What is the difference between HIV and AIDS?

What is the difference between HIV and AIDS?

• A. HIV is the virus that attacks the immune system; AIDS is the advanced stage with severe immune failure.
• B. HIV and AIDS are the same
• C. AIDS is the virus; HIV is the disease
• D. HIV is a symptom; AIDS is a treatment

Answer: (C)

HIV is the human immunodeficiency virus that attacks the immune system, especially the CD4 cells that help fight infections. AIDS is a condition that can develop later in someone with HIV when the immune system becomes severely damaged. Clinically, AIDS is diagnosed when the CD4 count falls very low (commonly below 200 cells per microliter) or when certain opportunistic infections or cancers occur. So HIV is a virus; AIDS is the advanced stage of HIV infection, not a virus or a separate disease. With effective antiretroviral therapy, many people living with HIV may not progress to AIDS at all and can live long, healthy lives.

HIV is the human immunodeficiency virus that attacks the immune system, especially the CD4 cells that help fight infections. AIDS is a condition that can develop later in someone with HIV when the immune system becomes severely damaged. Clinically, AIDS is diagnosed when the CD4 count falls very low (commonly below 200 cells per microliter) or when certain opportunistic infections or cancers occur. So HIV is a virus; AIDS is the advanced stage of HIV infection, not a virus or a separate disease. With effective antiretroviral therapy, many people living with HIV may not progress to AIDS at all and can live long, healthy lives.