I have always been curious to know if there is a difference between H.I.V. and aids; or is both the same thing

Question

I think i once heard that there is a difference but i forgot.

Answer 1

AIDS comes from HIV.

Answer 2

HIV is the virus that is transmitted through fluid exchange (primarily through sexual contact). AIDS stands for 'acquired immune deficiency syndrome' which is the medical condition (with a whole host of symptoms which vary from person to person) that HIV causes, where the immune system weakens to the point it is no longer able to deal with routine (and not so routine) attacks.

Think of this analogy - Car won't start anymore. Why? No gas.

Person is suffering from AIDS. Why? HIV virus.

Best to you.

Answer 3

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is the virus that causes the medical condition known as AIDS. The virus is passed from person to person through the exchange of infected body fluids.

AIDS, (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), is a condition characterized by the collapse of the body's natural immunity against disease. People who have AIDS are more susceptible to contagious diseases, like pneumonia, than those who have normal immune systems

Answer 4

HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It destroys the white blood cells that fight infection. When the number of T cells destroyed reaches a certain amount, that is when AIDS is diagnosed. Not everyone with HIV will end up with AIDS.

Answer 5

Here are two definitions. One is more reader friendly the other is a more clinical defintion. I've given you both websites in case you want more information.
**********************************************************************

What what is the difference between being HIV positive and having AIDS?
A person is said to be HIV positive if that person is infected with the virus HIV. The person may not be sick at all. A person is said to have AIDS if the person is infected with HIV and has certain signs and symptoms of the disease. In short, HIV is the virus, and AIDS is the disease that it causes.

Most literature makes a distinction between people who are infected with HIV but are still healthy, and those who have the virus and are sick with AIDS. This may lead readers to think that these are two different diseases, but this is not true. They are simply two different stages of the same disease. An infected person may seem very healthy at first. Without treatment, most infected people start to get sick a few years after first becoming infected.

Any person who has HIV, whether the person is sick with AIDS or not, should be under the care of a qualified physician. Now, more than ever, there are treatments that can delay the onset of the disease. The earlier one seeks treatment, the better one's chances are likely to be.

Any person who has HIV, whether the person is sick with AIDS or not, can pass the virus on to other people. This means you can get AIDS from a person who looks very healthy, if the person is infected with HIV and if you have sexual or blood contact with the person. Avoiding people who "look sick" is no guarantee.
*********************************************************

What is the difference between HIV and AIDS?

HIV is the virus that causes the disease AIDS. Although HIV causes AIDS, a person can be infected with HIV for many years before AIDS develops.

When HIV enters your body, it infects specific cells in your immune system. These cells are called CD4 cells or helper T cells. They are important parts of your immune system and help your body fight infection and disease. When your CD4 cells are not working well, you are more likely to get sick.

Usually, CD4 cell counts in someone with a healthy immune system range from 500 to 1,800 per cubic millimeter of blood. AIDS is diagnosed when your CD4 cell count goes below 200. Even if your CD4 cell count is over 200, AIDS can be diagnosed if you have HIV and certain diseases such as tuberculosis or Pneumocystis carinii [NEW-mo-SIS-tis CA-RIN-nee-eye] pneumonia (PCP).

There are general stages of HIV infection that you may go through before AIDS develops.

Infection. The earliest stage is right after you are infected. HIV can infect cells and copy itself before your immune system has started to respond. You may have felt flu-like symptoms during this time.

Response. The next stage is when your body responds to the virus. Even if you don’t feel any different, your body is trying to fight the virus by making antibodies against it. This is called seroconversion, when you go from being HIV negative to HIV positive.

No symptoms. You may enter a stage in which you have no symptoms. This is called asymptomatic infection. You still have HIV and it may be causing damage that you can’t feel.

Symptoms. Symptomatic HIV infection is when you develop symptoms, such as certain infections, including PCP.

AIDS. AIDS is diagnosed when you have a variety of symptoms, infections, and specific test results. There is no single test to diagnose AIDS.

Answer 6

As far as I understand HIV is the virus that attacks your fighter T cells (basically your immune system) and AIDS is when the virus fully takes over.

Answer 7

HIV is before the virus is active, its present but not doing anything, kind of like how cancer is recessive sometimes, same principle involved basically inactive aids

Answer 8

HIV is the virus that causes AIDS, you can carry HIV but not necessarily be infected with AIDS.

Answer 9

HIV=virus

AIDS=disease

HIV - treatment = AIDS

HIV+ treatment = NO AIDS

HIV causes AIDS if not treated. And even with treatment you can still get AIDS. If you've had AIDS, you definately have had HIV.

Answer 10

HIV is the viral form of Aids. When HIV mutates it becomes aids.