| AIDS is the fifth leading cause of death | | | | main ways HIV is passed to a very young child |
| among persons between ages 25 to 44 in the | | | | are: While the baby develops in the mother's |
| United States. About 60 million people | | | | uterus (intrauterine) At the time of birth |
| worldwide have been infected with HIV since | | | | During breastfeeding Among teens, the virus |
| the start of the epidemic. Human | | | | is most commonly spread through high-risk |
| immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes AIDS. The | | | | behaviors including: Unprotected sexual |
| virus attacks the immune system and leaves | | | | intercourse (oral, vaginal, or anal sex) |
| the body vulnerable to a variety of | | | | Sharing needles used to inject drugs or other |
| life-threatening infections and cancers. The | | | | substances (including contaminated needles |
| growing impact of AIDS in Africa, Asia and | | | | used for injecting steroids and tattooing and |
| Latin America has prompted the United Nations | | | | body art) In very rare cases, HIV has also |
| World Food Program to appeal to donor | | | | been transmitted by direct contact with an |
| countries to fund food and nutrition for | | | | open wound of an infected person (the virus |
| those afflicted. The symptoms of AIDS are | | | | may be introduced through a small cut or tear |
| primarily the result of infections that do | | | | on the body of the healthy person) and |
| not normally develop in individuals with | | | | through blood transfusions. Since 1985, the |
| healthy immune systems. These are called | | | | U.S. blood supply has been carefully screened |
| opportunistic infections. Patients with AIDS | | | | for HIV. Tests for HIV have become cheaper |
| have had their exempt structure depleted by | | | | and more obtainable for governments, but this |
| HIV and are really vulnerable to such | | | | has unfortunately lead to standalone HIV |
| opportunistic infections. Common symptoms are | | | | testing programs that the Human Rights Watch |
| fevers, sweats (especially at night), bloated | | | | has criticized for being coercive, |
| glands, chills, failing, and weight loss. | | | | discriminatory, lacking in confidentiality |
| Transmission of the virus occurs. The three | | | | and deficient in prevention information. |