Quick Answer
AIDS is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that has not been treated. HIV is a retrovirus that attacks immune cells; without antiretroviral therapy, it can progress to AIDS, the most advanced stage. With modern treatment, HIV can be suppressed to undetectable levels, stopping progression and preventing AIDS.
- HIV is a retrovirus that targets and destroys CD4 white blood cells.
- AIDS is diagnosed when CD4 count drops below 200 or specific infections occur.
- Without treatment, HIV typically progresses to AIDS in 8 to 10 years.
- Modern antiretroviral therapy can achieve undetectable viral load (U=U).
- People with undetectable HIV cannot transmit the virus to partners.
- HIV is not the same as AIDS; many people with HIV never develop AIDS.
Context Most Pages Skip
Understanding the link between HIV and AIDS starts with the virus itself. HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a retrovirus — it makes a DNA copy of its RNA and inserts that copy into the host cell's genome. This permanent integration means the immune system cannot simply clear the virus. HIV primarily attacks CD4 T cells, which coordinate the immune response. If left untreated, the virus gradually destroys so many CD4 cells that the body loses its ability to fight common infections. That vulnerable state is AIDS. The key point: HIV causes AIDS only when the virus is not controlled. With modern treatment, progression can be stopped entirely.
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Sources & Further Reading
- CDC — Sexually Transmitted Infections
- CDC STI Treatment Guidelines
- WHO — Sexually transmitted infections fact sheet
- MedlinePlus — Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Figures reflect CDC surveillance and WHO estimates; they are population statistics, not personal risk predictions.