what is AIDS?

Answer 1

As others have said, AIDS is Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. AIDS is caused by HIV -- Human Immnunodeficiency Virus. However, most are phasing out this term in favor of "Advanced HIV Disease".

The progression of HIV infection to AIDS is not always inevitable. There are people who are termed "long term non-progressors". These are people who have had HIV for a very long time but exhibit no appreciable decrease in their immune function; even without taking medications.

Recently, the advancement of HIV infection to AIDS has been slowed dramtically by highly effective (and highly expensive) Anti-HIV medications.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (the CDC) there are specific criteria for an AIDS diagnosis. People who have had an HIV positive test result combined with a CD4+ count lower than 200 or CD4+ percentage less than 14 or an opportunistic infection (OI) have AIDS.

That is, a person with HIV and an opportunistic infection (any one of about 30 specific illnesses) is diagnosed with AIDS regardless of the CD4 count. Also, a person with HIV and fewer than 200 CD4 cells is considered to have AIDS even if the person never had an OI.

Finally, once diagnosed with AIDS, the diagnosis never goes away. Even if one's CD4 count rises into the 700 range after being below 200, that person is still considered to have AIDS. Similarly, a person who no longer has an OI will still have a diagnosis of AIDS (or Advanced HIV Disease).

Answer 2

AIDS is an autoimmune disease caused from the virus HIV. AIDS is what we call it when someone with HIV shows certian symptoms of there disease process. Auto Immune Deficiency Syndrome means that your body cant fight even the simplest illness like the common cold. People get certain Pneumonias and cancers, skin conditions. It can be controlled, and life spans are longer now. But just because you have HIV, doesnt necessarily mean you have AIDS.

Answer 3

AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.

Acquired – means that the disease is not hereditary but develops after birth from contact with a disease causing agent (in this case, HIV).

Immunodeficiency – means that the disease is characterized by a weakening of the immune system.

Syndrome – refers to a group of symptoms that collectively indicate or characterize a disease. In the case of AIDS this can include the development of certain infections and/or cancers, as well as a decrease in the number of certain cells in a person’s immune system.

A diagnosis of AIDS is made by a physician using specific clinical or laboratory standards.

Answer 4

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Its a virus that attacks the T-Helper Cells part of the immune system which takes away the bodies ability to recognize foreign protein (bacteria or virus). Because of this, the body loses its ability to fight off infection--even simple ones like the flu or a cold or even thrush (common in newborns).

Answer 5

Auto Immune Deficiency Syndrome

AIDS itself doesn't kill you. What happens is that you have no immunity to any bacteria or virus that comes along. That's what kills you. What to a normal healthy person would be a cold would turn into pneumonia for someone with AIDS that would kill them because their body can't fight it.

Answer 6

the aquired immuno defieciency syndrome is a fatal disease which is caused by a virus callles as human immuno virus.it is called aquired immuno because it affects the t cell of immune.that is why the body could not fight against the germs.that is why no vaccine has been created for aids.

Answer 7

AIDS is a disease because of which the body loses its resistance power completely and thereby becomes Vulnerable to any sickness.ie if one gets a cough then the chances of one dying of it increases.

Answer 8

AIDS is a type of STD STD a sexual transmitted disease's its like HIV or some other disease's

Answer 9

Badtimes.

Answer 10

start f****** everyone without a sheath and u'll know what is Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome