HIV stands for human immunodefiency virus.
Viruses are germs that cause people to get sick.
They can cause all kinds of health problems, from the flu to chickenpox. AIDS stands for acquired immune deficiency syndrome. The new research about HIV shows that, if people take steps to eat right, exercise, and get the treatments they need, they can stay healthier longer. After a person is infected with HIV, AIDS may not develop for several years. How HIV works When HIV enters your body, germ-fighting blood cells called CD4 cells rush to attack.