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'''Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome''' (usually referred to as '''AIDS''') is an (at present) incurable disease  caused by long-term infection with the[[HIV| Human Immunodeficiency Virus]].  In September of 2010, [[Reuters]] reported: "Nearly one in five gay and bisexual men in 21 major U.S. cities are infected with HIV, and nearly half of them do not know it".<ref>http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/09/23/us-aids-usa-idUSTRE68M3H220100923</ref> A September 2010 report of the [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]] (CDC) declared : "[[Homosexuality|Gay]], [[bisexual]], and other men who have sex with men (MSM) represent approximately 2% of the US population, yet are the population most severely affected by [[HIV]] and are the only risk group in which new HIV infections have been increasing steadily since the early 1990s. In 2006, MSM accounted for more than half (53%) of all new HIV infections in the United States..."<ref>http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/msm/index.htm</ref> In August of 2009, LifeSiteNews reported: "An official with the [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]] (CDC) announced the CDC's estimate Monday that in the [[United States]] [[AIDS]] is fifty times more prevalent among men who have sex with men ('MSM') than the rest of the population."<ref>http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/archive/ldn/2009/aug/09082609</ref>

'''Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome''' (usually referred to as '''AIDS''') is an (at present) incurable disease  caused by long-term infection with the[[HIV|Human Immunodeficiency Virus]].  In September 2010, [[Reuters]] reported: "Nearly one in five gay and bisexual men in 21 major U.S. cities are infected with HIV, and nearly half of them do not know it".<ref>http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/09/23/us-aids-usa-idUSTRE68M3H220100923</ref> A September 2010 report of the [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]] (CDC) declared : "[[Homosexuality|Gay]], [[bisexual]], and other men who have sex with men (MSM) represent approximately 2% of the US population, yet are the population most severely affected by [[HIV]] and are the only risk group in which new HIV infections have been increasing steadily since the early 1990s. In 2006, MSM accounted for more than half (53%) of all new HIV infections in the United States..."<ref>http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/msm/index.htm</ref> In August 2009, LifeSiteNews reported: "An official with the [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]] (CDC) announced the CDC's estimate Monday that in the [[United States]] [[AIDS]] is fifty times more prevalent among men who have sex with men ('MSM') than the rest of the population."<ref>http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/archive/ldn/2009/aug/09082609</ref>

== Diagnosis ==

== Diagnosis ==

According to the CDC's 1993 guidelines, <ref>http://www.cdc.gov</ref><ref>http://www.merckmedicus.com/ppdocs/us/hcp/content/merck/hiv/hivaids/aidsdefi.htmAIDS is defined </ref>as follows:

According to the CDC's 1993 guidelines,<ref>http://www.cdc.gov</ref><ref>http://www.merckmedicus.com/ppdocs/us/hcp/content/merck/hiv/hivaids/aidsdefi.htmAIDS is defined</ref> as follows:

HIV infection ''plus'' any of the following:

HIV infection ''plus'' any of the following:

*[[CD4]] count less than 200 or

*[[CD4]] count less than 200 or

*Expanded definition including 23 clinical conditions published elsewhere<ref>http://www.cdc.gov/MMWR/preview/mmwrhtml/00018871.htm</ref>

*Expanded definition including 23 clinical conditions published elsewhere<ref>http://www.cdc.gov/MMWR/preview/mmwrhtml/00018871.htm</ref>

The World Health Organization uses a different staging method for HIV disease. <ref>http://www.aids-ed.org/aetc/aetc?page=cm-105_disease</ref>

The World Health Organization uses a different staging method for HIV disease.<ref>http://www.aids-ed.org/aetc/aetc?page=cm-105_disease</ref>

It should be noted that there are a large number of types and subtypes of HIV, some of which are extremely rare in most countries, such as HIV-2, and HIV-1 Group O, and as a result, routine screening tests in some countries may not be designed to test for those particular, extremely rare, variations. <ref>www.avert.org/hiv-types.htm</ref>

