HIV/AIDS Glossary

The course of HIV. HIV is an infection that progresses in three stages: acute HIV, chronic HIV, and AIDS. During acute HIV, the virus multiplies rapidly. As acute HIV progresses to chronic HIV, HIV multiplies less rapidly and HIV levels drop. However, as chronic HIV advances, HIV levels increase and the number of CD4 cells decreases. Declining CD4 cell levels indicate increasing damage to the immune system. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) can prevent HIV from destroying the immune system and advancing to AIDS.