What is AIDS?

AIDS information from trusted sources:

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. It is the most advanced stages of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV is a virus that kills or damages cells of the body's immune system. HIV most often spreads through unprotected sex with an infected person. AIDS may also spread by sharing drug needles or through contact with the blood of an infected person. Women can give it to their babies during pregnancy or childbirth.

AIDS

The occurrence of immune deficiency in previously healthy individuals. There is no specific therapy.

Human immunodeficiency virus

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) suppresses the immune system’s ability to fight infection and disease. HIV was first identified in the early 1980s. The virus targets white blood cells in the immune system known as helper T cells (or CD4 cells), thus impairing the body's ability to fight infections. While much has been learned since HIV was first identified, it is still not entirely clear how the virus destroys CD4 cells or impairs the immune system's ability to fight infection.

HIV and AIDS

Department Of Health (2004). HIV post-exposure prophylaxis: Guidance from the UK Chief Medical Officer's Expert Advisory Group on AIDS

HIV/AIDS

AIDS is a chronic, life-threatening condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). By damaging your immune system, HIV interferes with your body's ability to fight off viruses, bacteria and fungi that cause disease. HIV makes you more susceptible to certain types of cancers and to infections your body would normally resist, such as pneumonia and meningitis. The virus and the infection itself are known as HIV. "Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)" is the name given to the later stages of an HIV infection.

HIV/AIDS

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection has now spread to every country in the world. Approximately 40 million people are currently living with HIV infection, and an estimated 25 million have died from this disease. The scourge of HIV has been particularly devastating in sub-Saharan Africa, but infection rates in other countries remain high. In the United States, approximately 1 million people are currently infected. Here are a few key points about the disease:

AIDS screen

To determine if you are infected with Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

AIDS - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human ...

Welcome to AIDS.gov

HIV/AIDS information from the Federal government about prevention, testing, treatment, research, and using new media in response to HIV/AIDS.

CDC HIV/AIDS

CDC provides leadership for HIV prevention research and surveillance and the development and testing of effective biomedical interventions to reduce ...