Anal warts of an AIDS patient. Warts (small benign growths) around and inside the anus of a male AIDS patient from Africa. The infection, by the Papilloma wart virus, is extensive because the virus (HIV) that causes AIDS, weakens a patient's immune system. A sign of this (not seen) is this patient's swollen lymph glands (lymphadenopathy). The immune system would normally be able to defend against infection, but HIV allows this infection to become widespread. The wart virus was acquired by anal intercourse while in prison. This is also a common way in which HIV is transmitted. AIDS is acquired immune deficiency syndrome. HIV is the human immunodeficiency virus.