HIV and AIDS

What is HIV and AIDS?

HIV is known as Human Immunodeficiency Virus and AIDS as Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. HIV is the virus that causes to disease AIDS. HIV is responsible for destroying the defense cell called CD4 helper lymphocyte. Lymphocytes are the part of the immune system of body that fights against infectious diseases. Lymphocytes are also known as white blood cells or T-cells.

HIV patient may feel fine when the process of destroying of T-cells is going on. However the infected person in this stage is also able to spread infection. When the person becomes very sick, doctors conclude the person with AIDS. The person suffering by AIDS counts very low number of T-cells.

AIDS is very serious disease in human history and doesn't having any cure yet. The first case of AIDS was found in the United States before more than 20 years ago. Now, it is assumed that there are about 42 million people who are suffering form this disease all over the world. Around 3 million people die every year from AIDS related illnesses.

Difference between HIV and AIDS:

HIV and AIDS is the one of the most leading cause of death between the ages of 25 to 44 in United States. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. The disease is a progressive disease and enters in the body through mucous membranes or through blood to blood contact. The virus slowly attacks the immune system and kills healthy immune system cells and leads to AIDS. While, AIDS is nothing but a final stage of the HIV infection in which cd4 counts very low that is below 200.

HIV virus spreads through by sharing needles that were used to inject drugs, used for tattooing etc. It spreads through unprotected sex including oral, anal and vaginal intercourse.

HIV spreads in four stages: