AIDS - meaning and definition
Alsoacquired immunodeficiency syndromeadvanced HIV diseasestage 3 HIVacquired immune deficiency syndromelate-stage HIV
Not yet reviewed by a clinician. This health entry was written from the public-health sources listed below and is general information only. It is not medical advice.
Definition
AIDS is the most advanced stage of untreated HIV infection, when the immune system is badly damaged and serious infections or cancers can develop.
At a glance
- AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
- It is the most advanced stage of untreated HIV, not something caught directly.
- It is diagnosed by a very low CD4 count or certain opportunistic infections.
- Most people diagnosed with HIV today will never develop AIDS thanks to treatment.
- Many health bodies now prefer the term "advanced HIV disease".
In detail
AIDS is diagnosed when the CD4 cell count falls very low or when certain illnesses, often called opportunistic infections, appear. It is not something a person catches directly; it develops from HIV that has gone untreated, usually over many years.
Effective HIV treatment means that most people diagnosed today will never develop AIDS, and treatment can help the immune system recover even after an AIDS diagnosis. Many health bodies now prefer the term "advanced HIV disease".
In a sentence
- The documentary looked back at the AIDS crisis of the 1980s.
- The doctor explained that HIV and AIDS are not the same thing.
Where the word comes from
The term AIDS was adopted by US health authorities in 1982, before the virus that causes it had been identified.
Not to be confused with
- HIV
HIV is the virus; AIDS is a late stage of illness that treatment usually prevents.
Common questions
What is the difference between HIV and AIDS?
HIV is the virus. AIDS is the most advanced stage of HIV infection that has gone untreated, usually over many years. With effective treatment, most people living with HIV never develop AIDS.
Can the immune system recover after AIDS?
Treatment can help the immune system recover, even after an AIDS diagnosis. A specialist HIV clinic can explain what this means for an individual.