HIV vs AIDS. Understanding The Real Difference

Though most people use the terms HIV and AIDS interchangeably, these two don’t mean the same. HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, a type of virus that weakens the immune system of the body and reduces its ability to fight any infection or disease.

On the other hand, AIDS is Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, a late stage of HIV infection. When HIV is left untreated, over a period of time, the virus multiplies and attacks the CD4 cells of the immune system, making the body prone to any infection, which ultimately could even prove fatal.

What Causes HIV?

HIV is contracted by having unprotected sex with a person suffering from HIV, transmission of HIV-infected blood, through semen, vaginal fluids or by sharing the drug needles with someone who is infected with this virus. HIV is also transmitted from an HIV-infected mother to her baby during pregnancy.

Some people infected with HIV may not show any symptoms at all in the initial stages. Later symptoms such as swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, mouth ulcers, rash, night sweats may appear. These symptoms may last for a few days or weeks^[1].

Getting a blood test done is the most effective way to confirm the presence of HIV. Although there is no cure for HIV, it can be managed by taking antiretroviral medication daily. These medicines are effective and help curb the progression of the virus in the body.

How HIV Progresses To AIDS?^[2]

If HIV is left untreated, the virus will keep multiplying in the body, destroying the CD4 cells, and weakening the immune system to an extent where it could no longer defend itself against any infection or illness. Also, how quickly HIV could progress to AIDS may vary from individual to individual. This may take place in 5 to 10 years, the time period may depend on several factors such as a person’s age, general health, and presence of other infections or conditions.

AIDS is thus the late stage of HIV infection, where a person is susceptible to an increasing number of illnesses such as pneumonia, cancer, tuberculosis, etc. These types of illnesses are called as ‘opportunistic illnesses’ because they tend to take advantage of the compromised immune system to invade the body.

During this late stage, an affected individual may show other symptoms such as rapid weight loss, recurring fever, prolonged swelling of the lymph glands, diarrhoea, etc. However, a drop in CD4 count (less than 200 cells/mm3) in a blood sample confirms that the disease has progressed to the late stage. In general, treatment prevents progression of HIV to AIDS.

Diagnosing HIV

Different types of diagnostic testing are available today that detects the presence of HIV in a person.^[3]

Antibodies test uses the blood or oral fluid to check for HIV antibodies, which are disease-fighting proteins produced in the body in response to HIV infection.
Antigen/Antibody test can identify both the HIV antigens and HIV antibodies in the blood.
Nucleic Acid Test (NAT), a molecular test detects the presence of HIV in a blood sample.

A positive HIV test does not always mean that a person has AIDS but a person with AIDS will have HIV.

Presently, there is no definitive cure for HIV and AIDS. However, with early diagnosis and by adhering to the prescribed medicines throughout life, an HIV-positive person can live healthier and longer.

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