Difference Between HIV and AIDS

Both HIV and AIDS are terms used in medicine and refer to a kind of disease in the human body. HIV is a virus that affects an individual’s immune system and reduces it to splinters if left untreated. Ultimately, it leads to increased susceptibility to common viral and bacterial infections in the long run. This deadly stage is then called AIDS, which is attributed to a series of compromised immune systems calculated by the CD4 cell count in the body. HIV is usually transmitted through sexual intercourse or mats where either person has this virus in their blood. Not only sexual, but HIV can also be transmitted through needles after they are inserted into the body of someone if the needles have the virus; but nevertheless, it is not transmitted by air, water or casual touch of a person affected by the virus, etc. On the other hand, only people affected by HIV can get AIDS, but it occurs as a result of not treating HIV. As far as symptoms are concerned, it is difficult to know if someone is infected with HIV or not, since their symptoms are minimal, even doctors sometimes cannot find out; however, some infected people may face a serious complaint at the beginning of HIV. On the other hand, when a steady decline in a person’s health is observed and dramatic deterioration is observed, it is suspiciously heading towards the late stage of HIV, which it is AIDS. For both an earlier stage and a later stage of the disease, Periodic tests can be a good way of diagnosis by obtaining blood samples or oral swabs from a person. One is a blue moon, it happens that a person’s urine is tested for HIV. More seican antibody tests followed by antigen tests, PCR tests and NAT tests. The treatment of this disease may vary slightly depending on the level of the disease.

Comparison chart

What is HIV?

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is the festive stage of viral disease in which a person’s immune system becomes infected with its virus. HIV is usually transmitted through sexual intercourse in which either person has this virus in their body. It can be transmitted through needles, usually through injections. Its symptoms are difficult to track by a person facing severe flu. Blood samples or oral swabs can be tested to diagnose whether a person is infected by this virus or not.

What is AIDS?

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is later and the final stage of HIV. The final stage features a severely compromised immune system, as assessed by the CD4 cell count in the body. Only a person who has HIV can become infected with AIDS. If a person becomes infected with late-stage HIV, he may face serious deterioration of his health, viral infections, and cancer.

Key differences

1. HIV and AIDS are medical terms that refer to a single disease.
2. HIV is the first stage in which the body’s immune system is infected; AIDS is later and the final stage of HIV
3. HIV can be transmitted through sexual intercourse and the insertion of infected needles into the body; AIDS cannot be spread directly as it is the next level of HIV
4. Excessive influenza is the symptom of HIV; AIDS can cause serious deterioration of health

Final Thought

These two terms are often spoken together in places where people don’t know much about them, but in reality, they are slightly different from each other. Hopefully, this article will help people learn about similar things and the main differences between them, which can help during diagnosis.