What is the Difference Between HIV and AIDS?

What is the Difference Between HIV and AIDS?

HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.

H    -  Human: because this virus can only infect human beings.

I    -    Immuno-deficiency: because the effect of the virus is to create a deficiency, a failure to work properly, within the body’s immune system.

V    -   Virus: because this organism is a virus, which means one of its characteristics is that it is incapable of reproducing by itself. It reproduces by taking over the machinery of the human cell.

           
A    -    Acquired: because it’s a condition one must acquire or get infected with; not something transmitted through the genes
I    -    Immune: because it affects the body’s immune system, the part of the body which usually works to fight off germs such as bacteria and viruses
D    -    Deficiency: because it makes the immune system deficient (makes it not work properly)
S    -    Syndrome: because someone with AIDS may experience a wide range of different diseases and opportunistic infections.


AIDS is the name used to describe a combination of potentially life-threatening infections and cancers that can develop in people who have HIV.

Over time, infection with HIV damages the immune system, This means that the body cannot fight off a number of serious infections and cancers, which are sometimes called ‘AIDS-defining’.

Just because you are diagnosed with an AIDS-defining illness doesn’t mean that you are going to die. Many of these illnesses can be cured or managed.

Treatment with combinations of anti-HV drugs can keep the immune system strong, and because of this the number of people who are diagnosed with AIDS has fallen. Thanks to effective HIV treatment, many people who developed AIDS are now very well and can look forward to a long and healthy life.


REMEMBER: Early diagnosis and treatment are essential for maintaining your health. Take control of your health and your life.



SOURCE: AIDS.ORG