HIV infection

From Health Encyclopedia

Contents 1 Used for 2 Broader Terms 3 Narrower Terms 4 Related Terms 5 Scope Note 6 Facts

Used for

AIDS risk behavior, antibody positive AIDS test, antigen positive AIDS test, asymptomatic HIV infection, HIV antibody positive, HIV antigen positive, HIV risk behavior, seropositive (AIDS test)

Broader Terms

Retroviridae disease, sexually transmitted disease

Narrower Terms

AIDS, AIDS /HIV neuropathy

Related Terms

human immunodeficiency virus

Scope Note

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.

Facts

• Infection caused by the human immunodeficiency virus, which gets transmitted through sexual intercourse, blood and blood products,and intrauterine or perinatal from mother to child.
• In up to about 20% of people the symptoms are serious enough to consult a doctor, but the diagnosis of HIV infection is frequently missed.
• The most obvious effect of HIV infection is a decline in the number of CD4 positive T (CD4+) cells found in the blood-the immune system's key infection fighters.
• There is no evidence that HIV infection is transmitted through saliva.
• "HIV infection" means the state wherein HIV has invaded the body and is being actively harbored by the body.

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