Changes

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.  In Africa, transmission was almost exclusively by heterosexual sex.  Currently, most new infections worldwide are spread by heterosexual sex.

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 ==

==God's curse==

==God's curse==

Various figures have asserted that AIDS is 'God's curse on homosexuals', however this fails to take into account that the syndrome can and does affect many other groups, including innocent children (who have contracted the HIV virus while in the womb or through contaminated blood transfusions).

Various figures including prominant televangalist [[Jerry Falwell]] have asserted that AIDS is 'God's curse on homosexuals', however this fails to take into account that the syndrome can and does affect many other groups, including innocent children (who have contracted the HIV virus while in the womb or through contaminated blood transfusions).

==Notes==

==Notes==