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AIDS (ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME) AIDS (Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired) is a very dangerous disease. It is caused by a virus called HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). This disease mainly affects the immune system. So that it makes people weaker. The virus is transmitted from one person to another mostly through sexual contact. And also it is possible to pass through blood to blood. For example; blood transfusion, and contaminated injections. And also pregnant women can pass HIV to their babies through placenta during their pregnancy, during childbirth, and also through breast feeding. HIV infection causes AIDS to develop. It is possible to be infected with HIV without having AIDS. If untreated, the HIV infection will develop into AIDS. People who are affected with HIV have no symptoms for several years. Others may develop symptoms like flu, usually 2 to 6 weeks after entering the virus into the organism. Symptoms of early HIV infection are fever, chills, muscle ache, joint pain, sweats (mostly at night), enlarged glands, rash, tiredness, weakness and weight loss.