Acquired immune deficiency syndrome: Commonly known as AIDS, this devastating _ disease is a total breakdown of the body's natural defenses, leaving the body completely vulnerable to a host of infections. Even the most innocuous virus-a cold. for example-can be troublesome to an AIDS victim.

AIDS is most commonly spread by sexual contact and. most frequently strikes homosexual men. However, it's also contracted through transfusion of contaminated blood and use of contaminated needles or syringes, and it can be passed from an infected mother to her baby before birth and through breastfeeding.

Even though low concentrations of the AIDS virus are sometimes found in saliva, tears, urine, sweat and other body fluids of its victims, no one knows of anyone who has gotten AIDS through contact with these body fluids. Sex is the most common way of spreading the disease.

Exposure occurs when blood or semen that contains the infected cells is passed into an uninfected person's bloodstream.

When a person becomes infected with the virus. antibodies develop in about six weeks. A person can be infected and be contagious for many years without having any disease symptoms. but usually symptoms develop within 18 months. AIDS often goes undiagnosed until a life-threatening infection, cancer or tumor appears. The degree of symptoms varies greatly from patient to patient, however.

Symptoms at the time of diagnosis can include skin disease. respiratory problems. gastrointestinal infections or brain and neurological disorders. Weight loss, fatigue. fevers and loss of appetite are common. Although the disease is considered fatal, a number of drugs that may be effective against AIDS are in various stages of investigation and testing.

AIDS

Addison's Disease

Eating disorders

Thyroid Disease