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'''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.

Genetic [[research]] indicates that HIV originated in west-central Africa during the late nineteenth or early twentieth century.[9][10] AIDS was first recognized by the U.S. [[Centers for Disease Control]] and Prevention in 1981 and its cause, HIV, identified in the early 1980s.[11]

Genetic [[research]] indicates that HIV originated in west-central Africa during the late nineteenth or early twentieth century.[9][10] AIDS was first recognized by the U.S. [[Centers for Disease Control]] and Prevention in 1981 and its cause, HIV, identified in the early 1980s.[11]

Although treatments for AIDS and HIV can slow the course of the disease, there is currently no [[vaccine]] or cure. Antiretroviral treatment reduces both the mortality and the morbidity of HIV infection, but these drugs are expensive and routine access to antiretroviral medication is not available in all countries.[12] Due to the difficulty in treating HIV infection, preventing infection is a key aim in controlling the AIDS pandemic, with health organizations promoting safe sex and needle-exchange programmes in attempts to slow the spread of the [[virus]].[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIDS]

Although treatments for AIDS and HIV can slow the course of the disease, there is currently no [[vaccine]] or cure. Antiretroviral treatment reduces both the mortality and the morbidity of HIV infection, but these drugs are expensive and routine access to antiretroviral medication is not available in all countries.[12] Due to the difficulty in treating HIV infection, preventing infection is a key aim in controlling the AIDS pandemic, with health organizations promoting safe sex and needle-exchange programmes in attempts to slow the spread of the [[virus]].[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIDS]

 

==Notes and references==

==Notes and references==

==Further reading==

==Further reading==

*[http://data.unaids.org/pub/EPISlides/2007/2007_epiupdate_en.pdf 2007 AIDS epidemic update]. UNAIDS. Retrieved 2008-03-21.

*[https://data.unaids.org/pub/EPISlides/2007/2007_epiupdate_en.pdf 2007 AIDS epidemic update]. UNAIDS. Retrieved 2008-03-21.

*[http://data.unaids.org/pub/Report/2007/2006_unaids_annual_report_en.pdf] UNAIDS Annual Report — Making the money work. UNAIDS. Retrieved 2008-03-21.

*[https://data.unaids.org/pub/Report/2007/2006_unaids_annual_report_en.pdf] UNAIDS Annual Report — Making the money work. UNAIDS. Retrieved 2008-03-21.

*[http://data.unaids.org/pub/Report/2007/20070925_advocacy_grne2_en.pdf] "Financial Resources Required to Achieve, Universal Access to HIV Prevention, Treatment Care and Support"]. UNAIDS. Retrieved 2008-03-21.

*[https://data.unaids.org/pub/Report/2007/20070925_advocacy_grne2_en.pdf] "Financial Resources Required to Achieve, Universal Access to HIV Prevention, Treatment Care and Support"]. UNAIDS. Retrieved 2008-03-21.

*[http://data.unaids.org/pub/Manual/2007/20070306_prevention_guidelines_towards_universal_access_en.pdf Practical Guidelines for Intensifying HIV Prevention]. UNAIDS. Retrieved 2008-03-21.

*[https://data.unaids.org/pub/Manual/2007/20070306_prevention_guidelines_towards_universal_access_en.pdf Practical Guidelines for Intensifying HIV Prevention]. UNAIDS. Retrieved 2008-03-21.

*[http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/contentfiles/AntiretroviralFormulations_FS_en.pdf Antiretroviral Formulations]. US Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved 2008-03-21.

*[https://aidsinfo.nih.gov/contentfiles/AntiretroviralFormulations_FS_en.pdf Antiretroviral Formulations]. US Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved 2008-03-21.

*[http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/contentfiles/ApprovedMedstoTreatHIV_FS_en.pdf Approved Medications to Treat HIV Infection]. US Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved 2008-03-21.

*[https://aidsinfo.nih.gov/contentfiles/ApprovedMedstoTreatHIV_FS_en.pdf Approved Medications to Treat HIV Infection]. US Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved 2008-03-21.

*[http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/contentfiles/HIVLifeCycle_FS_en.pdf The HIV Life Cycle]. US Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved 2008-03-21.

*[https://aidsinfo.nih.gov/contentfiles/HIVLifeCycle_FS_en.pdf The HIV Life Cycle]. US Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved 2008-03-21.

==External links==

==External links==

*[http://www.dmoz.org/Health/Conditions_and_Diseases/Immune_Disorders/Immune_Deficiency/AIDS// HIV/AIDS] at the *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Directory_Project Open Directory Project]

*[https://www.dmoz.org/Health/Conditions_and_Diseases/Immune_Disorders/Immune_Deficiency/AIDS// HIV/AIDS] at the *[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Directory_Project Open Directory Project]

*[http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/ AIDSinfo - HIV/AIDS Treatment Information, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services]

*[https://aidsinfo.nih.gov/ AIDSinfo - HIV/AIDS Treatment Information, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services]

*[http://www.unaids.org/en/ UNAIDS: The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS]

*[https://www.unaids.org/en/ UNAIDS: The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS]

*[http://www.AIDS.gov/ Portal to all Federal HIV/AIDS information] - Office of HIV/AIDS Policy

*[https://www.AIDS.gov/ Portal to all Federal HIV/AIDS information] - Office of HIV/AIDS Policy

[[Category: Health]]

[[Category: Health]]