HIV: How It Attacks the Immune System & CD4+ T Cells

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) primarily targets the body's immune system. It attacks and weakens the immune system, specifically affecting a type of white blood cell known as CD4+ T cells, often referred to as T cells or helper T cells. T cells play a critical role in the immune system's ability to fight off infections, including the virus itself.

When HIV enters the body, it infects and destroys these crucial T cells, reducing the body's ability to defend itself against a wide range of infections. As the infection progresses, HIV can damage the immune system to the point where the body is unable to effectively combat even minor infections and diseases, making the individual vulnerable to a variety of illnesses, some of which can be life-threatening.

HIV weakens the immune system over time, leading to a condition called acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). AIDS is the most advanced stage of HIV infection, and it occurs when the immune system is severely weakened and can no longer effectively defend the body against opportunistic infections and certain types of cancer.