Viruses that usually don't affect a person can make an AIDS patient very sick and sometimes cause death. This occurs because the virus attacks the immune system, which the AIDS virus has weakened (What is AIDS, 1997). .
The most common diseases patient contracts when he or she has AIDS are PCP (pneumocystis carinii pneumonia), KS (Kaposi's sarcoma), CMV (cytomegalovirus), and Candida (What is AIDS, 1997). PCP is a lung infection caused from a parasite called pneumocystis. It is the most feared form of pneumonia because it spreads through the lungs quickly; doctors can't get it under control rapidly enough to treat it effectively. It is also one of leading causes of death for AIDS patients (AIDS in America. 1986). .
History of AIDS 5.
Kaposi's sarcoma is a rare form of skin cancer first discovered in April of 1981 (Grmek, 1990, p.6-7). Karposi's sarcoma is actually the most common form of cancer found in AIDS patients. It causes the red-brown skin lesions in the early stages of AIDS (AIDS in America. 1986). Sometimes, this is the only visible symptom of AIDS. CMV is an infection that usually affects the eyes, which can sometimes lead to blindness. Candida is a fungal infection that can cause a white colored film in your mouth, throat, or vagina (What is AIDS, 1997). Herpes of the mouth or genital area is also a disease that AIDS patients become more susceptible to. .
So, where did AIDS come from? There are many theories as to where AIDS actually originated. The first theory is that the AIDS virus was genetically engineered by the CIA to keep the population down (Kanabus & Allen, 2000). However, there is no evidence to support this theory. It is all based on speculation.
Another theory, developed by scientists, is that between the years of 1926-1946, the HIV virus (human immunodeficiency virus) spread from monkeys to humans (So little time. 1998). The HIV virus is a virus that causes AIDS.
