HIV vs AIDS
AIDS is basically what happens when you leave HIV untreated
HIV stands for ‘human immunodeficiency virus’. It is a virus that attacks the immune system, causing the infected person’s immunity to weaken so much it cannot fight off infections and diseases our bodies can normally fight off.
To stop the HIV virus from attacking the immune system, a person who is HIV+ needs to take anti-retroviral treatment (ART).
Once the person takes ART, they do not progress to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
However, if the person does not take ART, the virus will progress to AIDS. This is the last stage of an HIV infection. By this point, the person’s immune system is so severely damaged it is unable to fight off infections. This can be life-threatening,
To stop HIV from progressing into AIDS, we strongly encourage at-risk individuals to test frequently for early detection. The earlier we can catch HIV, the earlier we can treat it and stop it from becoming AIDS.
Curious about AIDS symptoms? You can read more about it here.
More resources
HIV 101
There's lots of information out there about HIV and it can seem confusing for someone who wants to learn more. We've put together a list of FAQs to guide you through.
Living with HIV
With medication, HIV is a manageable, chronic condition — you will still be able to live a healthy and productive life.
For Caregivers
Caregiving for a loved one can be stressful and mentally exhausting. Learn how to identify and manage the stressors to keep yourself in a good mental state.