AIDS (patient information)

What is AIDS?

AIDS - The Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - is a disease you get when HIV destroys your body’s immune system. Normally, your immune system helps you fight off illness. When your immune system fails you can become very sick and can die. HIV - the human immunodeficiency virus - is a virus that kills your body’s "CD4 cells." CD4 cells (also called T-helper cells) help your body fight off infection and disease.

What is the Difference Between AIDS and HIV?

AIDS is the disease which results from HIV's destruction of the T-helper cells. The HIV virus causes AIDS.