Term: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

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Glossary Definition

Last Updated: 2012-12-03

Definition:

"A virus that attacks the immune system, resulting in a chronic, progressive illness that leaves people vulnerable to opportunistic infections and cancers. When the body can no longer fight infection, the disease is known as AIDS, which stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. On average, it takes more than 10 years to progress from initial HIV infection to AIDS ... In order to be infected, the virus must enter a person's bloodstream (HIV cannot survive outside the body). HIV is transmitted from one person to another through: unprotected sexual intercourse (vaginal, anal or oral); shared needles or equipment for injecting drugs; unsterilized needles for tattooing, skin piercing or acupuncture; pregnancy, delivery and breast feeding (i.e., from an HIV-infected mother to her infant); occupational exposure in health care settings."

Source: Public Health Agency of Canada. What is HIV/AIDS? 2008. http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/aids-sida/info/index-eng.php - accessed October 15, 2012.

Related concepts 

• Hepatitis B - Method of Identification
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) - Method of Identification

Related terms 

• Gonorrhea
• Hepatitis B
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Prevalence
• Infectious Disease
• Infectious Disease Indicators
• Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections (STBBIs)
• Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

Links 

• Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) Web Site - STI - Sexually Transmitted Infections: HIV

References 

• Public Health Agency of Canada. What is HIV/AIDS? Retrieved from: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/aids-sida/info/index-eng.php. Accessed October 15, 2012.(View)

Term used in 

• Brownell M, Chartier M, Santos R, Ekuma O, Au W, Sarkar J, MacWilliam L, Burland E, Koseva I, Guenette W. How are Manitoba's Children Doing? Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2012. [Report] [Summary] [Updates and Errata] [Additional Materials] (View)
• Lix L, Smith M, Azimaee M, Dahl M, Nicol P, Burchill C, Burland E, Goh C, Schultz J, Bailly A. A Systematic Investigation of Manitoba's Provincial Laboratory Data. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2012. [Report] [Summary] (View)