- AIDS stands for acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome
- AIDS is pattern of devastating infections caused by HIV
- HIV stands for human immuno-deficiency virus
- HIV attacks and destroys certain white blood cells that are essential to the body’s immune system
- When HIV attacks a cell, it may be inactive for years
- Most HIV infected persons are still healthy and can live for year with no symptoms or major illness
- Person who are HIV-positive are both infected and infectious for life. Even if they look and feel health, they can transmit the virus to others
- After a period of time, the HIV virus becomes activated, weakens the immune system, and makes the person vulnerable to serious infections such as TB