Tips

What is HIV?

Causative agent of AIDS.

HIV belongs to the family of retroviruses. Normally the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) sends messages to the RNA (ribonucleic acid), but in the case of a retrovirus, RNA is converted into DNA.

There are two sub-types of HIV: type 1 (HIV-1) and type 2 (HIV-2). Type 2 is found mostly in West Africa.
HIV is a lentivirus, which means it stays a long time dormant.

HIV destroys the immune cells (CD4) and various infections and cancers that can enter the human body without defense. These diseases are called opportunistic. Read the rest of this entry »