AIDS

What is AIDS?

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome: the condition that may develop after HIV has reduced the number and effectiveness of lymphocytes to the point where the immune system can no longer defend the body properly, so susceptibility to other infections and to some diseases is greatly increased. AIDS is a stage that may follow HIV infection, not another name for the virus.

This definition is part of the Disease and Immunity chapter in Cambridge O Level Biology.

Concepts related to AIDS

• HIV
• lymphocyte
• opportunistic infection

Common mistakes with AIDS

• "HIV and AIDS are two names for the same thing." One is a virus; the other is a condition that may develop after that virus has weakened the immune system over time. Write HIV is the virus. AIDS is the condition in which the immune system is so weakened that susceptibility to other infections and diseases is greatly increased.