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What is it?

AIDS is a specific syndrome that develops when someone’s immune system is dangerously weakened because of HIV. That’s why it is so important to get tested; so if you have HIV you can take medication and not develop AIDS.

What are the symptoms?

• Herpes infections that won’t go away
• A thick white coating on the tongue (thrush) or yeast infections
• Extreme tiredness
• Extreme weight loss
• Pneumonia
• Purple or discolored growths on the skin
• Cancer
• Mental changes

What are the effects?

AIDS weakens your body’s ability to fight off disease, so people with AIDS can get seriously ill. Someone who is healthy and doesn’t have AIDS could easily recover from an illness that might kill a person with AIDS.

Is there a cure?

Right now, there is no cure for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. However, there are medicines to help those with HIV/AIDS live longer and healthier.