Discover how HIV spreads, how to prevent the virus progressing to AIDS , and where to get treatment. What is HIV? Get basic information on HIV, its symptoms, how it is spread, how HIV differs from AIDS , and how getting tested for HIV can help. WHAT DOES “ AIDS ” MEAN? HOW DO YOU GET AIDS ? WHAT HAPPENS IF I’M HIV POSITIVE? HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE AIDS ? IS THERE A CURE FOR AIDS ? WHAT DOES “ AIDS ” MEAN? AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome: Acquired means you can get infected with it; Immune Deficiency means a weakness in the body’s system that fights diseases. Syndrome means a group of health problems that make up a disease. AIDS is caused by a virus called HIV, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. If you get ... Main symptoms of AIDS Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome ( AIDS ) is defined as an HIV infection with either a CD4 + T cell count below 200 cells per μL or the occurrence of specific diseases associated with HIV infection. [32] In the absence of specific treatment, around half of people infected with HIV develop AIDS within ten years. [32]