It should be noted that there are a large number of types and subtypes of HIV, some of which are extremely rare in most countries, such as HIV-2, and HIV-1 Group O, and as a result, routine screening tests in some countries may not be designed to test for those particular, extremely rare, variations.<ref>http://www.avert.org/hiv-types.htm</ref>

== History ==

== History ==

''See also:'' [[Gay bowel syndrome]]

''See also:'' [[Gay bowel syndrome]]

The illness was first recognized in the early 1980s<ref>New England Journal of Medicine, Volume 344:1764-1772  June 7, 2001  Number 23</ref>  as homosexual men presented to their doctors with a rare lung disease called ''Pneumocystis carinii'' pneumonia (PCP)<ref>Pneumocystis pneumonia -- Los Angeles. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 1981;30:250-252)</ref>. Early on, the "[[gay disease]]" took on a variety of names, including "gay cancer" and "Gay-related immune deficiency" (GRID). The [[Centers for Disease Control]] noticed an increase in requests for drugs needed to treat this illness and launched an epidemiological investigation.   

The illness was first recognized in the early 1980s<ref>New England Journal of Medicine, Volume 344:1764-1772  June 7, 2001  Number 23</ref>  as homosexual men presented to their doctors with a rare lung disease called ''Pneumocystis carinii'' pneumonia (PCP).<ref>Pneumocystis pneumonia -- Los Angeles. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 1981;30:250-252)</ref> Early on, the "[[gay disease]]" took on a variety of names, including "gay cancer" and "Gay-related immune deficiency" (GRID). The [[Centers for Disease Control]] noticed an increase in requests for drugs needed to treat this illness and launched an epidemiological investigation.   

Although the first cases of the disease probably go back to the 1950s, the epidemic was not recognized until the early 1980s.[http://www.avert.org/his81_86.htm] The early epidemic occurred in two main branches; in the US and other developed countries, and in sub-Saharan Africa.  In the US, the early epidemic was primarily spread by homosexual sex, intravenous drug use, and blood transfusions (prior to the introduction of testing).  In Africa, transmission was almost exclusively by heterosexual sex.  Currently, most new infections worldwide are spread by promiscuous heterosexual sex and prostitution.

Although the first cases of the disease probably go back to the 1950s, the epidemic was not recognized until the early 1980s.[http://www.avert.org/his81_86.htm] The early epidemic occurred in two main branches; in the US and other developed countries, and in sub-Saharan Africa.  In the US, the early epidemic was primarily spread by homosexual sex, intravenous drug use, and blood transfusions (prior to the introduction of testing).  In Africa, transmission was almost exclusively by heterosexual sex.  Currently, most new infections worldwide are spread by promiscuous heterosexual sex and prostitution.

== Natural History ==

== Natural History ==

After infection with [[HIV]], the virus quickly replicates in lymphatic tissue and travels through the blood to infect most areas of the body.  The largest consequence of this is the "hijacking" of certain immune cells, especially so-called T-Helper, or CD-4, cells.  Early in the infection, the immune system holds the infection at bay, often causing "Acute Retroviral Syndrome", a flu-like illness.  Patients often have swollen lymph nodes. After approximately 8-10 years of infection, the immune system begins to lose its battle.  This is primarily seen in the loss of numbers of CD4 cells, however the changes are somewhat more complex.  When the CD4 cell level drops low enough, AIDS becomes apparent.

After infection with [[HIV]], the virus quickly replicates in lymphatic tissue and travels through the blood to infect most areas of the body.  The largest consequence of this is the "hijacking" of certain immune cells, especially so-called T-Helper, or CD-4, cells.  Early in the infection, the immune system holds the infection at bay, often causing "Acute Retroviral Syndrome", a flu-like illness.  Patients often have swollen lymph nodes. After approximately 8–10 years of infection, the immune system begins to lose its battle.  This is primarily seen in the loss of numbers of CD4 cells, however the changes are somewhat more complex.  When the CD4 cell level drops low enough, AIDS becomes apparent.

