Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (pronounced as uh-kwahyuhd ih-myuh-noh-di-fish-uhn-see sin-drohm), often abbreviated as AIDS, is a chronic, potentially life-threatening condition caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

Etymology

The term "Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome" was first used in 1982. It is derived from the English words "acquired," meaning obtained or contracted; "immuno-," referring to the immune system; "deficiency," meaning a lack of or shortage; and "syndrome," which refers to a group of symptoms that consistently occur together.

Definition

AIDS is the final stage of HIV infection, and not everyone who has HIV advances to this stage. People with AIDS have severely damaged immune systems, which leaves them vulnerable to a range of infectious diseases and cancers that people with healthy immune systems can fight off.

Related Terms

• Human Immunodeficiency Virus
• Infectious disease
• Cancer
• Immune system
• Antiretroviral therapy

See Also

• Epidemiology of HIV/AIDS
• History of HIV/AIDS
• HIV/AIDS research
• HIV/AIDS in the United States

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Wikipedia's article - Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

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