AIDS

AIDS is an acronym for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and is defined as a collection of symptoms and infections resulting from the depletion of the immune system caused by infection with HIV. Although treatments for both AIDS and HIV exist, there is no known cure. The rate of clinical disease progression varies widely between individuals and has been shown to be affected by many factors such as host susceptibility, immune function, health care, the presence of co-infections and peculiarities of the viral strain.

Diagnosis

The majority of people infected with HIV, if not treated, develop signs of AIDS within 8-10 years. However, 1-2% of HIV-infected individuals retain functional immune systems, despite being infected with HIV for a number of years. These individuals are known as HIV longterm non-progressors.

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The Centers for Disease Control has, since 1993, defined an AIDS diagnosis in adults and adolescents in the USA as when a person presents with HIV infection and either a CD4+ T cell count below 200/µL or one of 26 of AIDS defining clinical conditions. This is different for children. {{main|CDC Classification System for HIV Infection}}

Related Topics:
Centers for Disease Control - 1993 - T cell - AIDS defining clinical condition

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In developing countries, AIDS in adults and adolescents is identified on the basis of certain infections, grouped by the World Health Organization (WHO):

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• Stage I HIV disease is asymptomatic and not categorized as AIDS
• Stage II (includes minor mucocutaneous manifestations and recurrent upper respiratory tract infections)
• Stage III (includes unexplained chronic diarrhoea for longer than a month, severe bacterial infections and pulmonary tuberculosis) or
• Stage IV (includes Toxoplasmosis of the brain, Candidiasis of the oesophagus, trachea, bronchi or lungs and Kaposi's Sarcoma) HIV disease are used as indicators of AIDS.