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- Immunity refers to a function that helps maintain a healthy body
by removing bacteria and viruses that enter the body.
- Human Immunodeficiency Viruses (HIV) infect and replicate within
the cells that order the attacking (called CD4+ lymphocytes).
- The infected CD4+ cells are destroyed and there will be an insufficient
number of them.
- Eventually the immune functions do not work properly because there
are not enough cells to give the orders to attack intruders.
- The destroyed immune system leaves us open to attacks by infections
from otherwise suppressed germs and viruses in our body. This condition
is known as opportunistic infections.
- A patient is said to have developed AIDS when any of 23 designated
opportunistic infections occur (see page 9).
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