Unlike many diseases, HIV infection and AIDS are preventable. While it can be disturbing to think about AIDS and consider your risk, getting up-to-date information is the first step toward protecting yourself. The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) damages cells in the immmune (defense) system that fights off infections and diseases. As the virus gradually destroys these important cells, the immune system becomes less and less able to protect against illness.

Typically, HIV lives in an infected person's body for months or years before any signs of illness appear. AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Dificiency Syndrome. AIDS is the last stage of HIV infection. People with AIDS experience certain life-threatening infections and cancers which make them very sick and can eventually kill them.