T-cell immunodeficiency HIV infectious disease AIDS NANDO:2200809 acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, AIDS AIDS NANDO:2100212 UMLS:C0001175 MESH:D000163 acquired immunodeficiency disease NCIT:C2851 EFO:0000765 DOID:635 acquired immune deficiency MEDGEN:99 AIDS, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome SCTID:62479008 A syndrome resulting from the acquired deficiency of cellular immunity caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It is characterized by the reduction of the Helper T-lymphocytes in the peripheral blood and the lymph nodes. Symptoms include generalized lymphadenopathy, fever, weight loss, and chronic diarrhea. Patients with AIDS are especially susceptible to opportunistic infections (usually pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections, tuberculosis, candida infections, and cryptococcosis), and the development of malignant neoplasms (usually non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Kaposi sarcoma). The human immunodeficiency virus is transmitted through sexual contact, sharing of contaminated needles, or transfusion of contaminated blood.