AIDS-related complex

AIDS-related complex (ARC) is a set of symptoms, including fever, weight loss, and swollen lymph nodes, that are associated with the presence of antibodies to HIV. This condition can precede the development of AIDS in some individuals.1

The emergence of AIDS was first reported in 1981 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), describing rare opportunistic infections in homosexual men. Researchers later identified the cause as an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, eventually termed AIDS, caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV primarily targets helper T cells, which are crucial for the immune system. The virus replicates within these cells, leading to their destruction and a weakened immune response.23