AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. AIDS is one of the most fatal viruses in the nation. It is a serious public health concern in most major U.S. cities and in countries worldwide. Since 1986 there have been impressive advances in understanding of the AIDS virus, its mechanisms, and its routes of transmission. With AIDS being the leading cause of death among adults, individuals are now taking more precautions with sexual intercourse, and medical facilities are screening blood more thoroughly.
             A diagnosis of AIDS is made by a physician using specific clinical or laboratory standards. AIDS is caused by infection with a virus called human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This virus is passed from one person to another through blood-to-blood and sexual contact. In addition, infected pregnant women can pass HIV to their babies during pregnancy or delivery, as well as through breast feeding. People with HIV have what is called HIV infection. Some of these people will develop AIDS as a result of their HIV infection.
             When the health objectives for 1990 were developed, AIDS had not entered the medical vocabulary. By 1990, however, 128,319 AIDS cases had been reported in the United States, approximately one million Americans are infected. The following are some of the agents that have been proposed as predisposing factors for HIV: alcohol, cocaine, heroine, morphine, marihuana, cigarette smoking, amphetamines, volatile inhalants like "poppers", environmental chemical pollutants, allergens, CMV, herpes virus type 1, 2, & 6, herpes zoster, EBV, adenovirus, retroviruses other than HIV, hepatitis A, B, & C viruses, papovavirus, mycoplasmas and other superantigens, tuberculosis, leprosy, malaria, trypanosomiasis, filariasis, other tropical diseases, sexually transmitted diseases, semen, blood, factor VIII, anxiety, depression, lack of sleep and rest, exhaustible exercise, unsanitary conditions, poverty, malnutrition, and sever
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