HIV Infection

From Federal Health Reporting, booklet 31 "HIV and AIDS":
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) belongs to a group of viruses known as retroviruses. Infection with HIV leads to life-threatening illnesses predominantly as a result of the severe impairment of cellular immunity. The main cellular target of the HI-virus is the T-helper cell, which play a decisive role in the coordination of the immune response. When the virus enters the body, it is faced with an immune response, which cannot, however, completely eliminate the virus. The HI-virus replicates and the genetic information of the virus is assembled in the nucleus of infected cells. As a result, the host cell is reprogrammed and produces new copies of the virus. The genetic information of the HI-virus is passed on via cell division and consequently remains in the body of infected people for life, making a cure as of yet impossible. With the advancement of the disease the functional capability of the T-helper cells is reduced, resulting in the progressive deterioration of the capacity of the immune system to fulfil its protective function. This corresponds with a dramatic worsening of the health status of the infected person and, untreated, leads to death.

Selected information about HIV Infection:

Tables:

• AIDS, new cases
• HIV-positive laboratory cases
• Notifiable diseases (starting from 2001)

Texts:

• HIV and AIDS [Federal Health Monitoring - Booklets, June 2006]

Data Sources:

• Notifiable Infectious Diseases - Data Collection by Robert Koch Institute

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