whats the difference between HIV and aids?

Question

i know hiv is the virus and aids is the diseases but what is the difference in how you feel when you have either?also can you cure hiv?(not aids) and how does hiv become aids??

Answer 1

Let's clarify a few things here...

HIV = "Human Immunodeficiency Virus"
AIDS = "Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome"

HIV is, as you say, a virus...on its own, it doesn't do much... but it compromises your immune system, rendering you open to any number of infections and immune-disorder issues. AIDS is not a "disease", it is a collection of effects of the lack of an immune response... hence, it is called a "syndrome".

You don't "feel" an HIV infection.
You'll feel the effects of the various disorders which arise from it's impact on your immune system.... collectively known as AIDS.
No, you can't cure HIV, as yet, though research is proceeding.
HIV doesn't become AIDS... the HIV virus depresses your immune system and may place you in the condition known as AIDS.
Or, it may not. With good management, many people manage not to succumb to AIDS, even though they are infected with HIV.

Answer 2

HIV and AIDS, though definitely related, are decidedly different.

HIV is the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It attacks the immune system. Despite many, many claims of holistic "doctors", faith healers, and others, there is no known cure for HIV infection. Nor for AIDS.

AIDS is Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. AIDS is caused by HIV. However, most are phasing out this term in favor of "Advanced HIV Disease".

The progression of HIV infection to AIDS is not always inevitable. There are people who are termed "long term non-progressors". These are people who have had HIV for a very long time but exhibit no appreciable decrease in their immune function; even without taking medications.

Recently, the advancement of HIV infection to AIDS has been slowed dramtically by highly effective (and rather expensive) Anti-HIV medications. But these are not a cure.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (the CDC) there are specific criteria for an AIDS diagnosis. People who have had an HIV positive test result combined with a CD4+ count lower than 200 or CD4+ percentage less than 14 or an opportunistic infection (OI) have AIDS.

That is, a person with HIV and an opportunistic infection (any one of about 30 specific illnesses) is diagnosed with AIDS regardless of the CD4 count. Also, a person with HIV and fewer than 200 CD4 cells is considered to have AIDS even if the person never had an OI.

These criteria for AIDS diagnosis aren't usually met until 8 to 10 years of untreated HIV infection. What happens is HIV slowly and surely destroys the immune system thereby reducing -- or even eliminating -- the body's ability to fight illnesses. As I'm sure you're aware, without a healthy immune system a person becomes susceptable to normally harmless illnesses like a cold or the flu.

Finally, once diagnosed with AIDS, the diagnosis never goes away. Even if one's CD4 count rises into the 700 range after being below 200, that person is still considered to have AIDS. Similarly, a person who no longer has an OI will still have a diagnosis of AIDS (or Advanced HIV Disease).

Answer 3

The HIV is virus-Human Immunodeficiency Virus.Caused AIDS.
The AIDS is sickness,syndrome-complicated disease,slow and painfully dead.No yet vaccine!Use condoms!

Answer 4

hiv is the virus for aids , when the virus is full bloom it becomes aids ..also , no cure for hiv or aids

Answer 5

HIV = 201or more white blood cells
AIDS = 200 or less White blood cells

Niether is curable.

Answer 6

THERE ISNT ANYTHING TO CURE HIV OR AIDS.I DO THINK THAT THERE IS SOMETHING THAT CAN CAUSE IT TO GO INTO REMISSION.IM NOT SURE ON THAT ONE THOUGH.

Answer 7

there isnt no cure for either. known as the silent killer were a person waites to long to be checked up . in my opion?