FactSheet: HIV and AIDS

Abstract

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is caused by infection with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). AIDS occurs some time (often years) after an infection with HIV. AIDS includes a number of illnesses that a person can develop because his or her immune system is weakened by HIV infection. The more common of these are: pneumocystis pneumonia, Kaposi’s sarcoma, cytomegalovirus infection, tuberculosis, oesophageal candidiasis, cryptococcosis, cryptosporidiosis, and HIV encephalopathy.