AIDS (Print Version)

Also called: Also called: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, HIV, Human immunodeficiency virus

AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. It is the most advanced stages of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV is a virus that kills or damages cells of the body's immune system.

HIV most often spreads through unprotected sex with an infected person. AIDS may also spread by sharing drug needles or through contact with the blood of an infected person. Women can give it to their babies during pregnancy or childbirth.

The first signs of HIV infection may be swollen glands and flu-like symptoms. These may come and go a month or two after infection. Severe symptoms may not appear until months or years later.

A blood test can tell if you have HIV infection. Your health care provider can perform the test, or call the national referral hotline at 1-800-CDC-INFO (24 hours a day, 1-800-232-4636 in English and en español; 1-888-232-6348 - TTY).

There is no cure, but there are many medicines to fight both HIV infection and the infections and cancers that come with it. People can live with the disease for many years.

Start Here

HIV / AIDS(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) - http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/HIVAIDS/Understanding/
HIV and AIDS(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/aids/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/aidsspanish/htm/index.htm
JAMA Patient Page: HIV Infections: The Basics(American Medical Association) - Links to PDF - http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/300/5/614.pdf

Overviews

AIDS/HIV(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/aids_hiv.cfm
HIV/AIDS Fact Sheets(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/
Questions and Answers on HIV and AIDS(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/qa/index.htm

Latest News

Circumcision Can Reduce AIDS Risk, Study Shows(04/27/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_83438.html
HIV May Be Increasing in Virulence(04/15/2009, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_82967.html
HIV Treatment Should Start Earlier(04/08/2009, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_82714.html
Statement of Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., Director NIAID, NIH on National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day(03/04/2009, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) - http://www.nih.gov/news/health/mar2009/niaid-04.htm
Anti-HIV Gel Shows Promise in Large-Scale Study in Women(02/09/2009, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) - http://www.nih.gov/news/health/feb2009/niaid-09.htm
More News on AIDS http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alphanews_a.html#aids

Diagnosis/Symptoms

Frequently Asked Questions about HIV and HIV Testing(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.hivtest.org/faq.cfm?CFID=4135675&CFTOKEN=15818891
Also available in Spanish http://www.HIVTest.org/index_sp.cfm
HIV Antibody Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/hiv_antibody/test.html
HIV Testing in the United States(Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation) - Links to PDF - http://www.kff.org/hivaids/6094.cfm
p24 Antigen Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/p24/test.html
Testing Yourself for HIV-1, the Virus that Causes AIDS(Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research) - http://www.fda.gov/cber/infosheets/hiv-home2.htm

Treatment

MedlinePlus: AIDS Medicines(National Library of Medicine) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/aidsmedicines.html
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/aidsmedicines.html

Prevention/Screening

HIV and AIDS: Are You at Risk?(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/brochures/at-risk.htm
HIV Transmission: Questions and Answers(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/qa/transmission.htm
How to Protect Yourself from AIDS(Food and Drug Administration) - Links to PDF - http://www.fda.gov/opacom/lowlit/aids.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://www.fda.gov/opacom/lowlit/saids.pdf
Preventive HIV Vaccines(AIDSinfo) - Links to PDF - http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/ContentFiles/HIVPreventionVaccines_FS_en.pdf
Safer Sex Guidelines(New Mexico AIDS Education and Training Center) - http://www.aidsinfonet.org/fact_sheets/view/151?lang=eng
Also available in Spanish http://www.aidsinfonet.org/fact_sheets/view/151?lang=spa
Treatment After Exposure to HIV(New Mexico AIDS Education and Training Center) - http://www.aidsinfonet.org/fact_sheets/view/156?lang=eng
Vital Facts about HIV Home Test Kits(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/hivtestkit012908.html

Alternative Therapy

Alternative and Complementary Therapies(New Mexico AIDS Education and Training Center) - http://www.aidsinfonet.org/fact_sheets/view/700?lang=eng
Also available in Spanish http://www.aidsinfonet.org/fact_sheets/view/700?lang=spa

