เอดส์
AIDS
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- 1 AIDS、acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
This word refers to AIDS, the advanced stage of HIV infection in which the immune system has been severely weakened.
AIDS、acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
It refers to the advanced stage of HIV infection, when severe damage to the immune system can lead to serious infections and other illnesses.
Learning notes
Explanation
This is the Thai transcription of the English abbreviation AIDS, meaning “acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.” It is also commonly used as โรคเอดส์, with โรค meaning “disease.” เอดส์ is not the name of a virus. It is a condition that can develop when HIV infection has severely damaged the immune system. HIV is called เอชไอวี in Thai. With appropriate treatment, a person with HIV can avoid progressing to AIDS.
Usage
The word appears in medical care, public-health education, prevention campaigns, and news reports. It is also understood in everyday conversation, but discussions of an individual’s health should respect privacy and avoid stigmatizing language.
Caution
Do not use เอดส์ and เอชไอวี as though they were interchangeable. เอชไอวี refers to HIV, the virus and its infection, while เอดส์ refers to the advanced condition that may result from untreated HIV. Avoid labeling someone ผู้ป่วยเอดส์ (“an AIDS patient”) based on appearance or speculation.