What HIV/AIDS stands for

H: Human. This means you can only get the virus from another human. You cannot get it from an animal.
I: Immunodeficiency. This literally means that your immune system is deficient. Your immune system is your body’s defense network that works to fight off infections and keep you healthy.
V: Virus. This means HIV is caused by a virus, not a bacteria or protozoa.


A: Acquired. This means that it is something you acquire, or get. In order to get AIDS, a person has to do something. In fact, there are very specific things that a person has to do in order to get AIDS. You can find out more about this in “How could I have gotten HIV?”
I: Immuno. This refers to the body’s immune system, our natural way of fighting off diseases. It is similar to the “I” in “HIV.”
D: Deficiency. This refers to the fact that that body’s immune system is deficient, or not working properly, which can put a person at higher risk of getting an infection or getting sick. It is similar to the “I” in “HIV.”
S: Syndrome. What this means is that people with AIDS don’t all have the same symptoms, but they have the same condition. For example, one person could have AIDS because they have HIV and cancer. Another person could have AIDS because HIV and tuberculosis. So not all people with AIDS will have the same infections or symptoms, but they all have the same condition, and may have another illness because their immune system has been weakened by HIV.

What HIV does to the body
HIV attacks a person’s immune system, killing off important cells called CD4 cells which are crucial to fight off infections. Without these cells, the body loses its ability to fight off everyday infections. Therefore, people with HIV can get infected with diseases that healthy people would not get sick from.

What is the difference between HIV and AIDS?
HIV is the virus, or tiny particle that can infect a person through bodily fluids. We say that someone is either “HIV positive,” meaning they have the virus, or “HIV negative,” meaning they do not have the virus. AIDS is a condition in the body as a result of damage caused by HIV. A person can be diagnosed with AIDS in one of two ways: either their CD4 cell count (the cells that make up the immune system) goes below 200 (a healthy person’s CD4 cell count is normally around 800-1200) or they acquire another infection because of their weakened immune system. There are many different infections that qualify someone for an AIDS diagnosis which are called “opportunistic infections.” They take advantage or “opportunity” over someone’s weakened immune system. These can include cancers, lung infections, eye conditions, and many other afflictions. Once a person has been diagnosed with AIDS, they will always have AIDS, even if their CD4 cell count rises or they recover from their opportunistic infection.