AIDS is an abbreviation of the word Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is caused by the virus HIV. AIDS is a disease of disorder of the body’s immune system. Immunity is body’s natural resistance to fight against germs and resist diseases. The body of AIDS infected person stops producing natural defences against diseases, so victim often dies from cancer or other infections that it cannot fight. AIDS virus also attacks brain cells causing a loss of mental abilities.

AIDS is transmitted through

  1. Sexual contact with an infected person carrying AIDS
  2. Blood transfusion involving transfusion of blood from an AIDS infected person to a normal person.
  3. Use of infected needles.
  4. Infected pregnant mother to her unborn child.

AIDS is not transmitted by casual social contacts such as shaking hands and sharing a drink. IN developing countries, the largest number of AIDS cases has occurred among male homosexuals and intravenous drug abusers.