HIV and AIDS is not the same thing. Do you know difference between the two?

On December 1, World AIDS Day is observed. The day aims to raise awareness and dispel myths about the disease, to remember those who have died due to it, and to protect those currently afflicted with it.

AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is one of the deadliest and most feared diseases and is among the ones that people from every age group need to be aware of.

On World AIDS Day, we explain the difference between AIDS and HIV and some of the most common myths about the syndrome.

A very common misconception about the syndrome is that AIDS and HIV are the same thing. Most of us are in the habit of using both terms interchangeably, unaware of the meaning behind the two words.

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the virus that causes infection, whereas AIDS is the disease that is caused by HIV if left untreated.

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What is HIV?

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the immune system of the body, making the infected person more vulnerable to other deadly diseases. It is spread via unprotected sexual contact, needles, and syringes.

The virus mainly affects thewhite blood cells akaleukocytes, that protect our immune system and fight against infections and diseases.

There is no cure for the virus, but medications are available to control the infection. The virus remains in the infected body for a lifetime.

What is AIDS?

AIDS, a chronic immune system disease, is the advanced stage of infection caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). If the person gets infected with the virus and doesn't get treatment for the same, then the person can develop a life-threatening disease AIDS.

A person who has been diagnosed as HIV positive doesn't necessarily have AIDS.

There are three stages of HIV infection.

Stage 1: Acute HIV infection - Within a few weeks of the infection, the body may show slight flu-like symptoms.

Stage 2: This is the second stage of HIV and is also referred to as chronic HIV infection. In thisstage, the virus multiplies but the process is slow and maylast as long as 10–15 years with no symptoms. But in some exceptional cases, the process can be fast.

Stage 3 - When thevirus has damaged the immune system of the body to an extreme extent that the body is not able to fight back, then the stage is termed AIDS.

(With inputs from the agencies)