**HIV vs. AIDS: Understanding the Distinctions**
Many people often mistake HIV for AIDS, thinking they are one and the same. Although HIV and AIDS are closely related, it’s crucial to recognize that they are not synonymous. So, what sets HIV apart from AIDS?
Understanding HIV and AIDS
HIV is a virus that can significantly weaken your immune system, potentially leading to AIDS over several years. However, it’s important to note that not everyone diagnosed with HIV will develop AIDS. HIV, or Human Immunodeficiency Virus, is the pathogen responsible for compromising the immune system. On the other hand, AIDS, or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, is the severe stage of this condition that results from unmanaged or advanced HIV infection.
Without the intervention of antiretroviral therapy (ART) administered under medical care, HIV can progress to AIDS within approximately 10 to 15 years. As the disease advances, the effectiveness of the immune system is greatly impaired or may cease altogether.
AIDS is specifically diagnosed when the count of CD4 cells falls below a certain level. CD4 cells are a type of white blood cell that plays a vital role in combating infections.
Once HIV enters your system, it remains there for life. While there is no definitive cure for HIV at present, there are medications that can reduce the virus’s impact and help people maintain their health. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) can substantially decrease or even prevent the transmission of the virus to others.
HIV spreads through infected blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk. The virus can be transmitted via sexual contact, sharing needles, and from an infected mother to her child during pregnancy. Although a cure for HIV does not exist yet, medications are available that prevent the virus from replicating and being transmitted. Experts stress that prevention is the most effective measure against HIV. Engaging in safe sex practices and avoiding needle-based drug use are critical preventive strategies everyone should follow.