What is the difference between STDs, HIV, and AIDS (11/05/01)?
STD is short for sexually transmitted diseases. Sometimes these are also called sexually transmitted infections (STI). STD or STI is the general name for all diseases that are spread through sexual contact. A disease can be spread sexually if the germs (virus, bacteria, fungus, lice, scabies) are present either in the fluids which are exchanged during sex (sperm, seminal fluid, vaginal secretions), in blood (as there can be bleeding during sex), or on the skin, especially in the area of the genitals, that comes in contact during sex. HIV is a virus that is present both in the blood and fluids (sperm, seminal fluid, vaginal secretions) that are exchanged during sex. It is the most feared of the STDs since there is no cure or vaccine for it and the human immune system cannot get rid of it on its own. So it causes death in all those infected. AIDS is the last stage of HIV infection before death. Clinally it is characterized by when the CD4 T-lympocyte count falls below 200 per cubic milli
