Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

All 50 States and the District of Columbia report AIDS cases to CDC using a uniform surveillance case definition and case report form. The case reporting definitions were expanded in 1985 (MMWR 1985; 34:373-5); 1987 (MMWR 1987; 36 (supp. no. 1S): 1S-15S); 1993 for adults and adolescents (MMWR 1992; 41 (no. RR-17): 1-19); and 1994 for pediatric cases (MMWR 1994; 43 (no. RR-12): 1-19). The revisions incorporated a broader range of AIDS-indicator diseases and conditions and used HIV diagnostic tests to improve the sensitivity and specificity of the definition. The 1993 expansion of the case definition caused a temporary distortion of AIDS incidence trends. In 1995 new treatments for HIV and AIDS (protease inhibitors) were approved. These therapies have prevented or delayed the onset of AIDS and premature death among many HIV-infected persons, which should be considered when interpreting trend data. AIDS surveillance data are published semiannually by CDC in the HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report.

SOURCE: Health, United States

Related Links
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

This page last reviewed June 18, 2004