How does AIDS differ from an autoimmune disease?

{quote} Education is part of the mission statement of the foundation (IPPF), and not only have people never heard of these rare autoimmune diseases, they don’t know the difference between an autoimmune disease and the specific one caused by the HIV virus. read more

So the difference could be summarized like this.. in autoimmune disease the immune system is hyperactive and targets its own antigen not an external stimulus. While in AIDS the immune system is weakened and suppressed because of HIV infection "external virus". read more

Unlike autoimmune diseases, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome is a disease limited to the human immune system. It is caused by HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). HIV is spread primarily through unprotected sexual intercourse, contaminated blood transfusions, needles and from mother to child. read more