HIV primarily affects the immune system in the body by targeting and destroying CD4 cells (also called T cells or helper cells), which are critical in keeping the body healthy and protecting it from infections and diseases. As HIV progresses, it progressively damages the immune system, making the body more vulnerable to opportunistic infections and certain cancers. Other body systems that HIV can affect due to immune system weakening include the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, the digestive system, and the central nervous system.
Affected Body Systems by HIV:
- Immune System: HIV attacks CD4 cells, the key defenders in the immune system. Loss of these cells leads to a compromised ability to fight infections and diseases, causing symptoms ranging from mild flu-like illness to severe immune dysfunction in advanced stages (AIDS).
- Respiratory and Cardiovascular Systems: Weakened immunity increases the risk of respiratory infections like pneumonia and tuberculosis, and raises the likelihood of lung cancer and heart-related complications such as pulmonary arterial hypertension and high blood pressure.
- Digestive System: Due to immune deficiency, secondary infections such as oral thrush (fungal infection), oral hairy leukoplakia, and gastrointestinal infections become common, often causing problems like diarrhea, weight loss, and difficulty swallowing.
- Central Nervous System: HIV indirectly damages nerve cells by infecting surrounding support cells, leading to neurological complications such as neuropathy, cognitive impairments (HIV-associated dementia), and infections like toxoplasma encephalitis.
Thus, HIV mainly affects the immune system but also has significant impacts on multiple other body systems due to the immune compromise it causes.
