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HIV/AIDS - Definitions

What’s HIV?

HIV means:

H=Human, because it is a human virus and only humans can have it, even if the monkey and cat ones are similar.
I=Immune deficiency, because this virus attacks the immune system that is sinking and the body cannot fight back against diseases.
V=Virus, because it is a viral infection, it is not a bacteria or a fungus.

What's AIDS?

AIDS means:

A=Acquired, the virus is transmitted from an infected person to another.
ID=Immune Deficiency, because this virus attacks the immune system that is sinking and the body cannot fight back against diseases.
S=Syndrome, because it presents a combination of several diseases that appear in HIV/AIDS infected people.

What is the difference between HIV and AIDS?

The HIV positive is a diagnostic that is given to a person that is tested positive to the HIV in his/her system. The HIV is a human immune deficiency virus that weakens your immune system. AIDS is a diagnostic that is given to a person that is HIV infected and who has several signs or symptoms of the disease. In Canada, it means that the person has at least 200 T-Cells. CD4 cells (also called T4) are part of the immune system and are very important for the body in its fight against diseases. The HIV is the virus and the AIDS is the advanced stage of the disease that is caused by the HIV.