Getting diagnosed with HIV is not the same as having AIDS. According to "The Body," if HIV is left untreated, it can progress to AIDS. If you are worried about having been exposed to HIV, getting screened is important. Getting screened and preventing the transmission of HIV are measures you can take to fight HIV and AIDS.
HIV
HIV means "human immunodeficiency virus." It is a virus that attacks the immune system, making your body unable to fight off common infections that a normal immune system can fight off. Because the body of a person with HIV destroys CD4 T cells, the cells that fight off infection, the body is unable to fight off diseases. This can lead to AIDS. There are different stages of HIV, and AIDS is part of the final stage.
AIDS
AIDS stands for "acquired immune deficiency syndrome." This is the last stage of an HIV infection. A persons is classified as having AIDS when he develops certain infections or cancers as a result of the HIV infection and the CD4 T cell count is lower than a specified level. A person with AIDS does not have the ability to fight off infections or cancers because the immune system has been weakened by having HIV.
Prevention
HIV and AIDS are preventable. HIV is transmitted from person to person through sexual contact, contact with blood, through sharing infected needles, from mother to child while breastfeeding or during birth and through contact with bodily fluids containing HIV and with mucous membranes. To prevent sexual transmission, abstinence or the use of condoms is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If you use needles to inject drugs, it is recommended you use clean needles. If you are a health care worker, using universal precautions is helpful in preventing a needle stick.
Screening for HIV
Getting tested is important if you think you have put yourself at risk for HIV, so that you can get treated and prevent transmission to others. Some persons develop symptoms when infected with HIV, while others don't or just don't notice them. Talk to your doctor or call your local health department about getting screened if you have put yourself at risk.
