Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) - Definition of Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)

1.0Glossaryhttps://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/glossaryGlossaryhttps://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/glossary/author/adminglossary/Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) - Definition of Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)rich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="duQRzZjdlw"><a href="https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/glossary/acquired-immune-deficiency-syndrome-aids/">Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/glossary/acquired-immune-deficiency-syndrome-aids/embed/#?secret=duQRzZjdlw" width="600" height="338" title="“Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)” — Glossary" data-secret="duQRzZjdlw" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script> /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); //# sourceURL=https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/glossary/wp-includes/js/wp-embed.min.js </script> A disease in which a specific virus attacks and kills macrophages and helper T cells (thus causing collapse of the entire immune system). Once the immune system has been inactivated, other diseases, which under normal circumstances can be fought off, become fatal.Caused by HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), AIDS leads to potentially fatal depression of the immune system.A viral infection which breaks down the body’s immune system.A disease that results when a specific virus (HIV) attacks elements of the immune system, rendering it unable to respond to incoming antigens or infective agents.A deadly infectious disease that drastically weakens the immune system. AIDS is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV (previously called human T-cell lymphotropic virus III, HTLV-II1, or LAV), which attacks vital white blood cells called helper T cells that help produce disease-fighting antibodies. With the T cells crippled, a person becomes prey to cancer and various opportunistic infections, so called because they spread when the body loses its normal ability to fight them off. Different strains of HIV, some stronger than others, exist; also, some other organisms (perhaps including microbes called mycoplasmas) may sharply increase the ability of HIV to spread.A fatal virus that destroys the human immune system. The virus, transmitted through contact with infected bodily fluids, such as blood, is spreading rapidly among many high-risk groups, including intravenous drug users who share needles and syringes.The final stage in a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and a group of symptoms resulting from infections due to a weakened immune system. These symptoms may include pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, Kaposi’s sarcoma, persistent infections, and damage to the brain and spinal cord. AIDS is spread through sexual intercourse; by sharing infected needles; and, rarely, through tainted blood products. It can be spread from a pregnant woman to her fetus.The disease that is caused by HIV infection, which weakens the immune system.A disease that breaks down the body’s immune system. AIDS is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).