Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a collection of symptoms and infections (or: syndrome) is caused by damage to the human immune system by HIV infection, or infection of other viruses that attack like the other species (SIV, FIV, etc.).
Own virus called Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the virus that weakens the human body's immunity. People infected with the virus will become vulnerable to opportunistic infections or tumors susceptible. Although existing treatments can slow the rate of virus growth, but the disease is not completely curable.
HIV and similar viruses are generally transmitted through direct contact between the skin layer (mucous membrane) or the bloodstream with a bodily fluid containing HIV, such as blood, semen, vaginal fluid preseminal, and breast milk. Transmission can occur through sexual intercourse (vaginal, anal, or oral), blood transfusion, contaminated hypodermic needles, between mother and baby during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding, as well as other forms of contact with body fluids such.
People with AIDS often have systemic symptoms of infection, such as fever, sweating (especially at night), swollen glands, cold, feeling weak, and weight loss. Certain opportunistic infections suffered by AIDS patients, also depending on the level of frequency of occurrence of these infections in the geographic area where the patient lives.
The various symptoms of AIDS is generally not going to happen to people who have immune system is good. Most of these conditions due to infection by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites, which are usually controlled by the elements of the immune system that HIV damages. Opportunistic infections common in people with AIDS. HIV affects nearly every organ of the body. People with AIDS also suffer a greater risk of cancers such as Kaposi's sarcoma, cervical cancer, and immune system cancers known as lymphomas.