aetiology

Last reviewed 01/2018

It is now almost universally accepted that AIDS is a consequence of infection with human immunodeficiency virus, HIV (1).

Two different types of viruses are responsible

• type 1 (HIV 1) – causes the majority of infections globally
• type 2 (HIV 2) – rare outside of west Africa (2)

Reference:

• (1) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 1993 Revised Classification System for HIV Infection and Expanded Surveillance Case Definition for AIDS Among Adolescents and Adults
• (2) Grant AD, De Cock KM. ABC of AIDS. HIV infection and AIDS in the developing world. BMJ. 2001;322(7300):1475-8