Disease Management

CD4 and CD8(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/cd4/test.html
HIV Resistance Testing(New Mexico AIDS Education and Training Center) - In English and Spanish - http://aidsinfonet.org/fact_sheets/view/126?lang=eng
Also available in Spanish http://aidsinfonet.org/fact_sheets/view/126?lang=spa
HIV Viral Load(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/viral_load/test.html
Immune Restoration(New Mexico AIDS Education and Training Center) - http://aidsinfonet.org/fact_sheets/view/481?lang=eng
Also available in Spanish http://aidsinfonet.org/fact_sheets/view/481?lang=spa

Specific Conditions

Acute HIV Infection(New Mexico AIDS Education and Training Center) - http://www.aidsinfonet.org/fact_sheets/view/103?lang=eng
Also available in Spanish http://www.aidsinfonet.org/fact_sheets/view/103?lang=spa
HIV: What Is HIV Syndrome?(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/sexinfections/hiv/451.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/sexinfections/hiv/451.printerview.html
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 2(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/hiv2.htm
Neurological Complications of AIDS(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/aids/aids.htm
Neurological Complications of AIDS(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/aids/detail_aids.htm
Also available in Spanish http://espanol.ninds.nih.gov/trastornos/complicaciones_neurologicas_del_sida.htm

Related Issues

Alcohol and HIV/AIDS(National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) - http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa57.htm
Drug Abuse and the Link to HIV/AIDS and Other Infectious Diseases(National Institute on Drug Abuse) - http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/drugabuse.html
Also available in Spanish http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/Elabuso-sp.html
Drugs, Alcohol and HIV/AIDS: A Consumer Guide(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - Links to PDF - http://www.kap.samhsa.gov/products/brochures/pdfs/HIVBroch(General).pdf
Also available in Spanish http://www.kap.samhsa.gov/mli/docs/spanish/Final%20PDF%20proof%20HIVBroch_Spanish_060602.pdf
Drugs, Alcohol and HIV/AIDS: A Consumer Guide for African Americans(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - Links to PDF - http://www.kap.samhsa.gov/products/brochures/pdfs/tip_37_brochure.pdf
HIV-AIDS Connection(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) - http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/HIVAIDS/Understanding/How+HIV+Causes+AIDS/connection.htm
How Safe Is the Blood Supply in the United States?(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/qa/qa15.htm

Pictures & Photographs

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Primary Infection(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/adult/humanImmunodeficiencyVirusPrimaryInfectionHIV.htm

Tutorials

HIV and AIDS(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/aids/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/aidsspanish/htm/index.htm

Videos

D'cisions: Drugs + HIV, Learn the Link(National Institute on Drug Abuse) - http://hiv.drugabuse.gov/english/message/webisodes.html
Need to Know: The Importance of HIV Testing(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/CDCtv/NeedToKnow/

Anatomy/Physiology

HIV Life Cycle(AIDSinfo) - Links to PDF - http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/contentfiles/HIVLifeCycle_FS_en.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/contentfiles/CicloDdeVidaDelVIH_FS_sp.pdf

Financial Issues

Ryan White Program(Health Resources and Services Administration) - http://hab.hrsa.gov/aboutus.htm

Clinical Trials

ClinicalTrials.gov: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Acquired+Immunodeficiency+Syndrome%22
ClinicalTrials.gov: HIV Infections(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22HIV+Infections%22
ClinicalTrials.gov: HIV/AIDS Vaccines(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/term=(HIV+infections)+%5BCONDITION%5D+AND+vaccine+%5BTREATMENT%5D
HIV+ Long-Term Non-Progressor Study(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) - http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/Volunteer/HIVlongTerm/
HIV/AIDS Network Clinical Trials Units (CTU) and Clinical Research Sites (CRS)(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) - http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/about/organization/daids/Networks/daidsnetworkunits.htm
Participating in a Clinical Trial(New Mexico AIDS Education and Training Center) - http://www.aidsinfonet.org/fact_sheets/view/205?lang=eng
What Is an AIDS Clinical Trial?(AIDSinfo) - http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/ClinicalTrials/ClinicalTrial.aspx?menuItem=ClinicalTrials
Also available in Spanish http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/ContentFiles/QueEsUnEnsayoClinicoSobreElSIDA_FS_sp.pdf

