{"id":5078,"date":"2026-10-22T09:05:37","date_gmt":"2026-10-22T09:05:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kayawell.com\/blog\/?p=5078"},"modified":"2026-10-22T09:08:50","modified_gmt":"2026-10-22T09:08:50","slug":"hiv-vs-aids-whats-the-difference-symptoms-stages-and-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kayawell.com\/blog\/hiv-vs-aids-whats-the-difference-symptoms-stages-and-treatment","title":{"rendered":"HIV vs AIDS: What\u2019s the Difference? Symptoms, Stages and Treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

HIV and AIDS are not the same thing.<\/strong> HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus<\/strong>. It is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system, particularly CD4 T cells, which help protect the body against infections and certain diseases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome<\/strong>. It describes the most advanced stage of HIV infection<\/strong>, when the immune system has become severely weakened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In simple terms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HIV is the virus. AIDS is an advanced stage of the disease caused by HIV.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A person can have HIV without having AIDS. With early and effective antiretroviral therapy (ART), many people living with HIV can maintain viral suppression and never progress to AIDS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AIDS itself is not a separate virus that can be transmitted from one person to another. A person acquires HIV, and untreated HIV can eventually progress to AIDS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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