AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, a disease
that makes it difficult for the body to fight off infectious
diseases. The human immunodeficiency virus known as HIV causes
AIDS by infecting and damaging part of the body's defenses
against infection — lymphocytes, which are a type of white blood
cell in the body's immune (infection-fighting) system that is
supposed to fight off invading germs. HIV can be transmitted
through direct contact with the blood or body fluid of someone
who is infected with the virus. That contact usually comes from
sharing needles or by having unprotected sex with an infected
person. An infant could get HIV from a mother who is infected.
Though there are treatments for HIV and AIDS, there are no
vaccines or cures for them. But there are things you can do to
prevent you and your child from getting the disease. What Does
HIV Do to the Body? The virus attacks specific lymphocytes
called T helper cells (also known as T-cells), takes them over,
and multiplies. This destroys m