Acquired immune deficiency syndrome

(AIDS); a viral syndrome characterized by opportunistic infections, including candidiasis, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, oral hairy leukoplakia, herpes zoster, Kaposi sarcoma, toxoplasmosis, isosporiasis, cryptococcosis, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and tuberculosis

Description
The syndrome is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1, HIV-2), which can be transmitted by infected body fluids (notably blood and semen) through sexual contact, sharing of contaminated needles (by IV drug abusers), accidental needle sticks, contact with contaminated blood, or transfusion of contaminated blood or blood products. Hallmark of the immunodeficiency is depletion of T4+ helper/inducer lymphocytes, primarily the result of selective tropism of the virus for the lymphocytes. Syn acquired immunodeficiency syndrome