What is HIV?

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.

Read more on www.nlm.nih.gov

Also known as aids, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, AIDS Virus, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, HTLV-III, AIDS Viruses, Human Immunodeficiency Viruses

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HIV information from trusted sources:

AIDS

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

AIDS and HIV Health Center - WebMD

The CDC states at the end of 2003 about 1 to 1.2 million people in the US were living with HIV/AIDS. Find HIV and AIDS information here, ...

HIV and AIDS

Many people don't understand how HIV and AIDS are related or what they really mean, even though they hear these two words used together all the time.

HIV and AIDS Activities

Sep 8, 2009 ... Consolidated information and references about FDA activities and policies related to HIV/AIDS.

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.

WHO | HIV/AIDS

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that infects cells of the immune system, destroying or impairing their function. ...

HIV/AIDS Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatments and Causes ...

HIV/AIDS information including symptoms, diagnosis, misdiagnosis, treatment, causes, patient stories, videos, forums, prevention, and prognosis.

HIV Tutorial

AIDS is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a retrovirus of the lentivirus family that was unknown until the early 1980's, but since that time ...

HIV and AIDS Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention Facts and ...

Nov 29, 2010 ... Read about HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) causes, symptoms, signs, treatment , prevention, transmission, facts, testing, ...

HIV, Early Recognition and Rapid Testing: eMedicine Emergency Medicine

Aug 12, 2010 ... Overview: Clinically apparent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection first was recognized in 1981 in homosexual men and parenteral ...