10 Common Pathogens
Reviewed: Dr. Gromatzky
Pathogen #8: Human Immunodeficiency Virus
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) caused shockwaves through the medical world when it first emerged. It is a relatively new disease to man, first being officially observed in people in 1981. It is transmitted through the blood of an infected person, usually through intercourse or through sharing needles.
HIV attacks the immune system. With a weakened immune system, the patient is then prone to other diseases. This is known as acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or AIDS. People with HIV can live with it healthily for 10-15 years before developing AIDS. Fatalities are caused by other illnesses that take hold through a weakened immune system and not directly by HIV itself.
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