Inheritance and Genetics of HIV/AIDS

Genetics of HIV/AIDS:

HIV/AIDS is NOT a genetic disease. HIV/AIDS is an infectious disease. In general, an infectious disease can be caused by a pathogenic organism (viruses, bacteria, fungi, worms, parasites) that can invade the body and cause infection. Some infectious diseases can be contagious between people while others are acquired from the person's surroundings but are not spread from one person to another.

Racial Patterns for HIV/AIDS:

Racial Information for HIV/AIDS: HIV infection disproportionately affects African-American and Hispanic women. Together they represent less than 25 percent of all U.S. women, yet they account for more than 77 percent of AIDS cases in women. HIV/AIDS is now the third leading cause of death among women ages 25 to 44 and the leading cause of death among African-American women in this age group. (Source: excerpt from HIV Infection in Women, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID)

Racial Details for HIV/AIDS: The epidemic is growing most rapidly among minority populations and is a leading killer of African-American males. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), AIDS affects nearly seven times more African Americans than whites and three times more Hispanics than whites (CDC HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report, Vol. 12, 2000). (Source: excerpt from HIV Infection and AIDS, An Overview, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID)

About inheritance and genetics:

Inheritance of HIV/AIDS refers to whether the condition is inherited from your parents or "runs" in families. The level of inheritance of a condition depends on how important genetics are to the disease. Strongly genetic diseases are usually inherited, partially genetic diseases are sometimes inherited, and non-genetic diseases are not inherited. For general information, see Introduction to Genetics.

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