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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffAIDS is a chronic, potentially life-threatening condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). By damaging your immune system, HIV interferes with your body's ability to fight the organisms that cause disease.
HIV is a sexually transmitted disease. It can also be spread by contact with infected blood, or from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth or breast-feeding. It can take years before HIV weakens your immune system to the point that you have AIDS.
There's no cure for HIV/AIDS, but there are medications that can dramatically slow the progression of the disease. These drugs have reduced AIDS deaths in many developed nations. But HIV continues to decimate populations in Africa, Haiti and parts of Asia.
- Basic information about HIV and AIDS. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/basic/index.htm. Accessed May 18, 2010.
- HIV and its treatment: What you should know. AIDSinfo. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/contentfiles/HIVandItsTreatment_cbrochure_en.pdf. Accessed May 18, 2010.
- Kumar V, et al. Immunodeficiency syndromes. In: Kumar V, et al. Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, Professional Edition. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/202273019-4/0/2060/57.html?tocnode=57529567&fromURL=57.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4377-0792-2..50011-0--cesec96_437. Accessed May 18, 2010.
- Quinn TC. The global human immunodeficiency virus pandemic. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 18, 2010.
- Opal SM, et al. Human immunodeficiency virus. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2010. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/202273019-4/1002085996/2088/313.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05609-0..00017-4--sc0185_6437. Accessed May 18, 2010.
- Bartlett JG. The stages and natural history of HIV infection. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 18, 2010.
- Opal SM, et al. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2010. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/202273019-4/1002085996/2088/22.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05609-0..00010-1--s1620_340. Accessed May 18, 2010.
- Living with AIDS. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/brochures/livingwithhiv.htm. Accessed May 19, 2010.
- Neurological complications of AIDS fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/aids/detail_aids.htm. Accessed May 21, 2010.
- Bartlett JG. When to initiate antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected patients. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 21, 2010.
- Side effects of anti-HIV medications: Health information for patients. AIDSinfo. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/contentfiles/SideEffectAnitHIVMeds_cbrochure_en.pdf. Accessed May 21, 2010.
- Eating defensively: Food safety advice for persons with AIDS. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ByAudience/ForPatientAdvocates/HIVandAIDSActivities/ucm135844.htm. Accessed May 21, 2010.
- Natural medicines in the clinical management of HIV/AIDS. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed May 21, 2010.
- The HIV/AIDS programs: Find HIV/AIDS care. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://hab.hrsa.gov/findcare/index.htm. Accessed May 21, 2010.
- Fourth generation HIV diagnostic test approved, permitting earlier detection of infection. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ByAudience/ForPatientAdvocates/HIVandAIDSActivities/ucm216409.htm. Accessed June 24, 2010.
- FDA approves first-of-its-kind HIV test which can detect HIV days earlier than current U.S. tests. Abbott Laboratories. http://www.abbott.com/global/url/pressRelease/en_US/60.5:5/Press_Release_0875.htm. Accessed June 24, 2010.
- Daar ES, et al. Clinical presentation and diagnosis of primary HIV-1 infection. Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS. 2008;3:110.
- Sax, PE. Primary HIV-1 infection: Pathogenesis; epidemiology and clinical manifestations. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 17, 2011.
- Stages of HIV. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/diagnosed-with-hiv-aids/hiv-in-your-body/stages-of-hiv/. Accessed Oct. 19, 2011.
- Fauci A, et al. Human immunodeficiency virus disease: AIDS and related disorders. In: Longo DL, et al. Harrison's Online. 18th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2012. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=4. Accessed Oct. 19, 2011.
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