综合英语1 Dealing with Aids.ppt

Dealing with AIDS AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Acquired means you can get infected with it Immune Deficiency means a weakness in the bodys system that fights diseases. Syndrome means a group of health problems that make up a disease. When you get a blood test for HIV, the test looks for these antibodies. If you have them in your blood, it means that you have HIV infection. People who have the HIV antibodies are called HIV-Positive. A person infected with HIV may not have symptoms to start with, but eventually without effective treatment the immune system will become very weak and they will no longer be able to fight off illnesses. No. When someone is described as HIV positive, they have the HIV virus in their body. A person is considered to have developed AIDS when the immune system is so weak it can no longer fight off a range of diseases with which it would normally cope. WHAT ARE OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTIONS? In our bodies, we carry many germs - bacteria, protozoa, fungi（真菌）, and viruses. When our immune system is working, it controls these germs. But when the immune system is weakened by HIV disease or by some medications, these germs can get out of control and cause health problems. Infections that take advantage of weakness in the immune defenses are called “opportunistic（投机）. The phrase opportunistic infection is often shortened to OI. How long does it take for HIV to cause AIDS? Currently, the average time between HIV infection and the appearance of signs that could lead to an AIDS diagnosis is 8-11 years. This time varies greatly from person to person and can depend on many factors including a persons health status and behaviors. Today there are medical treatments that can slow down the rate at which HIV weakens the immune system. There are other treatments that can prevent or cure some of the illnesses associated with AIDS. As with other diseases, early detection offers more options for treatment and preventative health care. You mi