NationStates Jolt Archive

"We can't allow this to happen!" protests Dr. Charles Li, senior pathologist of Peng-Pau's largest hospital. "Prostitution is a dangerous business and must remain illegal! People need to be more aware of the consequences that could follow like the risk of contracting HIV, chlamydia, or even AIDS.

As a Biologist, that last bit irks me a lot. HIV is AIDS. Well, to be exact, HIV (usually) develops into AIDS over time, but the specifics of it aren't the problem. I'd like to offer an alternative that isn't as misinformed (no offence to Lmaortfmolia, who wrote the original issue):

People need to be more aware of the consequences that could follow like the risk of contracting hepatitis, chlamydia, or even HIV.

How about using 'or even HIV-AIDS'?

HIV is AIDS. Well, to be exact, HIV (usually) develops into AIDS over time,

You could develop just HIV (like Magic Johnson), but just because you contract HIV doesn't guarantee it will develop into AIDS. So the issue is correct. You could get HIV OR your HIV could develop into AIDS. As a biologist, you're taking this game too seriously.

The issue says:
"... contracting HIV, chlamydia, or even AIDS".

HIV: Human immunodeficiency virus
AIDS: Acquired ImmunoDeficiency Syndrome

Simply put: HIV is a virus and thus something one can be infected by. AIDS is a syndrome, the problems one has which may or may not develop as a result of HIV infection.

So, a doctor encounters patients who suffer from a series of medical problems which are similar. These problems seem to relate to one another, and so this is then descibed as a syndrome. Later the cause of the syndrome is discovered: a virus.

As such, AIDS isn't something one contracts, it's something that may develop as a consequence of contracting HIV.

My suggestion: change it to "... contracting chlamydia, syphilis, or even HIV". It's not as if there's a shortage of STDs to list...


Ballotonia

Yeah, I know. I originally put AIDS as a filler (I didn't know how to spell 'syphilis') but forgot to change it when I put the issue in. But don't worry! This was included in a list of errors needing rectified that I sent to Sal.

Yeah, I know. I originally put AIDS as a filler (I didn't know how to spell 'syphilis') but forgot to change it when I put the issue in. But don't worry! This was included in a list of errors needing rectified that I sent to Sal.

When fixed, can I have a copy of that error list so I can update the list of issues accordingly?

Ballotonia

Sure.

You could develop just HIV (like Magic Johnson), but just because you contract HIV doesn't guarantee it will develop into AIDS. So the issue is correct. You could get HIV OR your HIV could develop into AIDS. As a biologist, you're taking this game too seriously.

You have to get HiV to get AIDS, therefore one is a prerequisite for the other. Anyway, I'm sure that if someone said that Nazi Germany was run by a man called Adam Lister, I'm sure thousands of Historians would object.

Yeah, I know. I originally put AIDS as a filler (I didn't know how to spell 'syphilis') but forgot to change it when I put the issue in. But don't worry! This was included in a list of errors needing rectified that I sent to Sal.

I slap you with my stick of slappingness.

You have to get HiV to get AIDS, therefore one is a prerequisite for the other.

Incorrect.

AIDS does not give you HIV, HIV gives you AIDS. You can only acquire AIDS through the mutation in the bloodstream of HIV cells.

Incorrect.

AIDS does not give you HIV, HIV gives you AIDS. You can only acquire AIDS through the mutation in the bloodstream of HIV cells.
I think thats what he said.


One question though: does Acquired ImmunoDeficiency Syndrome only occur due to HIV, or are their other ways of having an immuno deficiencies that aren't related to that particular virus?

/methinks this might meet the criteria for General now.