Research

African Americans: Answers about HIV Vaccine Research(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) - Links to PDF - http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/HIVAIDS/PDF/NIAID_HVAD_AA_FS.pdf
Cardiovascular Risk Assessment, Treatment Vital for HIV Patients on Therapy(American Heart Association) - http://americanheart.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=443
HIV Patients with Diabetes, Heart Disease Have Higher Risk of Heart Events(American Heart Association) - http://americanheart.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=654
HIV/AIDS(National Institutes of Health) - Links to PDF - http://www.nih.gov/about/researchresultsforthepublic/HIV-AIDS.pdf
How HIV Causes AIDS(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) - http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/HIVAIDS/Understanding/How+HIV+Causes+AIDS/cause.htm
Microbicides(New Mexico AIDS Education and Training Center) - http://www.aidsinfonet.org/fact_sheets/view/157?lang=eng
Also available in Spanish http://www.aidsinfonet.org/fact_sheets/view/157?lang=spa
Possible HIV Prevention Therapy Shows Promise, but at a Significant Cost(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/possible-hiv-prevention-therapy-shows-promise-but-at-a-significant-cost.shtml
Rapid Oral Testing for HIV Infection(American College of Physicians) - Links to PDF - http://www.annals.org/cgi/reprint/149/3/I-30.pdf
Research Report: HIV/AIDS(National Institute on Drug Abuse) - http://www.nida.nih.gov/ResearchReports/hiv/hiv.html
Screening for HIV Infection in Health Care Settings(American College of Physicians) - Links to PDF - http://www.annals.org/cgi/reprint/150/2/I-44.pdf
Study Finds Creatine Does Not Enhance Strength-Building Effects of Resistance Training in HIV Patients(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/research/results/spotlight/043109.htm
Viral Genetic Underpinnings of HIV-associated Dementia Explored(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/viral-genetic-underpinnings-of-hiv-associated-dementia-explored.shtml

Journal Articles

References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Article: Association of HIV-specific and total CD8+ T memory phenotypes in... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19342652&tool=MedlinePlus
Article: Body mapping: embodying the self living with HIV/AIDS. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19332759&tool=MedlinePlus
Article: WHO revises upwards estimated number of TB deaths associated with... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19321551&tool=MedlinePlus
AIDS -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(hiv+infections[majr]+NOT+(drug+therapy[sh]+OR+therapy[sh]+OR+pregnancy[mh]+OR+prevention+and+control[sh]))+AND+humans[mh]+AND+english[la]+AND+(review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
AIDS prevention -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=hiv+infections/pc[majr]+AND+(jsubsetk[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text])+AND+english[la]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
AIDS vaccines -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(aids+vaccines[majr]+AND+hiv+infections[majr])+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus

Dictionaries/Glossaries

Glossary of HIV/AIDS-Related Terms(AIDSinfo) - http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/Glossary/GlossaryDefaultCenterPage.aspx?MenuItem=AIDSinfoTools
Also available in Spanish http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/ContentFiles/SpanishGlossary_sp.PDF
HIV Vaccine Glossary(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) - http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/HIVAIDS/Understanding/Prevention/vaccineGlossary.htm

Directories

HIV/AIDS Information: SIS: Specialized Information Services(National Library of Medicine) - http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/hiv.html

Organizations

AIDS.gov - http://www.aids.gov/
AIDSinfo(Dept. of Health and Human Services) - http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/infoSIDA/
American Social Health Association - http://www.ashastd.org/
CDC Divisions of HIV/AIDS Prevention(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/
NIAID Division of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) - http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/about/organization/daids/

