The difference between HIV and AIDS is the most important medically

HIV and AIDS are still often seen as one and the same disease. It is not surprising, because in various literatures, the mention of the two is often put together; for example "HIV and AIDS" or written as "HIV / AIDS". In fact, HIV and AIDS are two different conditions. So that you are no longer mistaken, pay attention to the difference between HIV and AIDS which must be known for sure.

The main differences between HIV and AIDS

Summarizing the UNAIDS report, of the approximately 36.9 million people living with HIV / AIDS aka PLWHA in the world, only about 75% of people are aware that they have this condition. The UNAIDS report also noted that around 940,000 people worldwide have died from diseases that arise as complications of AIDS. So, what is the clear difference between HIV and AIDS?

1. HIV is the causative virus, AIDS is the final stage of the disease

The difference between HIV and AIDS can be seen from the explanation of their definitions.

HIV is a type of virus that attacks the immune system, by extension Human Immunodeficiency Virus.In the body, HIV specifically destroys CD4 cells (T cells). CD4 cells are part of the immune system that specifically fights infection.

HIV infection causes your CD4 cell count to drop so drastically that your immune system is not strong enough to fight infection. As a result, the number viral loadHIV (the amount of HIV virus in your blood) is high. That means the immune system has failed to work properly against HIV.

Meanwhile, AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and is considered the final stage of long-term HIV infection. AIDS is a group of symptoms that appear when HIV infection is already in a very severe stage. People with HIV can be said to have contracted AIDS if the number of CD4 cells in their body drops to less than 200 cells per 1 ml or 1 cc of blood.

Thus, it can be said that the foremost difference between the two is that AIDS is chronic disease as a form of HIV infection which weakens the body's resistance.

People with HIV and AIDS have very weak immune systems and are therefore very vulnerable to the risk of opportunistic infections that co-occur with HIV infection, such as tuberculosis and pneumonia.

2. Having HIV does not mean you will get AIDS

The difference between HIV and AIDS can then be seen from the likelihood that a person is exposed to both simultaneously. Remember, HIV is the virus that causes infection, whereas AIDS is the final condition that can be caused because the viral infection lasts for a long time.

So in theory, you can get both HIV and AIDS at the same time. However, not all people with HIV will automatically have AIDS in the future. You can have HIV, but not AIDS. Thanks to advances in medical treatment, people living with HIV can live long, healthy lives and of nearly the same quality as other normal people.

Most sufferers of disease Human Immunodeficiency Virus can live for years (even more than 10 years) before getting AIDS. However, if you are diagnosed with AIDS, it is certain that you have HIV infection.

Therefore, getting the right treatment is an important key for people with HIV so they don't get AIDS.

3. Symptoms of HIV and AIDS are different

Another significant difference between HIV and AIDS is the individual symptoms. This includes the difference in the appearance of your symptoms, the severity of your symptoms between people with HIV and people with AIDS, and the effect the disease has on your body.

HIV infection usually takes 10 years from first exposure to show clear symptoms. That is why people who have the HIV virus may not realize that they have been infected for years.

The following is a more complete explanation of the differences in the symptoms of HIV and AIDS.

Symptoms of HIV

Initially, the HIV virus usually produces symptoms similar to the common cold within two to four weeks of infection. Symptoms that may be felt in the early weeks include:

Fever
Fatigue
Rash on skin that doesn't itch
Swollen lymph nodes
Muscle ache
Sore throat
Night sweats
There are sores around the mouth like canker sores

Early HIV symptoms can subside quickly because your immune system is still able to control it at this stage. This time period is referred to as acute infection.

Over time, the number of HIV viruses will continue to increase if left untreated and can lead to a latent period. This latent period can last for years without causing symptoms.

Symptoms of AIDS

When infection Human Immunodeficiency Virus has been going on for a long time and progresses to AIDS, people with usually experience some more severe typical symptoms. The symptoms of AIDS can vary from person to person and are quite identifiable.

AIDS has far more severe symptoms than AIDS Human Immunodeficiency Virus. This is because people with AIDS usually have their CD4 or T cell counts dropping dramatically.

Without enough CD4 cells, the body will have difficulty fighting off disease. As a result, you are more likely to get sick with infections even for infections that don't normally make you sick.

