What is the difference between HIV and AIDS?

Most of the people who live out there in the world find it as a difficult task to figure out the difference in between HIV and AIDS. Some people think that both are the same, but it is not. In other words, you can see some clear differences in between HIV and AIDS.

Before coming into the difference in between HIV and AIDS, it is important to have a clear understanding on how a person can be diagnosed with having HIV. HIV can simply be defined as a virus, which is passed on from one person to another through close body contact. However, there should be an exchange of body fluids such as vaginal secretions, semen or blood.

Having unprotected sex with an HIV infected person can be considered as the most prominent way how this virus is getting infected. In other words, this is the reason for more than 99% of HIV infections. On the other hand, sharing needles has also been identified as a reason behind HIV. This is the main reason behind HIV cases among drug addicts.

When somebody is infected with the virus, he would be diagnosed with HIV. To be more precise, a person his considered as a HIV positive victim, when the following criteria are met.

• H – Human: It has been identified that the HIV virus can only affect human beings.
• I – Immunodeficiency: When the virus gets into the body, it would create a deficiency within the immune system of the body.
• V – Virus: As you already know, the infection takes place as a result of a virus. It is important to keep in mind that this virus is not in a position to reproduce on its own. It can only reproduce if it gets in contact with the cells of another human.

Now you have a clear understanding about HIV and it is the high time to figure out what is required for HIV to transform into AIDS.

From the studies, it has been identified that a person can get infected with AIDS due to two reasons. They include:

• If the CD4 count that can be found in an HIV infected person drops under 200/cc, he/she would be diagnosed with AIDS. In fact, 200 has been defined by the scientists as the cut off point for AIDS because the symptoms associated with AIDS are common among people who have it under the 200 mark.
• If a person with HIV infection gets into a HIV related cancer, he would be considered as a person with AIDS.

By definition, AIDS is Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. With AIDS, the ability of the human body to fight against illnesses would be reduced. As a result, he/she will be subjected to a variety of diseases as well.

Now you have a clear understanding on what the difference between HIV and AIDS is. There is no proper cure to HIV and AIDS and prevention can therefore be considered as the best cure.