The immune system consists of unique cells, tissues, proteins, and organs, which protect the body against infectious organisms and foreign invaders. The immune system fights infectious organisms that cause diseases and theses series of steps are call immune response. Therefore, the immune system keeps the body system healthy and protected. However, sometimes problems can occur, which results in diseases or infections forming. One of the notorious diseases known to affect the body immune system is HIV/AIDS.
A normal healthy body contains four unique lymphocyte cells. These cells fight off certain kinds of infections. Lymphocyte sends messages to other types of immune system cells to help fight against the foreign bacteria. However, when HIV is attached to the cells it automatically infects the cells. In addition, when HIV is associated with the cells not only does it deplete the cells of their power, but also it uses them as a place to develop and multiply. When this occurs, the body becomes defeated in its ability to fight off a plethora of infections. People who are positive with AIDS have damaged and powerless immune system. They do not have the ability to fight off minor or major infections. They tend to get sicker than before, especially if they are not taking the proper medication.
AIDS can affect every body system. The immune defect caused by having too few CD4 cells also permits some cancers that are stimulated by viral illness to occur — some people with AIDS get forms of lymphoma and a rare tumor of blood vessels in the skin called Kaposi's sarcoma. Because AIDS is fatal, it's important that doctors detect HIV infection as early as possible so a person can take medication to delay the onset of AIDS.