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The Basics: HIV/AIDS 101 HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system. HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It is a retrovirus which means it carries genetic information in the form of RNA rather than DNA. It is also a lentivirus - translated as slow virus because it has a long incubation period. AIDS is a state of weakened immune system due to HIV infection AIDS stands for Acquired Immuno-deficiency Syndrome. AIDS is the late stage of HIV infection, characterized by a severely weakened immune system that can no longer fight off opportunistic infections (OIs). If not treated, HIV infection will lead to AIDS. There is no cure for HIV (at this time), but there are very effective treatments. A cure for HIV wold have to remove or inactivate 100% of the HIV in the body. Currently, there are no drugs that can cure HIV. However, drugs called antiretrovirals (ARVs) can slow the rate of HIV infection. The gold standard for HIV drugs are called Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy, more commonly known as HAART. A Piece of HIV History HIV was first identified in North America in the 1980's. The first antiretroviral drug, AZT, was approved just a few years later in 1987. Dr. David Ho, a Taiwanese-American AIDS researcher, found that using three or more different ARVs together has the highest efficacy1. These drug cocktails are now known as HAART. With treatment, HIV is a chronic illness. If treatment is available to individuals, HIV can be a chronic but progressive illness. This means that people receiving treatment can live with HIV for a long time, but the disease will eventually become more severe over time. Nurses play a vital role in caring for and educating people living with HIV at each stage of the illness. Back to Main page. Next Page: Risk Factors for Transmission