What is the difference between HIV and AIDS?

AIDS is the last stage of HIV. When you get AIDS it means your immune system has become so weak that it has trouble fighting off illness.

Since the terms "HIV" and "AIDS" are both used to describe the same disease, the names can be confusing. HIV causes AIDS but it can take a long time for AIDS to develop, so a person can have HIV and not have AIDS.

The biggest difference between having HIV and having AIDS is how sick you are. Doctors will say that HIV has developed into AIDS when a person starts getting certain illnesses and has a really weak immune system. If you stay healthy it usually takes a long time to get AIDS.