A disease involving a defect in cell mediated immunity that has a long incubation period follows a protracted and debilitating course, is manifested by various opportunistic infections and has a poor prognosis.

The disorder is found primarily in homosexual men and intravenous drug users and to a lessor degree in female sex partners of bisexual men and children of those with the disease. The causative agent is believed to be retrovirus, identified as HTLV 3 (Human T cells lymphotropi virus transmitted through sexual contact or exposures to contaminated blood or possibly close personal contact Initial symptoms include extreme fatigue, intermittent fevers night sweats, chills, Lymphadenopathy, enlarged spleen, anorexia, consequent weight loss, severe diarrhea, apathy and depression.

As the disease progresses, there is a general failure to thrive, energy and any no. and kind of infections most commonly Pneunocystis, casim Pneumoia, menengitis or encephalitis caused by asperogillosis, candidia Cystococcosis, Cytomegalo virus, texoplasmosis or herpes simplex. Treatment consists primarily of combined chemotherapy to counteract the opportunistic disease.

Interferon and other immunomodelators have been used, with little success, to correct the underlying immune defect. The fatuity rate is 90% in those diagnosed more than 2 years.