The human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, compromises an individual's immune system, allowing the human body to be more easily destroyed by simple bacteria and viruses, causing ultimately acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS. It effectively causes the human body to fight itself and is therefore one of the most debilitating diseases known to man. 6,300 people worldwide die every day from complications of HIV/AIDS. This means that in the 30 minutes it will take to read this document, 131 humans will have died. The disease is extremely prevalent in today's society and will continue to have a major effect on humanity until a cure is hopefully found. This article will discuss the pathogenicity of one of the worst diseases in current medicine as well as possible treatments. People with HIV have an infection that damages their immune system over time and eventually develops into AIDS. AIDS is the last stage of HIV infection, where the immune system is damaged and too weak to fight off ordinary infections. In a normal, healthy human being, when foreign invaders such as bacteria and viruses enter the body, they can cause infections. These events activate the body's defenses. The white blood cells of the immune system are part of the body's defenses. A type of white blood cell, called T helper lymphocytes, or T helper cells, strengthens the immune system's response to infection in two ways. First, when helper T cells release chemicals that attract other white blood cells to the site of infection. These extra white blood cells attack invading bacteria or viruses as well as other infected cells. Second, helper T cells release chemicals that cause other lymphocytes to multiply. These new cells create markers called antibodies, which include: reverse transcriptase drugs, protease inhibitors, and integrase inhibitors. These medications prevent the creation, assembly, and spread of new viruses. Typically, a doctor will prescribe a combination of these medications, more commonly called highly active antiretroviral therapy or HAART. Antiretroviral drugs do not completely eliminate HIV from the body, but slow it down enough to allow the immune system to fight infections. Regular blood tests will allow the doctor and patient to know how effective drug treatment is in controlling HIV. If the number of helper T cells is high enough in a patient's blood sample, then the drug is effective. Treatments for opportunistic AIDS infections are medications specific to each type of infection. For example, a doctor may prescribe an antibiotic for pneumonia or tuberculosis..