This book requires no prior knowledge of biology, and is the most comprehensive, authoritative, accurate, and up-to-date book on HIV/AIDS currently available as it is updated each and every year. It presents the entire 17-year chronology of the AIDS pandemic in a reasonable, logical, and scientific manner that interweaves biological, clinical, social, and legal discoveries in a uniquely readable presentation. Chapter topics include discovering AIDS, naming the disease; what causes AIDS: origins of the AIDS virus; biological characteristics of the AIDS virus; anti-HIV therapy; the immunology of HIV disease/AIDS; opportunistic infections and cancers associated with HIV disease/AIDS; a profile of biological indicators for HIV disease and progression to AIDS; epidemiology and transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus; preventing the transmission of HIV; prevalence of HIV infections, AIDS cases, and deaths among select groups in the united states; prevalence of HIV infection and AIDS cases among women, children, and teenagers in the united states; testing for human immunodeficiency virus; AIDS and society: knowledge, attitudes, and behavior. For individuals seeking current and detailed coverage of all the facets of the AIDS crisis.