| '''Acquired immune deficiency syndrome''' or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome ('''AIDS''') is a [[disease]] of the [[human]] [[immune system]] caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).[1][2][3] This condition progressively reduces the effectiveness of the immune system and leaves [[individual]]s susceptible to opportunistic [[infection]]s and [[tumor]]s. HIV is transmitted through direct contact of a mucous membrane or the bloodstream with a bodily fluid containing HIV, such as [[blood]], [[semen]], vaginal fluid, preseminal fluid, and breast milk.[4][5] This transmission can involve anal, vaginal or oral [[sex]], blood transfusion, contaminated hypodermic needles, exchange between mother and baby during pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or other exposure to one of the above bodily fluids. | | '''Acquired immune deficiency syndrome''' or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome ('''AIDS''') is a [[disease]] of the [[human]] [[immune system]] caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).[1][2][3] This condition progressively reduces the effectiveness of the immune system and leaves [[individual]]s susceptible to opportunistic [[infection]]s and [[tumor]]s. HIV is transmitted through direct contact of a mucous membrane or the bloodstream with a bodily fluid containing HIV, such as [[blood]], [[semen]], vaginal fluid, preseminal fluid, and breast milk.[4][5] This transmission can involve anal, vaginal or oral [[sex]], blood transfusion, contaminated hypodermic needles, exchange between mother and baby during pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or other exposure to one of the above bodily fluids. |