Difference between HIV and AIDS

HIV and AIDS are complimentary terms to each other. Nevertheless, there is a difference between HIV and AIDS. So let us see that difference. HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It is the virus that causes for AIDS. On the contrary AIDS the acronym stands for Acquired Immunno Syndrome. HIV is the infection that develops to AIDS. HIV converts itself into AIDS. Nevertheless, the process takes certain time. There is certain difference between HIV and AIDS and all the information regarding this is given below.

If an infected person takes the treatment then it may be prolonged. Normally, it takes eight to ten years to develop. An infected person may experience the early symptoms like flu like illness, fatigue, fever, headache, weight loss and short term memory loss etc. These symptoms may not appear in some cases. HIV can be transmitted through the various ways including unprotected sex, using shared needles, through contaminated blood, breast feeding etc, and can be spread out through the bodily fluids such as semen, vaginal fluids and blood. The exception for that is sweat and tears, it is not proved that these fluids are responsible for spreading out HIV. However, the virus replicates itself in order to take the hold of the immune system. This replication process develops slowly. The stages of HIV infection leads a person to AIDS. As a person goes through these stages he/she reaches to the AIDS. AIDS is the final stage of HIV infection.

The stages of HIV infection will clarify the difference between the HIV and AIDS.

Primary HIV Infection

Acute infection is the first stage of HIV infection. It starts from soon after the infection of HIV. The stage takes few weeks. An individual can suffer from the flu-like illness that is one of the earlier symptoms of HIV. As it shows the symptoms like flu-like illness that is similar to other infections, more often it has been misdiagnosed by considering the other infections. The HIV test result appears to be negative if the test is performed. The antibodies are not created in this stage they take some time to be appeared in the blood as a result of this HIV tests appears to be negative. Nevertheless, if you are think that you may be infected with the virus it is advisable to go through the repetition of tests after six months.

Asymptomatic HIV

Asymptomatic HIV is the second stage of HIV infection. It is a symptom free stage where symptoms of HIV infection do not appear. In this stage a person is free from the symptoms of HIV. The virus exists in low extent in the blood. The period of this stage is generally ten years from the infection of HIV. It may prolong or may be shorter. Symptomatic HIV

Symptomatic HIV is the third stage of HIV infection. The immune system has been damaged totally by the virus. As a result of this the immune system can not resist the other infections and disease that are generally resisted by the Immune system when it becomes HIV infection free. These symptoms are called as opportunistic infections. They create health problems and damage the weakened immune system. These opportunistic infections include cytomegalovirus, tuberculosis and shingles that cause for creating the health problems.

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

The last or final stage of HIV infection is AIDS. In this stage the CD4 cells' count drops below 200. One can not go back to the HIV infection stage after developing the AIDS though he/she looks healthy.

After going through the information above you can understand both concepts HIV and AIDS.