Background: HIV has been epidemic in Thailand for decades. However, limited data were published about pain and the management of pain in patients progressing to AIDS.Objective: To describe the prevalence and severity of pain, and the impact of pain on the quality of life as well as how to manage HIV/AIDS patients.Methodology: A prospective study was done on 300 HIV/AIDS cases at Bamrasnaradura Institute during the period January - June 2001. The 235 subjects who experienced pain were included and the pain symptoms were assessed by answering “The Brief Pain Inventory Questionnaire” within 48 hours after admission and then on the seventh day. Pain severity and its impact on the quality of life were assessed by numerical rating scale. The management of pain by attending physicians and the history of HIV infection were recorded by investigators.Results: The 300 patients (204 males and 96 females, mean age of 34.6 (SD = 8.8) years) all were at clinical stage C. The overall prevalence of pain was 78.3 percent and the severity of pain was rated by numerical scales as pain at worst (7.89), pain on average (5.82) and pain at least (2.94). Their quality of life was obviously more affected when the severity of pain increased. It was found that a large number of subjects had persistent pain and its severity persisted from admission day until the seventh day. According to this study, pain control and management were considered to be insufficient even when the patients were in the medical ward.Conclusion: The management of pain in HIV/AIDS patients in Thailand has not been satisfactory and needs to be reassessed and developed.