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HIV / AIDS

Human immunodeficiency virus infection: Infection caused by one of two related retroviruses (HIV-1 and HIV-2) resulting in a wide range of clinical manifestations varying from asymptomatic carrier states to severely debilitating and fatal disorders related to defective cell-mediated immunity.

The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy
Section 13, Chapter 163.
http://www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual/section13/chapter163/163a.htm
date accessed: 2002/02/27