Used in the united States: AIDS = 28 old illnesses and one non-illness


1983 original AIDS definition (12 illnesses):
Pneumocystis pneumonia, Kaposi's Sarcoma*, toxoplasmosis, strongyloidosis, aspergillosis, cryptococcosis, candidiasis, cryptosporidiosis, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, lymphoma of the brain

1985 revised definition (seven more old illnesses added):
Mycobacterium avium complex, histoplasmosis, isosporiasis, Burkitt's lymphoma, immunoblsticlymphoma, candidiasis of the bronchi, trachea and lungs, and a positive HIV antibody test

1987 revised definition (six additional illnesses):
Encephalopathy, mycobacterium tuberculosis, wasting syndrome, coccidioidomycosis, cytomegalovirus retinitis, salmonella septicemia. HIV antibody test no longer required.

1987 revised definition (three more illnesses plus one surrogate marker):
Recurrent bacterial pneumonia, invasive cervical cancer, pulmonary tuberculosis, T cell count of less than 200 or less than 14% of total lymphocytes (non-illness)

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"...a reappraisal of the HIV/AIDS hypothesis should include the following: Research focusing on the cause of a particular disease rather than the politically defined collection of disparate diseases now called AIDS. For example, *Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) was originally one of the best AIDS-defining conditions. However, leading KS experts now say that there are dozens of cases of KS without HIV. It is quite possible... ...that the use of amyl nitrite (poppers) is the true cause of KS. This proposal is easily testable and the work should proceed."
- Kary Mullis, Phillip E. Johnson & Charles A. Thomas Jr.

The San Diego Union-Tribune, May 15, 1994

From ABOUT.com:

AIDS is a classification assigned to someone who has been diagnosed with the most serious opportunistic infections and illnesses; those illnesses said to be AIDS defining. Below is a list of AIDS defining illnesses.

Important Fact #1: Keep in mind that these diseases can occur in people without HIV infection, however such a person would not be classified as having AIDS.

Important Fact #2: While they are often used interchangeably, HIV and AIDS are very different.

A. They include:
Candidiasis
Cervical cancer (invasive)
Coccidioidomycosis, Cryptococcosis, Cryptosporidiosis
Cytomegalovirus disease
Encephalopathy (HIV-related)
Herpes simplex (an infection lasting longer than 1 month or in an area other than the skin such as esophagus or lungs)
Histoplasmosis
Isosporiasis
Kaposi's sarcoma (KS)
Lymphoma characterized by swollen lymph nodes
(lymphadenopathy)
Mycobacterium avium complex
Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP)
Pneumonia (recurrent)
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML)
Salmonella septicemia (recurrent)
Toxoplasmosis of the brain
Tuberculosis
Wasting syndrome
Sources: Information provided in part by the Centers for Disease Control, 2004