Causes of AIDS are discussed, along with methods of prevention. Compassion for AIDS patients is emphasized in accounts of individual experiences with AIDS. Past epidemics and plagues, such as cholera, are recounted. Also discussed is the epidemic of fear of AIDS, which has caused people to shun AIDS patients and avoid high-risk populations. Medical progress in treating AIDS and in research into the cause of AIDS is delineated. The Surgeon General's Report and a list of groups offering AIDS information and support are included. Glossary and index.