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HIV

Key Stage 4

A computer generated image of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

Meaning

HIV is short for Human Immunodeficiency Virus and is a virus which causes AIDS.

About HIV

HIV infects white blood cells causing the immune system to become weak.
HIV attaches to white blood cells and injects its RNA into the cell. The virus then makes millions of copies of itself before bursting out of, and killing, the cell.
Initially HIV has few symptoms and may feel like a cold. After time the HIV lays dormant and unnoticed. This can be for many years. Eventually HIV has destroyed enough white blood cells to cause AIDS which is short for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
People with AIDS may die of a secondary infection because their immune system has been weakened by the HIV.
HIV is spread by body fluids. This can be through intercourse or blood being passed from one individual to another, in many cases by a used needle.
HIV can be treated with antiretroviral drugs but their effectiveness depends on how soon after infection they are taken. Immediately after infection they can prevent HIV from taking hold. Too long after infection and they will only slow the progress of the virus giving the person a longer time before the develop AIDS.

References

AQA

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), pages 130, 140-141, 151, GCSE Biology; Student Book, Collins, AQA
HIV, page 126, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Biology, CGP, AQA
HIV, page 132, GCSE Biology, CGP, AQA
HIV, page 44, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
HIV, page 47, GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
HIV/AIDS, page 81, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 1, Hodder, AQA
HIV/AIDS, page 82, GCSE Biology, Hodder, AQA

Edexcel

HIV, page 157, GCSE Biology, CGP, Edexcel
HIV, page 40, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
HIV, page 56, GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), page 103, GCSE Biology, Pearson, Edexcel
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), page 75, GCSE Combined Science, Pearson Edexcel

OCR

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), pages 209, 215, Gateway GCSE Biology, Oxford, OCR
HIV, pages 67, 69, Gateway GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, OCR
HIV, pages 91, 92, Gateway GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, OCR
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), pages 209, 215, Gateway GCSE Biology, Oxford, OCR