Disease or Syndrome
AIDS
AIDS
Subclass of:
Slow Virus Diseases;
HIV Infections
Also called:
AIDS
Definitions related to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome:
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(aids) One or more indicator diseases, depending on laboratory evidence of HIV infection (CDC); late phase of HIV infection characterized by marked suppression of immune function resulting in opportunistic infections, neoplasms, and other systemic symptoms (NIAID).CRISP ThesaurusNational Institutes of Health, 2006
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(hiv/aids) HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It harms your immune system by destroying a type of white blood cell that helps your body fight infection. This puts you at risk for serious infections and certain cancers. AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. It is the final stage of infection with HIV. It happens when the body's immune system is badly damaged because of the virus. Not everyone with HIV develops AIDS. HIV can spread in different ways: Through unprotected sex with a person with HIV. This is the most common way that it spreads.; By sharing drug needles; Through contact with the blood of a person with HIV; From mother to baby during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.MedlinePlusU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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(acquired immunodeficiency disease) A chronic, potentially life threatening condition that is caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and is characterized by increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections, certain cancers and neurologic disorders.NICHD Pediatric TerminologyU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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A disease caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). People with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome are at an increased risk for developing certain cancers and for infections that usually occur only in individuals with a weak immune system.NCI Dictionary of Cancer TermsU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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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. Symptoms include generalized lymphadenopathy, fever, weight loss, and chronic diarrhea. Patients with AIDS are especially susceptible to opportunistic infections (usually pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections, tuberculosis, candida infections, and cryptococcosis), and the development of malignant neoplasms (usually non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Kaposi sarcoma). The human immunodeficiency virus is transmitted through sexual contact, sharing of contaminated needles, or transfusion of contaminated blood.NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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An acquired defect of cellular immunity associated with infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a CD4-positive T-lymphocyte count under 200 cells/microliter or less than 14% of total lymphocytes, and increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections and malignant neoplasms. Clinical manifestations also include emaciation (wasting) and dementia. These elements reflect criteria for AIDS as defined by the CDC in 1993.NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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Usually abbreviated as AIDS. This is the most advanced stage of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which can severely weaken the immune system. People with AIDS get many infections, often from diseases that don't affect people with healthy immune systems.Harvard Dictionary of Health TermsHarvard Medical Publishing, 2011
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AIDS, transmissible disease of the immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV is a lentivirus (literally meaning "slow virus"; a member of the retrovirus family) that slowly attacks and destroys the immune system, the body's defense against infection, leaving an individual...Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2020
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