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