What is AIDS?

What is AIDS?

• AIDS: A term given to HIV patients who have a low CD4 count (below 200) which means that they have low levels of a type of immune cell called T-cells. AIDS patients tend to develop opportunistic infections and cancers. Opportunistic infections are infections that would not normally affect a person with a healthy immune system. The HIV virus is a virus that attacks the body's immune system.
• AIDS: A syndrome resulting from the acquired deficiency of cellular immunity caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It is characterized by the reduction of the Helper T-lymphocytes in the peripheral blood and the lymph nodes; opportunistic infections (usually pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections, tuberculosis, candida infections, and cryptococcosis); and the development of malignant neoplasms (usually non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and Kaposi's sarcoma). The human immunodeficiency virus is transmitted through sexual contact, sharing of contaminated needles, or transfusion of contaminated blood. Generalized lymphadenopathy, fever, weight loss, and chronic diarrhea are common symptoms of AIDS. The patients usually die either of opportunistic infections or malignant neoplasms. -- 2004
  Source - Diseases Database

AIDS: Introduction

Types of AIDS:

Broader types of AIDS:

• Sexually Transmitted Diseases
• more types...»

How many people get AIDS?

Prevalance of AIDS: In the United States, 641,086 cases of AIDS had been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as of Dec. (Source: excerpt from Sexually Transmitted Diseases Statistics, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID)

Who gets AIDS?

Racial Information for AIDS: In recent years, the incidence of AIDS has been increasing significantly faster among African-American women; the death rate from AIDS was nine times that of white women in 1993. (Source: excerpt from Minority: NWHIC)

How serious is AIDS?

Prognosis of AIDS: AIDS is fatal without treatment
Complications of AIDS: see complications of AIDS
Prognosis of AIDS: The prognosis for individuals with AIDS in recent years has improved significantly because of new drugs and treatments, and educational and preventive efforts. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Neurological Manifestations of AIDS Information Page: NINDS)

What causes AIDS?

Causes of AIDS: see causes of AIDS
Risk factors for AIDS: see risk factors for AIDS

What are the symptoms of AIDS?

Symptoms of AIDS: see symptoms of AIDS

Complications of AIDS: see complications of AIDS

Can anyone else get AIDS?

Inheritance: see inheritance of AIDS

AIDS: Testing

Diagnostic testing: see tests for AIDS.

Misdiagnosis: see misdiagnosis and AIDS.

How is it treated?

Treatments for AIDS: see treatments for AIDS
Research for AIDS: see research for AIDS

Society issues for AIDS

Costs of AIDS: In 1994, the total cost of sexually transmitted HIV infection in the United States was approximately $6.7 billion. (Source: excerpt from Sexually Transmitted Diseases Statistics, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID)

Name and Aliases of AIDS

Main name of condition: AIDS

acquired immune deficiency syndrome

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, Human immunodeficiency virus 1, HIV-1 disease Source - Diseases Database

Research the causes of these diseases that are similar to, or related to, AIDS:

• Pregnancy
• Childbirth
• Breastfeeding
• Blood
• Semen
• Vaginal fluid
• Preseminal fluid
• Breast milk
• Safe sex

 » Next page: Prevalence and Incidence of AIDS

Rate This Website

What do you think about the features of this website? Take our user survey and have your say:

Website User Survey

Medical Tools & Articles:

Next articles:

• Prevalence and Incidence of AIDS
• Videos related to AIDS
• Prognosis of AIDS
• Types of AIDS
• Causes of AIDS

Tools & Services:

• Bookmark this page
• Symptom Search
• Symptom Checker
• Medical Dictionary
• Give your feedback

Medical Articles:

• Disease & Treatments Search
• Misdiagnosis Center
• Full list of interesting articles

Forums & Message Boards

• Ask or answer a question at the Boards:
• I cannot get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for my condition?
• See all the Boards.

Enter your search terms Submit search form
Search The Web Search wrongdiagnosis.com

Common Health Mistakes

Symptom
Checker

Search Specialists by State and City