HIV/AIDS

Also known as acquired immune deficiency syndrome, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, HIV AIDS, gay-related immune virus/deficiency

AI overview

HIV is a virus that attacks your immune system, and if left untreated, it can develop into AIDS and serious health problems. However, with modern antiretroviral medications, HIV can be managed as a chronic condition, allowing people with HIV to live long, healthy lives.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Key facts

Medical condition (new).name: HIV/AIDS
Medical condition (new).image: Red_Ribbon.svg
Medical condition (new).image_size: 220
Medical condition (new).caption: The red ribbon is a symbol for solidarity with HIV-positive people and those living with AIDS.
Medical condition (new).alt: A red ribbon in the shape of a bow
Medical condition (new).field: Infectious disease, immunology
Medical condition (new).synonyms: HIV disease, HIV infection
Medical condition (new).complications: Opportunistic infections, tumors
Medical condition (new).duration: Lifelong
Medical condition (new).causes: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
Medical condition (new).risks: Unprotected anal or vaginal sex, having another sexually transmitted infection, needle sharing, medical procedures involving unsterile cutting or piercing, and experiencing needlestick injury
Medical condition (new).diagnosis: Blood tests
Medical condition (new).prevention: Using male or female condom during sex, being tested for HIV and sexually transmitted infections, having a voluntary medical male circumcision, using harm reduction services for people who inject and use drugs, antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) (including oral Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and long acting products, dapivirine vaginal rings, injectable long acting cabotegravir, etc. post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) safe sex
Medical condition (new).treatment: Antiretroviral drugs (ARVs)

via Wikipedia infobox

Research

192,451 papers

Reducing rates of preventable HIV/AIDS-associated mortality among people living with HIV who inject drugs.ReviewCurrent opinion in HIV and AIDS · 2016Parashar S, Collins AB, Montaner JS et al.DOI: 10.1097/COH.0000000000000297
Update on neurological complications of HIV.ReviewCurrent opinion in HIV and AIDS · 2025Diaz MMDOI: 10.1097/COH.0000000000000951
Pharmacovigilance and global HIV/AIDS.ReviewCurrent opinion in HIV and AIDS · 2012Miller V, Nwokike J, Stergachis ADOI: 10.1097/COH.0b013e328354d8e7
Progress with induction of HIV broadly neutralizing antibodies in the Duke Consortia for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Development.ReviewCurrent opinion in HIV and AIDS · 2023Haynes BF, Wiehe K, Alam SM et al.DOI: 10.1097/COH.0000000000000820
Editorial: HIV-1 transmission and phylogenetics.Current opinion in HIV and AIDS · 2019Rolland MDOI: 10.1097/COH.0000000000000546
Ibalizumab.ReviewCurrent opinion in HIV and AIDS · 2018Bettiker RL, Koren DE, Jacobson JMDOI: 10.1097/COH.0000000000000473
HIV and adolescents: challenges and opportunities.Current opinion in HIV and AIDS · 2018Davies MA, Hamlyn EDOI: 10.1097/COH.0000000000000461
Current assessment of heart rate variability and QTc interval length in HIV/AIDS.ReviewCurrent opinion in HIV and AIDS · 2017McIntosh RC, Lobo JD, Hurwitz BEDOI: 10.1097/COH.0000000000000408

via PubMed

Wikidata facts

Image: Human Immunodeficency Virus - stylized rendering.jpg
Number of deaths: 40400000

Show 11 more facts

Commons category: AIDS
NCI Thesaurus ID: C2851
Commons gallery: AIDS
ICPC 2 ID: B90
disease burden: 91907445
exact match: identifiers.org/doid/DOID:635
number of cases: 39000000
start time: 1959-00-00
time of discovery or invention: 1959-00-00
P8168: HAV
short name: SIDA

Sources (15)

via Wikidata · CC0

~71 min read

Article

40 sections

Contents

Signs and symptoms
First main stage: acute infection
Second main stage: clinical latency
Third main stage: AIDS
Transmission
Sexual
Body fluids
Mother-to-child
Virology
Pathophysiology
Diagnosis
HIV testing
Classifications
Prevention
Sexual contact
Pre-exposure
Post-exposure
Mother-to-child
Vaccination
Treatment
Antiviral therapy
Opportunistic infections
Diet
Alternative medicine
Prognosis
Epidemiology
History
Discovery
Origins
Society and culture
Stigma
Economic impact
Religion and AIDS
Media portrayal
Criminal transmission
Misconceptions
Research
References
Notes
External links

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that attacks the immune system. Without treatment, it can lead to a spectrum of conditions including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is a preventable disease. It can be managed with treatment and become a manageable chronic health condition. While there is no cure or vaccine for HIV, antiretroviral treatment can slow the course of the disease, and, if used before significant disease progression, can extend the life expectancy of someone living with HIV to a nearly standard level. An HIV-positive person on treatment can expect to live a normal life, and die with the virus, not of it. Effective treatment for HIV-positive people (people living with HIV) involves a life-long regimen of medicine to suppress the virus, making the viral load undetectable. Early testing can show if treatment is needed to stop progression and to prevent infecting others.

Treatment is recommended as soon as the diagnosis is made. An HIV-positive person who has an undetectable viral load as a result of long-term treatment has effectively no risk of transmitting HIV sexually. Campaigns by UNAIDS and organizations around the world have communicated this as Undetectable = Untransmittable.