1

HIV = Chronic Condition

A chronic condition is a human health condition that is persistent or otherwise long-lasting in its effects. The

term chronic is usually applied when the course of the condition lasts for more than three months (90 days).

2

HIV = Human Immunodeficiency Virus

HIV is the virus that causes AIDS

If you are “HIV-positive” it means you have HIV in your blood

“PLWHA” stands for Person Living With HIV/AIDS

HIVDefined

3

AIDS = Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

Acquired means you get it from somewhere Immune Deficiency means a weakness in the

body’s system that fights diseases Syndrome means a group of health problems

that make up a disease

4

HIV / AIDS You don’t actually “get” AIDS. If you become

infected with HIV, later on you might develop AIDS.

Eventually HIV can make the immune system so weak that the person becomes ill from opportunistic infections, which are sometimes referred to as “OI’s.”

Opportunistic infections in AIDS are caused by germs that live in or near the body and would not cause illness if the person had a healthy immune system.