The first symptoms of the illness are generally night sweats, weight loss, and oral thrush.

The first symptoms of the illness are generally night sweats, weight loss, and oral thrush.

*Staphylococcus aureus (primarily causes skin infections).

*Staphylococcus aureus (primarily causes skin infections).

*Streptococcus pneumoniae (the primary cause of pneumonia in AIDS patients).

*Streptococcus pneumoniae (the primary cause of pneumonia in AIDS patients).

*[[Toxoplasma gondii]]. Condition occurs when a parasite infects the brain. Symptoms include confusion or delusional behavior, severe headaches, fever, seizures and coma. Most likely occurs when the CD4+ T cell count falls below 100.<ref>[http://www.ucsfhealth.org/adult/medical_services/infect/hiv/infections.html Infections Associated with AIDS, UCSF Medical Center.</ref>

*[[Toxoplasma gondii]]. Condition occurs when a parasite infects the brain. Symptoms include confusion or delusional behavior, severe headaches, fever, seizures and coma. Most likely occurs when the CD4+ T cell count falls below 100.<ref>[http://www.ucsfhealth.org/adult/medical_services/infect/hiv/infections.html Infections Associated with AIDS, UCSF Medical Center.]</ref>

== Dissent ==

== Dissent ==

Among many medical professionals and biologists, there is general agreement that HIV causes AIDS.  In this, those of Koch's postulates that apply to viral diseases have been clearly fulfilled, and basic science research has shown the same.  Specific drugs have been developed that treat HIV infection and AIDS, helping show the causal relationship.  That being said, there is a vocal minority of people, scientists and non-scientists alike, who do not believe that HIV causes AIDS.  Foremost among these is Dr. Peter Duesberg.  Details about these "re-thinkers" and their arguments can be found at several websites, <ref>Peter Duesberg on AIDS - Duesberg.com - HIV/AIDS research website for Peter H. Duesberg http://www.duesberg.com/</ref> but not in any reliable peer-reviewed journals. This viewpoint has also received some official support from the government of [[South Africa]], where a nurtitional policy based on beetroot and garlic sources has found effective in combating the county's severe AIDS problem, despite a concerted effort by liberal scientific groups and the pharmacuetical industry (who would stand to benefit financially from continued association of AIDS with HIV) to discredit it. It is estimated that over $1 trillion has been siphoned off from health care worldwide for antiretroviral drugs to treat AIDS, despite growing evidence that a good general diet can be just as effective.

Among many medical professionals and biologists, there is general agreement that HIV causes AIDS.  In this, those of Koch's postulates that apply to viral diseases have been clearly fulfilled, and basic science research has shown the same.  Specific drugs have been developed that treat HIV infection and AIDS, helping show the causal relationship.  That being said, there is a vocal minority of people, scientists and non-scientists alike, who do not believe that HIV causes AIDS.  Foremost among these is Dr. Peter Duesberg.  Details about these "re-thinkers" and their arguments can be found at several websites,<ref>Peter Duesberg on AIDS - Duesberg.com - HIV/AIDS research website for Peter H. Duesberg http://www.duesberg.com/</ref> but not in any reliable peer-reviewed journals. This viewpoint has also received some official support from the government of [[South Africa]], where a nurtitional policy based on beetroot and garlic sources has found effective in combating the county's severe AIDS problem, despite a concerted effort by liberal scientific groups and the pharmacuetical industry (who would stand to benefit financially from continued association of AIDS with HIV) to discredit it. It is estimated that over $1 trillion has been siphoned off from health care worldwide for antiretroviral drugs to treat AIDS, despite growing evidence that a good general diet can be just as effective.

==Progress In Combating The Disease==

==Progress In Combating The Disease==

[[Category:Demography]]

[[Category:Demography]]

[[Category:AIDS| ]]

[[Category:AIDS| ]]

[[Category : Hollywood Values]]

[[Category:Hollywood Values]]