AIDS usually strikes when a person has been infected with HIV for 10 years and without getting treatment. There are various symptoms that usually appear when you have AIDS, namely:

Thrush, a thick white coating on the tongue or mouth due to a fungal infection
Sore throat
Chronic pelvic inflammatory disease
Susceptible to infections of any kind
Feeling very tired and dizzy
Frequent headaches
Weight loss drastically in a fast time for no apparent reason
It is easier to bruise
Often experience diarrhea, fever, and night sweats
Swollen lymph nodes in the throat, armpits, or groin
Often experiences a dry cough for a long time
Hard to breathe
Bleeding from the mouth, nose, anus, or vagina
Skin rash
Numbness in the hands or feet
Loss of muscle control and reflexes
Experiencing paralysis

6. Differences in the diagnosis of HIV and AIDS

Apart from symptom identification, the difference between HIV and AIDS is also determined based on the method and the results of the medical diagnosis.

How to diagnose HIV

When infected with HIV, your immune system produces special antibodies that fight the virus. To check for this, your doctor may order a blood or saliva test to detect antibodies to the HIV virus and whether you have been infected or not.

However, the test is only effective for a few weeks after infection. Another test aims to look for antigens, which are proteins produced by the HIV virus. This test can detect HIV just days after infection. Both tests are both accurate and easy to run.

How to diagnose AIDS

Meanwhile, the way AIDS is diagnosed is different. There are several factors that can determine when a latent HIV infection in the body has turned into AIDS.

For example, how many CD4 cells are left in the body. A healthy person who is not infected with HIV can have between 500 and 1,200 CD4 cells per 1 cc / 1 ml of blood.

When the number of cells drops to 200 or even less, people with HIV are said to have AIDS.

Another factor that indicates the presence of AIDS is the presence of opportunistic infections. In healthy people with prime immunity, this infection will not automatically make them sick. Meanwhile in people with AIDS this infection can be very debilitating. That's why this infection is called "opportunistic".

7. Differences in life expectancy of people with HIV and AIDS

The difference between HIV and AIDS can also be seen from the life expectancy. Both of these diseases can reduce the age of the sufferer if it is continued without treatment.

In people with HIV alone, generally they can live longer according to their respective health conditions. This only applies if people with HIV regularly take antiretroviral drugs every day to inactivate the virus, yes.

Meanwhile, people with HIV who already have AIDS, usually can survive about 3 years. Once you catch a dangerous opportunistic infection, life expectancy without treatment drops to about 1 year.

The difference between HIV and AIDS from life expectancy occurs because it is very difficult to repair damage to the immune system.

However, thanks to advances in modern medical technology, the life expectancy of a person with AIDS is now much better than before. In this difference between HIV and AIDS, there are many people living with HIV who do not even have AIDS in their lifetime.

Quoted from a report from the Indonesian Ministry of Health, the trend in the death rate due to AIDS in Indonesia is also proven to be likely to continue to decline. This figure has decreased from 13.21% in 2004 to 1.08% in December 2017. This shows that the HIV / AIDS treatment efforts that have been carried out so far have succeeded in controlling the progression of the disease.

HIV and AIDS are both incurable

Of the many differences in HIV and AIDS that have been mentioned, HIV and AIDS also have similarities. What they both have in common is that they cannot be cured. However, that does not mean that people living with HIV and AIDS do not have the right to live healthily and happily, yes.

Although it cannot be cured, there are several drugs that are usually given to help manage symptoms and improve the quality of life for people with HIV / AIDS (PLWHA).

HIV can be treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART). ART helps reduce the amount of virus present in your blood and body fluids.

Usually this one drug is recommended for everyone with HIV, regardless of how long he has had the virus in his body. In addition, antiretroviral therapy also reduces your risk of passing the disease to other people if taken as prescribed.

ART is usually given using a combination of 3 or more HIV drugs to help reduce the amount of HIV in the body. Each person will usually be given a different regimen or drug combination according to their body condition. If the prescribed drug does not have a significant effect, the doctor will adjust it again.

Based on information from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, when a person is diagnosed with HIV, he immediately starts having to start treatment with ART.

Starting treatment as early as possible helps slow the progression of HIV. That way, you can stay healthy without fear that the condition will worsen, especially until you get AIDS.

Delaying treatment is tantamount to allowing the virus to damage your immune system and increase your risk of developing AIDS. For that, do various treatments as recommended by your doctor.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.