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AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)
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"Resources" on this report.
Copyright 1986, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2007
Synonyms of AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)
- Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
Disorder Subdivisions
- AIDS Prodrome
- AIDS related complex
- AIDS-Related Complex (ARC)
- ARC
- Mini-AIDS
- Wasting/Lymph Node Syndrome
General Discussion
AIDS is an infectious disorder that suppresses the normal function of the immune system. It is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which destroys the body's ability to fight infections. Specific cells of the immune system that are responsible for the proper response to infections (T cells) are destroyed by this virus. Characteristically a person infected with HIV initially experiences no symptoms for a variable period of time. This may be followed by the development of persistent generalized swelling of the lymph nodes (AIDS-related lymphadenopathy). Eventually most patients infected with HIV experience a syndrome of symptoms that includes excessive fatigue, weight loss, and/or skin rashes.
The later stages of HIV infection are characterized by the progressive depression of T cells and repeated infections that can even occur during a course of antibiotic therapy for another infection (superinfections). People with AIDS are particularly vulnerable to "opportunistic infections" from bacteria that other people normally fight off. Pneumocystis carinii, which causes severe inflammation of the lungs (pneumonia), is a common infection that effects people with AIDS. Cancers (malignant neoplasms), and a wide variety of neurological abnormalities, most notably the AIDS dementia complex, may also occur. These neurological symptoms when of HIV infects the nervous system.
Organizations related to AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)
- AIDSinfo
PO Box 6303
Rockville MD 20849-6303
Phone #: 301-519-6616
800 #: 888-448-0440
e-mail: ContactUs@aidsinfo.nih.gov
Home page: http://www.aidsinfo.nih.gov
- American Social Health Association
P.O. Box 13827
Research Triangle Park NC 27709
Phone #: 919-361-8400
800 #: --
e-mail: customerservice@ashastd.org
Home page: http://www.ashastd.org
- Anemia Institute for Research and Education
151 Bloor Street West
Suite 600
Toronto, Ontario None M5S 1S4
Phone #: 416--96-9-7431
800 #: 877--99-2-6364
e-mail: info@anemiainstitute.org
Home page: http://www.anemiainstitute.org
- CDC Business Responds to AID/Labor Responds to AIDS
P.O. Box 6003
Rockville MD 20849-6003
Phone #: 877-242-9760
800 #: 301-562-1098
e-mail: info@hivatwork.org
Home page: http://www.brta-lrta.org
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road
Atlanta GA 30333
Phone #: 404-639-3534
800 #: 800-232-4636
e-mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov
Home page: http://www.cdc.gov/
- Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
PO Box 8126
Gaithersburg MD 20898-8126
Phone #: 301-251-4925
800 #: 888-205-2311
e-mail: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/EmailForm.aspx
Home page: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD
- HIV/AIDS Treatment Information Service
P.O. Box 6303
Rockville MD 20849-6303
Phone #: 301-519-0459
800 #: 800-448-0440
e-mail: atis@hivatis.org
Home page: http://www.hivatis.org
- Health Information Network
P.O. Box 30762
7211 Greenwood Ave N.
Seattle WA 98113
Phone #: 206-784-5655
800 #: --
e-mail: information@healthinfonetwork.org
Home page: http://www.healthinfonetwork.org
- Hemophilia Federation of America
210 7th St. SE
Suite 200B
Washington DC 20003
Phone #: 202-675-6984
800 #: 800-230-9797
e-mail: info@hemophiliafed.org
Home page: http://www.hemophiliafed.org
- Jack Miller Center for Peripheral Neuropathy
University of Chicago
5841 South Maryland Ave, MC 2030
Chicago IL 60637
Phone #: 773-702-5659
800 #: N/A
e-mail: N/A
Home page: http://millercenter.uchicago.edu
- MUMS National Parent-to-Parent Network
150 Custer Court
Green Bay WI 54301-1243
Phone #: 920-336-5333
800 #: 877-336-5333
e-mail: mums@netnet.net
Home page: http://www.netnet.net/mums/
- NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
6610 Rockledge Drive
MSC 6612
Bethesda MD 20892-6612
Phone #: 301-496-5717
800 #: --
e-mail: N/A
Home page: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/
- National Gay Task Force
80 Fifth Ave.
Suite 1691
New York NY 10011
Phone #: --
800 #: --
e-mail: N/A
Home page: N/A
- Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S.
90 John St. Suite 704,
New York NY 10038
Phone #: 212-819-9770
800 #: --
e-mail: siecus@siecus.org
Home page: http://www.siecus.org
- Sjældne Diagnoser / Rare Disorders Denmark
Frederiksholms Kanal 2, 3rd Floor
Copenhagen K None 1220
Phone #: 45 -33 -14 00 10
800 #: N/A
e-mail: mail@sjaeldnediagnoser
Home page: http://www.raredisorders.dk
- amfAR (Foundation for AIDS Research)
120 Wall Street
13th Floor
New York NY 10005-3908
Phone #: 212-806-1600
800 #: 800-392-6327
e-mail: webmaster@amfar.org
Home page: http://www.amfar.org
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