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The Immune System and HIV
Consumer guidelines from the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research
(AHCPR) 1994
The body's health is defended by its immune system. White blood cells called lymphocytes (B cells and T cells) protect the body from "germs" such as viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi. When germs are detected, B cells and T cells are activated to defend the body.
This process is hindered in the case of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). AIDS is a disease in which the body's immune system breaks down. AIDS is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). When HIV enters the body, it infects special T cells, where the virus grows. The virus kills these cells slowly. As more and more of the T cells die, the body's ability to fight infection weakens.
A person with HIV infection may remain healthy for many years. People with HIV infection are said to have AIDS when they are sick with serious illnesses and infections that can occur with HIV. The illnesses tend to occur late in HIV infection, when few T cells remain.
Where did HIV and AIDS come from? Return to
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We may never know where or how HIV and AIDS began. Many experts believe that AIDS was present in the United States, Europe, and Africa for several decades or longer before the earliest cases appeared in 1980 and 1981.
HIV was first identified in 1984 by French and American scientists, but the human immunodeficiency virus did not get its name until 1986.
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What You Know Can Help You
Even before HIV causes AIDS, it can cause health problems. Learning about how the virus can affect your child's body and getting care early, before health problems worsen, can help your child live a longer and healthier life.
This information will assist in understanding HIV and getting the right care for your child. It gives you questions to ask your doctor, nurse, or other medical care provider. What you learn about HIV and AIDS will help you become more involved in your child's health care.
HIV affects everyone in a family, whether only one or several family members are infected. Babies with HIV and their infected parents need to be followed very closely by a medical care provider such as a doctor, nurse, or other medical professional.
Babies who may have HIV infection should be tested for HIV as soon as possible after birth and have regular followup exams. This is very important to help your baby stay as healthy as possible.
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Facts About HIV in Babies and Children
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How will I know if my baby has HIV?
Before a baby is born, it shares its mother's blood supply. If you are infected with HIV, you can transmit HIV to your child through your blood before birth. The baby also can become infected during delivery.
For the first few months, your baby may test positive for HIV infection because it still has some parts of your blood, so early tests are not accurate. After several months, the child's own system takes over. Test results then become accurate for your child and can indicate HIV infection.
When your child is less than 2 years old, his or her blood should be tested every 2 to 3 months until the system matures. After age 2, a single blood test can show if your child is infected with HIV.
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What will happen to my baby?
Some babies who have HIV infection may become ill in the first year of life. Others remain healthy for many years.
Regular medical checkups and blood tests will help your doctor keep track of how your child is doing and decide whether special medicines are needed. Ask your health care provider how you can help protect your child.
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