Law and Policy

Medicaid and HIV/AIDS(Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation) - Links to PDF - http://www.kff.org/hivaids/upload/7172-03.pdf
Medicare and HIV/AIDS(Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation) - Links to PDF - http://www.kff.org/hivaids/upload/7171-03.pdf
Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act(Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation) - Links to PDF - http://www.kff.org/hivaids/upload/7582.pdf

Statistics

Basic HIV/AIDS Statistics(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/basic.htm
Black Americans and HIV/AIDS(Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation) - Links to PDF - http://www.kff.org/hivaids/6089.cfm
Eliminate Disparities in HIV and AIDS(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/omhd/AMH/factsheets/hiv.htm
HIV Incidence(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/incidence.htm
HIV/AIDS among Women(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/women/resources/factsheets/women.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/spanish/resources/factsheets/women.htm
HIV/AIDS Epidemic in the United States(Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation) - Links to PDF - http://www.kff.org/hivaids/3029.cfm
HIV/AIDS in the United States(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/us.htm
HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/resources/reports/index.htm
Latinos and HIV/AIDS(Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation) - Links to PDF - http://www.kff.org/hivaids/6007.cfm
State Profiles: HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/stateprofiles/usmap.htm

MedlinePlus Magazine

Reduce HIV Risk - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/magazine/issues/spring08/articles/spring08pg22.html

Children

Children and HIV(New Mexico AIDS Education and Training Center) - http://www.aidsinfonet.org/fact_sheets/view/612?lang=eng
Also available in Spanish http://www.aidsinfonet.org/fact_sheets/view/612?lang=spa
HIV and AIDS(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/infection/hiv.html
HIV Infection in Infants and Children(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) - http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/HIVAIDS/Understanding/Population+Specific+Information/children.htm

Teenagers

D'cisions: Drugs + HIV, Learn the Link(National Institute on Drug Abuse) - http://hiv.drugabuse.gov/english/message/webisodes.html
HIV and AIDS(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health/stds/std_hiv.html
HIV Infection in Adolescents and Young Adults in the U.S.(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) - http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/HIVAIDS/Understanding/Population+Specific+Information/hivadolescent.htm
How Do People Get AIDS?(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health/stds/AIDS.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/preguntas/aids_esp.html

Men

HIV/AIDS and Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM)(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/msm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/spanish/resources/factsheets/msm.htm

Women

HIV and Women(American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) - http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp082.cfm
Also available in Spanish http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/sp082.cfm
HIV Infection in Women(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) - http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/HIVAIDS/Understanding/Population+Specific+Information/womenHiv.htm
HIV/AIDS among Women Who Have Sex with Women(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/women/resources/factsheets/wsw.htm
Women and HIV(Food and Drug Administration, Office of Women's Health) - http://www.fda.gov/womens/getthefacts/hiv.html

Seniors

HIV, AIDS, and Older People(National Institute on Aging) - http://www.nia.nih.gov/HealthInformation/Publications/hiv-aids.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nia.nih.gov/Espanol/Publicaciones/sida.htm
Older People and HIV(New Mexico AIDS Education and Training Center) - http://aidsinfonet.org/fact_sheets/view/616?lang=eng
Also available in Spanish http://aidsinfonet.org/fact_sheets/view/616?lang=spa

You may also be interested in these MedlinePlus related pages:

AIDS and Infections - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/aidsandinfections.html
AIDS and Pregnancy - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/aidsandpregnancy.html
AIDS Medicines - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/aidsmedicines.html
AIDS--Living with AIDS - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/aidslivingwithaids.html
Kaposi's Sarcoma - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/kaposissarcoma.html
Immune System - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/immunesystem.html
Infections - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/infections.html

The primary NIH organization for research on AIDS is the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - http://www.niaid.nih.gov/