Question

At which stage of HIV infection does one show symptoms of AIDS

• A. When the infecting retrovirus enters the host cells
• B. When viral DNA is produced by reverse transcriptase
• C. When HIV replicates rapidly in T helper cells and damage large number of these.
• D. Within 15 days of sexual contact with an infected person

Answer 1

The correct option is C When HIV replicates rapidly in T helper cells and damage large number of these.

Once the HIV enters the human body, it takes years for it to capture the immune system of body. In the stage of active replication there is a progressive decrease in number of T helper cells in the body and the person suffers from bouts of fever, diarrhea and weight loss and they suffer from infections that could have been otherwise evaded easily, such as those due to pathogens like Mycobacteria, viruses, fungi. This mainly because the action of T killer cell which is dependent on T helper cell is inhibited. The signal activating the T killer cell is sent by the T helper cells on identifying a foreign particle entering the body and in turn it alerts the T killer cells to destroy the infected cells.