If you’ve ever wondered what the difference between HIV and AIDS is, you’re not alone. Fortunately, we’ll explain the difference in detail below. To start, though, it’s important to know that HIV is an acronym for human immunodeficiency virus. This virus can go through many stages, with AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) being the most advanced. Read on to learn more about the difference between HIV and AIDS.
- Not everyone who gets HIV will develop AIDS.
- Without an antiretroviral drug, your odds are high of developing AIDS after 10-15 years with HIV.
- The U.S. sees 36,000 new HIV cases and 17,000 new AIDS cases per year.
- You can prevent HIV by doing things such as wearing condoms, using PrEP and never sharing needles.
What Is HIV?
HIV is a virus. Without treatment, it can lead to AIDS. The virus attacks the body’s immune system. While there is currently no cure for HIV, proper medical care can help slow and control the virus. In fact, as long as you keep taking your HIV medication, it’s possible to protect your partner and live a long, healthy life.
In most cases, HIV will initially present itself via flu-like symptoms. Be aware, though, that some people are asymptomatic, which means they don’t have any symptoms at all. However, if you develop the following symptoms within two to four weeks after having sex, it’s best to get yourself tested for HIV:
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Night sweats
- Mouth ulcers
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Chills
- Rash
- Fatigue
- Muscle aches
What Is AIDS?
Having HIV does not mean you’ll develop AIDS. If you use antiretroviral therapy shortly after getting HIV, you can typically prevent the virus from progressing. Since the advent of antiretroviral therapy, AIDS is now 60% and 80% less common.
If you do develop AIDS, though, the virus will compromise your immune system. Other opportunistic infections caused by parasites, viruses, bacteria and fungi can make you very ill. There are two main ways to know if you’ve developed AIDS:
- You have a CD4 cell count below 200 cells for each milliliter of blood.
- You develop an opportunistic infection.
How HIV Can Progress to AIDS
Per the National Institutes of Health, there are three stages of HIV:
- Acute HIV infection
- Chronic HIV infection
- AIDS
You can help avoid stage one moving into stage two by immediately starting antiretroviral therapy. Even better, you can help steer clear of HIV altogether by taking PrEP. It’s vital to take PrEP every single day. By doing so, PrEP becomes 99% effective at preventing HIV.
How HIV Is Treated and Managed
Antiretroviral therapy suppresses the virus. It can even cause an undetectable viral load for some patients. Otherwise, HIV will become a manageable chronic condition. Either way, it’s necessary that you take your daily medication. Also, you must attend regular medical appointments and focus on your overall health.
Why Early Prevention Matters (PrEP)
Early prevention techniques such as PrEP are highly effective against HIV. Preventing yourself from getting HIV is, of course, the best way to avoid AIDS. PrEP became available in 2012. Since then, instances of HIV have declined by 19%.
Unfortunately, widespread adoption of PrEP is still low. For example, only about 10% of LA County’s gay population takes PrEP. However, increasing this number is a way to reach the goal of no new infections. Don’t forget that HIV testing plays a critical role in this process. After all, approximately 15% of people infected with HIV have no idea until it’s too late.
FAQs About HIV and AIDS
People worldwide still have numerous questions about HIV and AIDS. Therefore, we’re going to help clear up the confusion by posting some FAQs below.
How can I avoid getting HIV?
You can avoid HIV by not having sex. Alternatively, you can start taking daily PrEP. Other methods to help you avoid getting HIV include wearing a condom, avoiding exchanging needles during intravenous drug use and sticking with one non-exposed sexual partner.
Can I get HIV from oral sex?
It’s possible to get HIV from having oral sex. However, it’s much less common than anal or vaginal sex. You can practically eliminate the risk by taking PrEP.
How do I get tested for HIV?
You can take a home collection test if you want to be sure you don’t have HIV. If it does show a positive result, though, you should visit your doctor to confirm. It will take approximately three weeks after HIV exposure for a blood test to be 100% accurate.
If you’re ready to stop HIV before it even starts, it’s wise to start taking PrEP. Get started online now to learn more about PrEP, and you’ll receive an online consultation for free! Plus, your labs, medication and STI testing are all free, too.