Does it mean that if a person is HIV infected, he/she has AIDS?
No. HIV infection and AIDS are two different things. The period between HIV infection and it’s onset on human body is considerably long. Immune system of Human body consists of many types of cells. CD4+ve-T cells or CD4 cells in the immune system plays a major role of controlling all other cell’s activities. The count of CD4 cells in the human body is anywhere from 800 to 1200 per cubic millimetre of blood. HIV attacks these CD4 cells and destroys them gradually. Over the period of time, CD4 count in the body decreases gradually. At one time of the illness, CD4 count goes below 200. This stage of HIV infection is called as AIDS. The period between HIV infection and the onset of AIDS could be of 5 yrs./10yrs/15yrs or in some cases it could be up to 25yrs. Therefore, one should not misunderstand that if a person is HIV infected, he has AIDS.
