What is AIDS?

AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It’s the name of the disease caused by HIV. Let’s look at that name more closely:

• AIDS is acquired because it’s caused by something you get, and not something you are born with. Well—a baby can be born with HIV if the mother has an HIV infection, but this can usually be prevented if the mother takes anti-HIV drugs during pregnancy.
• AIDS happens because of an immune deficiency, meaning a weakened or damaged immune system.
• A syndrome is a collection of symptoms. AIDS is called a syndrome because before HIV was discovered, doctors decided a person had AIDS based on their symptoms.

Being HIV-positive is not the same as having AIDS. Many people who are HIV-positive look and feel perfectly fine. It may be 10 years or more before HIV makes them sick and they develop AIDS.

Later you will read about some of the drugs used to treat HIV. These drugs can help people with HIV and AIDS live longer, but they are not a cure. There is no cure for AIDS.