Regardless of many years of analysis, consciousness campaigns, and medical developments, HIV and AIDS stay broadly misunderstood. This submit goals to interrupt down the fundamentals—what HIV is, the way it impacts the physique, and the way it’s completely different from AIDS—in order that we are able to construct a strong basis for the remainder of our sequence.
What’s HIV?
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It’s a virus that assaults the physique’s immune system, particularly the CD4 cells (T cells), which assist the immune system battle off infections. Left untreated, HIV reduces the variety of these cells, making an individual extra susceptible to infections and sure cancers.
What’s AIDS?
AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. It’s the most superior stage of HIV an infection and happens when the immune system is severely broken. An individual is recognized with AIDS when their CD4 cell rely drops beneath a sure degree or after they develop a number of opportunistic infections or cancers that happen extra continuously or are extra extreme in individuals with weakened immune methods.
Essential: Not everybody with HIV will develop AIDS. With correct remedy, most individuals dwelling with HIV by no means attain this stage.
How HIV Impacts the Physique
When somebody contracts HIV, the virus begins to multiply and destroy CD4 cells. Over time, this weakens the immune system, and with out remedy, it may well now not shield the physique from infections or ailments. Nonetheless, with early prognosis and constant remedy, individuals dwelling with HIV can lead lengthy, wholesome lives.
HIV is Not a Loss of life Sentence
One of many greatest misconceptions about HIV is that it’s a dying sentence. Because of trendy drugs—notably antiretroviral remedy (ART)—HIV can now be managed as a continual situation. ART reduces the quantity of virus within the physique (viral load) to undetectable ranges, which implies:
- The virus can’t injury the immune system
- The individual can keep wholesome
- HIV can’t be transmitted to sexual companions (this is named U=U: Undetectable = Untransmittable)
Myths and Info About HIV and AIDS
| Delusion | Truth |
|---|---|
| HIV might be unfold by informal contact (hugging, shaking arms, sharing utensils) | HIV is not unfold by informal contact |
| Solely sure teams of individuals get HIV | Anybody can get HIV, no matter age, gender, or orientation |
| You’ll be able to inform if somebody has HIV by taking a look at them | You can’t inform by look—testing is the one method to know |
| HIV all the time results in AIDS | With remedy, many individuals with HIV by no means develop AIDS |
Why This Data Issues
Understanding the distinction between HIV and AIDS helps cut back concern and misinformation. It empowers individuals to get examined, search remedy, and deal with others with compassion. Data is step one in ending each the virus and the stigma.
Coming Subsequent: How HIV Spreads and How It Doesn’t
Within the subsequent submit, we’ll speak about how HIV is transmitted—and simply as importantly, the way it’s not—to clear up widespread misconceptions and promote safer practices.