• A syndrome resulting from the acquired deficiency of cellular immunity caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (hiv). It is characterized by the reduction of the helper t-lymphocytes in the peripheral blood and the lymph nodes. Symptoms include generalized lymphadenopathy, fever, weight loss, and chronic diarrhea. Patients with aids are especially susceptible to opportunistic infections (usually pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, cytomegalovirus (cmv) infections, tuberculosis, candida infections, and cryptococcosis), and the development of malignant neoplasms (usually non-hodgkin's lymphoma and kaposi's sarcoma). The human immunodeficiency virus is transmitted through sexual contact, sharing of contaminated needles, or transfusion of contaminated blood.
  • An acquired defect in immune system function caused by human immunodeficiency virus (hiv). Aids is associated with increased susceptibility to certain cancers and to opportunistic infections, which are infections that occur rarely except in individuals with weak immune systems.
  • Any state of infection accompanied by evidence of hiv in the body (positive test for hiv genome, cdna, proteins, antigens, or antibodies); may be medically asymptomatic or symptomatic; use aids when appropriate.
  • One or more indicator diseases, depending on laboratory evidence of hiv infection (cdc); late phase of hiv infection characterized by marked suppression of immune function resulting in opportunistic infections, neoplasms, and other systemic symptoms (niaid).