Discuss the difference between HIV and AIDS

Answer 1

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a chronic infectious disease that is passed from one person to another through blood-to-blood and sexual contact. When a person becomes infected with HIV, the virus multiplies and attacks and destroys white blood cells. These cells are part of the immune system, and their function is to fight off infections and diseases in the body. As the number of white blood cells that are killed increases, the body's immune system gradually breaks down or may be destroyed. Without an immune system, a person becomes susceptible to various opportunistic infections and to cancers. When an infection progresses to a point at which certain diseases develop, the person is said to have AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). AIDS is the term designating the final stage of HIV infection, and death is the result of a weakened immune system that is unable to fight off the opportunistic infection.