Question

Is there a difference between HIV and AIDS?

25 June 2006. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load.

Answer

Answer: Simon Collins

Yes. HIV is a virus that damages your immune system. AIDS is the name for the effect that the virus has on your health – for when your immune system has been more severely damaged by the virus and the infections that you are then more at risk from. Some guidelines (in the USA) define include a CD4 count below 200 cells/mm3 as a definition of AIDS. HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

(Adapted from a question from the i-Base Q&A pages of the African Eye a new treatment publication for African communities affected by HIV who are living in the UK)