How HIV Progresses to AIDS: Stages, Symptoms, and Prevention
What Is AIDS?
AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Acquired means you can get infected with it, Immune deficiency means the immune system that helps the body to fight with the diseases are weak, syndrome means a group of health problems that makes a disease. AIDS is caused by an infectious virus called Human Immunodeficiency Virus. HIV causes AIDS and interferes with the body's ability to fight with the infections. A person does not get affected by AIDS; he/she might get infected with HIV, and later they might develop AIDS. AIDS is the last stage of HIV infection that happens when the body's immune system is severely damaged because of the virus. Hence, a small brief about what is aids actually.
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What Is HIV?
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. HIV is a virus that attacks cells that helps the body fight infection, making the person weaker with the immune system and more vulnerable to other infections and diseases. It is spread with contact to certain body fluids including blood, semen, vaginal and rectal fluids and breast milk of an infected person, a person with HIV, most commonly during sex (SEX without a protection or HIV medicine to prevent or treat HIV), or through sharing injection drug equipment of others. If the person is not treated, then HIV can lead to the disease of AIDS. Our human body cannot get rid of HIV, and there does not exist a cure for active HIV. So, once you get HIV positive, you have it for life. If a person gets affected by HIV, the body will make "antibodies" or unique immune molecules to fight HIV.
Is HIV Curable?
To understand this , we need to keep in mind what is hiv as stated above. By taking HIV medicine called antiretroviral Therapy or ART, people with HIV can at least live long and healthy lives if not cured and also can prevent transmitting HIV to their sexual partners. There are additionally effective methods too, to avoid getting HIV through sex or drug use, a person can use pre-exposure prophylaxis(PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis(PEP). In the U.S., people having HIV positive do not lead to AIDS as a continuous intake of HIV medicine stops the progression of AIDS.
What Is The Difference Between HIV And AIDS?
Difference between HIV and AIDS are:
HIV is the acronym for human Deficiency Virus, whereas AIDS is the acronym for Acquired Deficiency Syndrome. In the case of HIV, the virus that invades the immunity system whereas in the case of AIDS the last stage of the spectrum of conditions, initially caused by the infection of HIV. In the case of HIV, patients will suffer minor difficulties; symptoms will be similar to flu, whereas, in the case of AIDS, patients will experience severe signs and symptoms, disrupting the quality of life. A person having HIV may not have AIDS, but a person having AIDS will have HIV. HIV can be diagnosed with a simple test, whereas AIDS diagnosis is a bit more complicated. If a person infected with HIV, your immune system produces antibodies against the virus, and these antibodies can be detected by a blood or saliva test, whereas diagnosing AIDS involves a count of CD4 cells. Still, since its the final stage of HIV, it can go undiagnosed until it's too late.
So these are a few differences between HIV and AIDS. Yes, these two terms are not similar. People often get confused between the two words because both the public and the medical literature have had a tendency to use HIV and AIDS interchangeably.
Solved Examples
Question 1: Is there any link between HIV/AIDS medication non-adherence and psychological distress?
Answer: There are several reasons that may lead to non-adherence among HIV infected patients, including side effects of antiretroviral, miserable quality life, and psychological distress is one of them.
Question 2: Does circumcision prevent HIV or AIDS?
Answer: Most studies say that circumcision reduces transmission to the male partner by up to 60%. However, there is no proof that it reduces transmission from males to females.
Did You Know
Anyone can get HIV, men and women are usual, but transgender or bisexuals can also get HIV. The death toll from AIDS is astronomic. You may not know if you have HIV. The only way to see if you have got HIV positive is to get tested. HIV prevention is vital. The best way to prevent HIV is to always to have safer sex and avoid using drug paraphernalia needles.
FAQs on What Is the Difference Between AIDS and HIV?
1. What is the fundamental difference between HIV and AIDS?
The primary difference is that HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is the virus that causes the infection, while AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) is the final, most severe stage of that infection. A person can be HIV-positive for many years without developing AIDS. AIDS is diagnosed when the immune system is severely weakened by HIV, indicated by a very low count of CD4+ cells or the presence of specific opportunistic infections.
2. How does HIV specifically target and weaken the human immune system?
HIV primarily attacks a specific type of white blood cell called the CD4+ T-helper cell. These cells are crucial for coordinating the body's immune response. The virus uses an enzyme called reverse transcriptase to convert its RNA into DNA, which it then integrates into the host cell's DNA. This allows it to replicate, destroying the host CD4+ cells in the process. Over time, the continuous destruction of these cells cripples the immune system's ability to fight off other infections.
3. What are the four main stages of an untreated HIV infection?
The progression of an untreated HIV infection generally occurs in four stages:
- Stage 1: Acute Infection: Occurs within 2 to 4 weeks after infection. Individuals may experience flu-like symptoms as the virus replicates rapidly.
- Stage 2: Clinical Latency (Asymptomatic): The virus reproduces at very low levels, and the person may not show any symptoms. This stage can last for a decade or longer without treatment.
- Stage 3: Symptomatic HIV Infection: As the virus depletes more CD4+ cells, the immune system weakens, and symptoms like fever, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes emerge.
- Stage 4: Progression to AIDS: This is the most advanced stage, diagnosed when the CD4+ cell count falls below 200 cells/mm³ or when the person develops specific severe, life-threatening illnesses known as opportunistic infections.
4. Can a person be infected with HIV but not have AIDS?
Yes, absolutely. A person is considered HIV-positive from the moment they are infected with the virus. AIDS is a condition that develops only after HIV has severely damaged the immune system over several years. With modern Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), many people with HIV can suppress the virus to undetectable levels and live long, healthy lives without ever progressing to the stage of AIDS.
5. What are common opportunistic infections associated with AIDS?
Opportunistic infections are illnesses caused by pathogens that a healthy immune system would normally control. In AIDS patients, these can become severe. Common examples include:
- Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP): A serious fungal infection of the lungs.
- Tuberculosis (TB): A bacterial infection that primarily affects the lungs.
- Candidiasis (Thrush): A fungal infection that can affect the mouth, throat, or vagina.
- Toxoplasmosis: A parasitic infection that can cause encephalitis (brain inflammation).
- Kaposi's sarcoma: A type of cancer that causes lesions on the skin and other organs.
6. Why is there currently no cure for HIV or AIDS?
There is no cure primarily because HIV is a retrovirus that integrates its genetic material directly into the host's cellular DNA. This creates a permanent, latent viral reservoir in the body's cells. Even if active viruses in the bloodstream are eliminated by medication, this hidden reservoir can reactivate if treatment is stopped. Current research focuses on ways to safely eliminate this reservoir, but a definitive cure has not yet been developed.
7. How is HIV transmitted, and what are the primary methods of prevention?
HIV is transmitted through the exchange of specific bodily fluids from an infected person, including blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk. The main modes of transmission are:
- Unprotected sexual contact.
- Sharing needles or syringes for drug injection.
- From mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.
- Transmission through infected blood transfusions (now rare in countries with proper screening).
