What Is The Difference Between HIV And AIDS?
My friend is HIV-positive. Someone made the remark that my friend had AIDS, and he seem rather bothered by this and stated that he did not have AIDS, that he had HIV. It was then said that they are both the same — there is no difference. My friend again stated that there is a difference and was bothered by the reference. Is there a difference? Is there a psychological need for a person who is HIV-positive to separate the two? T. C.
HIV is the virus that causes the disease AIDS. Although HIV causes AIDS, a person can be infected with HIV for many years before AIDS develops. When HIV enters your body, it infects specific cells in your immune system. These cells are called CD4 cells or helper T cells. They are important parts of your immune system and help your body fight infection and disease. When your CD4 cells are not working well, you are more likely to get sick. Usually, CD4 cell counts in someone with a healthy immune system range from 500 to 1,800 per cubic millimeter of blood. AIDS is diagnosed when your CD4 cell count goes below 200. Even if your CD4 cell count is over 200, AIDS can be diagnosed if you have HIV and certain diseases such as tuberculosis or Pneumocystis carinii [NEW-mo-SIS-tis CA-RIN-nee-eye] pneumonia (PCP). There are general stages of HIV infection that you may go through before AIDS develops. Infection. The earliest stage is right after you are infected. HIV can infect cells and copy itse
There are a number of recognised stages of HIV infection. Stage 1 Primary infection where people first become infected and in some cases experience ‘flu-like’ symptoms (the seroconversion illness). Stage 2 Asymptomatic illness where people remain well for a number of years (no symptoms). Stage 3 where people experience ‘mild’ symptoms such as lack of energy, night sweats etc. Stage 4 Advanced disease (AIDS) where people experience more severe symptoms or opportunistic illnesses. -this material is from the HIV Tests and Treatments booklet AFAO, Australia.
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.
