Viral diseases: HIV initially causes a flu-like illness. Unless successfully controlled with antiretroviral drugs the virus attacks the body’s immune cells. Late stage HIV infection, or AIDS, occurs when the body's immune system becomes so badly damaged it can no longer deal with other infections or cancers. HIV is spread by sexual contact or exchange of body fluids such as blood which occurs when drug users share needles.

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Q: Is this Viral diseases: HIV initially causes a flu-like illness. Unless successfully controlled with antiretroviral drugs the virus attacks the body’s immune cells. Late stage HIV infection, or AIDS, occurs when the body's immune system becomes so badly damaged it can no longer deal with other infections or cancers. HIV is spread by sexual contact or exchange of body fluids such as blood which occurs when drug users share needles. guide aligned to the AQA specification?

Yes. This guide is linked to the Viral diseases: HIV initially causes a flu-like illness. Unless successfully controlled with antiretroviral drugs the virus attacks the body’s immune cells. Late stage HIV infection, or AIDS, occurs when the body's immune system becomes so badly damaged it can no longer deal with other infections or cancers. HIV is spread by sexual contact or exchange of body fluids such as blood which occurs when drug users share needles. topic in the AQA GCSE specification.

HIV is a virus that first causes a flu-like illness, then, if not controlled by antiretroviral drugs, it attacks the body's immune cells.

Study notes

From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

The idea

HIV is a virus that first causes a flu-like illness, then, if not controlled by antiretroviral drugs, it attacks the body's immune cells. This progressive damage means the immune system eventually cannot deal with other infections or cancers; this late stage is AIDS. HIV spreads by sexual contact or by exchange of body fluids, for example blood when drug users share needles. A useful model is a slow siege: the virus does not directly cause AIDS, but destroys the defenders so other pathogens or cancers can invade. Antiretroviral drugs suppress viral replication, so a person can live with HIV without progressing to AIDS.

What earns the marks

HIV initially causes a flu-like illness, which may be mild and non-specific.
Without successful control by antiretroviral drugs, HIV attacks the body's immune cells.
Late stage HIV infection, or AIDS, occurs when the immune system is so badly damaged that it can no longer deal with other infections or cancers.
HIV is spread by sexual contact.
HIV is also spread by exchange of body fluids such as blood, which occurs when drug users share needles.
Antiretroviral drugs control HIV but do not cure it; they reduce the risk of progression to AIDS.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

Saying HIV and AIDS are the same thing.
Put it right: HIV is the virus; AIDS is the late stage of infection when the immune system is badly damaged.
Claiming HIV directly kills the person by attacking the lungs or other organs.
Put it right: HIV attacks immune cells, so other infections or cancers become life-threatening.
Stating that HIV spreads by casual contact such as hugging or sharing food.
Put it right: It spreads by sexual contact or exchange of body fluids such as blood, for example through shared needles.

Exam tips

Use the phrase 'immune cells' rather than 'white blood cells' alone, and link their destruction to the inability to deal with other infections or cancers.
When asked about transmission, give both named routes: sexual contact and exchange of body fluids such as blood through shared needles.
If a question asks why antiretroviral drugs matter, explain that they control the virus and prevent progression to AIDS, not that they cure HIV.

Try the lesson

The start of the Viral diseases: HIV initially causes a flu-like illness. Unless successfully controlled with antiretroviral drugs the virus attacks the body’s immune cells. Late stage HIV infection, or AIDS, occurs when the body's immune system becomes so badly damaged it can no longer deal with other infections or cancers. HIV is spread by sexual contact or exchange of body fluids such as blood which occurs when drug users share needles. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

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