AIDS is Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, which is the advanced clinical stage of HIV infection.

The HIV virus causes a decrease in CD4+ lymphocytes, and at the AIDS stage, the immune system can no longer fight even the most trivial infections that would normally not cause illness.

AIDS can manifest several years after HIV infection, and the best way to know if one has been infected is through an HIV test. Early diagnosis is extremely important because it helps safeguard one's health and that of others.

Starting antiretroviral therapies early prevents the infection from progressing to the AIDS stage.