Many people don't fully understand the dangers of AIDS. AIDS is a very serious disease which results in death. This disease is spread rapidly and anyone can get it if they are not careful. In this paper I will discuss the dangers of AIDS and prove that AIDS is a life threatening disease which can effect anyone and ruin the rest of your life.

The AIDS virus was first identified in the United States in 1981, but cases have been found as early as the 1950's.

AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is often a deadly disease that damages the body's immune system and effects the way the body fights off germs. Common illnesses that would not usually cause a major problem can take advantage of the damaged immune system and can kill you. The AIDS virus "befriends" the white blood cells, the defense against germs and multiplies on them, thus making them weak.

Two viruses cause AIDS. The first one is called HIV-1, and the second one is called HIV-2. HIV stands for Human Immune Deficiency Virus. HIV-2 is a very close related virus; thus it was named after the first discovered.

People infected with the AIDS virus can develop full-blown AIDS 2-10 years after infection. Most people who have AIDS appear to be healthy. In some, the virus can be inactive, which means they have no symptoms, but they are still able to effect others because they are carriers of the disease.

Symptoms of AIDS and HIV include Night sweats, fevers, loss of appetite, which causes weight loss, tiredness, and diarrhea. Many AIDS patients also have symptoms that are related to other sicknesses that become serious due to the breakdown of the immune system. The leading cause of death in AIDS patients is a type of Pneumonia, which is an infection of the lungs. Another serious disease that infects AIDS patients is a form of cancer called Kaposi's Sarcoma. These diseases are higher danger to AIDS patients because the damaged white blood cells aren't strong enough to fight them off. The AIDS virus can never die once it has attacked you. It makes thousands of copies of itself on the white blood cells inside your body. It just rebuilds over and over again until it has complete control over your body.

People thought the AIDS virus could only be transmitted between gays and bisexuals, but it has increased to heterosexual men, woman and children. AIDS is spread from person to person by blood contact. This includes sexual contact with an infected person, if infected blood enters an open wound on your skin or from a mother to her fetus. Some people have even received infected blood from transplants. Drug users also spread the disease among each other by sharing their needles. These examples show that anyone can get AIDS if they aren't careful and don't protect themselves.

Many people with AIDS are also faced with discrimination. Most AIDS patients are fit and able to work, they can perform all the regular tasks that healthy people do. AIDS patients, like anyone just want to be equal, get a good job, and interact with their co-workers without being discriminated against. Some employers refuse to hire people who are infected for many reasons. One reason is that they think they will get the virus or it will be spread around the workplace. These people don't understand how the virus is really spread. Others don't want to hire because they think they will have to pay for increased health insurance, while some employers just don't want to upset other employees. Most AIDS patients are fired from their jobs, not hired at all, not promoted, and dare not given a raise even if they are fully qualified and do a good job. Children are also discriminated against, they are not allowed to attend some schools, and are made fun of, and no one wants to be around them. This will effect the child's self-esteem and make them feel unwanted.

A person can have AIDS for ten years and not show any sign of it. That is why it is spread so easily because people who spread it may not know that they have it. To prevent AIDS from spreading during intercourse, you should limit yourself to one partner. You and your partner should have tested negative for HIV. If you haven’t taken an HIV test, a condom should be used. A condom is the best way to prevent AIDS from spreading during sex. If your partner is having sex with other people as well as you they are putting you at risk. If your partner got AIDS from another person, you and any unborn children may also contract this virus. Think of all the lives that you put at risk for just one night of pleasure.

Young people are most at risk because they don't have the proper information and think that it can ever happen to them. Sex education is taught at some schools. I think this is a very good way to teach the youth because it teaches them the dangers and encourages them to use protection if they are sexually active. Some of these functions give out condoms in the hope that if young people are having sex without protection will use them.

Drug users can seek help in order to stop using drugs. To minimize the chances of catching AIDS drug users should never share needles. There are even places where a drug user can go that teaches them how to clean their needles properly; many people disagree with this because they think it is an encouragement to use drugs.

AIDS is an unpredictable virus because it changes so much. Many scientists devote all of their time to research AIDS in the hope of finding a cure. This is a very difficult task because the virus is able to change form completely. Every time they think they are close to finding a cure, the virus changes itself to fight off the medicine.

Today the test for HIV is widely available and all donated blood has been tested, which has made transfusions a lot safer. Currently there are no cures for AIDS, but there are many drugs being made to increase the lives of these people. Many drugs have been experimented with and some of them have increased the lives of patients, but these drugs may have dangerous side effects. One of these drugs Azidthymidine (AZT) has prolonged many lives and delayed sickness and symptoms. The bad side effects of AZT are that it gives a toxic side effect that causes Anemia, you have to get blood transfusions to fix it.

Today the lives of AIDS patients have become a lot easier. There are now laws which allow them to work where they choose and that prevent discrimination in the community. Also, many new drugs are being made and one day scientists hope to find a cure. AIDS causes a lot of pain and stress for the victim and family, so take the right steps to protect yourself so that you will never have to feel the pain and loss.