| chronic symptomatic HIV infection | This refers to an HIV infection that is characterised by signs and symptoms of HIV that are not life-threatening. Examples include oral thrush, gingivitis, seborrheic dermatitis, molluscum contangiosum, fevers, fatigue, lymph node swelling, malaise and weight loss. This stage can be a signal for the conversion from asymptomatic HIV disease to HIV disease (moe pronouced symptoms include joint pains). AIDS is diagnosed after HIV disease has started to manifest life-threatening oppotunistic infections (for example pneumocystis, cryptosporidium, toxoplasmosis, etc). (27 Sep 1997) |
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| primary HIV infection | <infectious disease> The flu-like syndrome that oc immediately after a person contracts HIV. This mini infection precedes seroconversion and is characterised fever, sore throat, headache, skin rash and swollen glands. (06 Mar 1998) |
| AIDS | <immunology, syndrome> An epidemic disease caused by an infection by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1, HIV-2), a retrovirus that causes immune system failure and debilitation and is often accompanied by infections such as tuberculosis. AIDS is spread through direct contact with bodily fluids. Acronym: AIDS (10 May 1997) |
| aids-associated nephropathy | Renal syndrome in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients characterised by nephrotic syndrome, severe proteinuria, focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis with distinctive tubular and interstitial changes, enlarged kidneys, and peculiar tubuloreticular structures. The syndrome is distinct from heroin-associated nephropathy as well as other forms of kidney disease seen in HIV-infected patients. (12 Dec 1998) |
| AIDS-defining illness | <immunology> One of a list of serious illnesses that occurs in HIV-positive individuals and is reason for an AIDS diagnosis according to the CDC's definition of AIDS. Among these conditions are PCP, MAC, AIDS dementia complex, AIDS wasting syndrome, invasive cervical cancer, Kaposi's sarcoma and CMV retinitis. (09 Oct 1997) |
| AIDS dementia | <immunology> A frequent cerebral condition in people with AIDS that results in the loss of cognitive capacity, affecting the ability to function in a social or occupational setting. Its cause has not been determined exactly, but may result from HIV infection of cells in the brain or an inflammatory reaction to such infection. (09 Oct 1997) |
| AIDS dementia complex | <immunology> A frequent cerebral condition in people with AIDS that results in the loss of cognitive capacity, affecting the ability to function in a social or occupational setting. Its cause has not been determined exactly, but may result from HIV infection of cells in the brain or an inflammatory reaction to such infection. (09 Oct 1997) |
| aids-related complex | A prodromal phase of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Laboratory criteria separating aids-related complex (arc) from aids include elevated or hyperactive B-cell humoral immune responses, compared to depressed or normal antibody reactivity in aids; follicular or mixed hyperplasia in arc lymph nodes, leading to lymphocyte degeneration and depletion more typical of aids; evolving succession of histopathological lesions such as localization of kaposi's sarcoma, signaling the transition to the full-blown aids. (12 Dec 1998) |
| aids-related opportunistic infections | Opportunistic infections found in patients who test positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The most common include pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, kaposi's sarcoma, cryptosporidiosis, herpes simplex, toxoplasmosis, cryptococcosis, and infections with mycobacterium avium complex, microsporidium, and cytomegalovirus. (12 Dec 1998) |
| AIDS-related virus | An obsolete term for human immunodeficiency virus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| aids serodiagnosis | Immunologic tests for identification of HIV (HTLV-III/lav) antibodies. They include assays for HIV seropositivity and HIV seronegativity (elisa, immunofluorescence, immunoblot, etc.) that have been developed for screening persons carrying the viral antibody from patients with overt symptoms of aids or aids-related complex. (12 Dec 1998) |
| AIDS test | <investigation> A test which is performed on a standard venipuncture blood specimen which detects the presence of antibodies to HIV (virus). This test may not be positive for 3 to 6 months after infection with HIV. (27 Sep 1997) |
| aids vaccines | Vaccines or candidate vaccines containing inactivated HIV or some of its component antigens and designed to prevent aids. Some vaccines containing antigens are recombinantly produced. (12 Dec 1998) |
| audiovisual aids | Auditory and visual instructional materials. (12 Dec 1998) |
| communication aids for disabled | Equipment that provides mentally or physically disabled persons, who cannot speak effectively, with a means of communication. The aids include display boards, typewriters, cathode ray tubes, computers, and speech synthesisers. The output of such aids includes written words, artificial speech, language signs, morse code, and pictures. (12 Dec 1998) |