Unit Standard number 244259
SUPPORT CHILDREN AND ADULTS LIVING WITH HIV AND
AIDS
1.What does HIV stand for? What is HIV? (Page 15)
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
What is HIV?
- Human: It attacks humans.
- Immunodeficiency: It infects, attacks and weakens the immune system – the very system that fights off
diseases.
- Virus: It is a virus.
Someone who is diagnosed as infected with HIV is said to be 'HIV positive' or 'HIV+'.
2. What does AIDS stand for? What is AIDS? (Page 15)
AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
What is AIDS?
- Acquired: The virus is passed from one person to another through bodily fluids.
- Immune Deficiency: It attacks the immune system and makes it deficient or weak and unable to defend
the body against other diseases.
- Syndrome: Due to the fact that the immune system is weakened, the person can easily pick up a range
of different diseases and conditions because the body is not strong enough to fight these off.
3. Why is HIV dangerous? (Page 15)
HIV attacks the immune system and this is why it is so dangerous. Once it is in the body, the immune
system can never fully get rid of it. It can hide in human cells, make new copies of itself, and change or
mutate quickly.
4. How does HIV attack the immune system? (Page 15)
HIV attacks the immune system and once it is in the body, the immune system can never fully get rid of
it. It can hide in human cells, make new copies of itself, and change or mutate quickly. This weakens the
immune system and the virus spreads and grows.
1
SUPPORT CHILDREN AND ADULTS LIVING WITH HIV AND
AIDS
1.What does HIV stand for? What is HIV? (Page 15)
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
What is HIV?
- Human: It attacks humans.
- Immunodeficiency: It infects, attacks and weakens the immune system – the very system that fights off
diseases.
- Virus: It is a virus.
Someone who is diagnosed as infected with HIV is said to be 'HIV positive' or 'HIV+'.
2. What does AIDS stand for? What is AIDS? (Page 15)
AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
What is AIDS?
- Acquired: The virus is passed from one person to another through bodily fluids.
- Immune Deficiency: It attacks the immune system and makes it deficient or weak and unable to defend
the body against other diseases.
- Syndrome: Due to the fact that the immune system is weakened, the person can easily pick up a range
of different diseases and conditions because the body is not strong enough to fight these off.
3. Why is HIV dangerous? (Page 15)
HIV attacks the immune system and this is why it is so dangerous. Once it is in the body, the immune
system can never fully get rid of it. It can hide in human cells, make new copies of itself, and change or
mutate quickly.
4. How does HIV attack the immune system? (Page 15)
HIV attacks the immune system and once it is in the body, the immune system can never fully get rid of
it. It can hide in human cells, make new copies of itself, and change or mutate quickly. This weakens the
immune system and the virus spreads and grows.
1
