What Does AIDS Stand For

Many people are confused between the two terminologies of HIV and AIDS. So what does it mean? What does ‘AIDS’ stand for? What is the difference?

AIDS is an acronym for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Acquired is a word used to define how one gets AIDS. Contrary to some beliefs, you cannot catch AIDS; it is developed over a period of time if you are infected with HIV. The word Immune refers to your immune system and deficiency means your immune system is lower than it should be. This is because HIV attacks your immune system and lowers the CD4 count in your blood. AIDS is not a separate disease or virus; it is merely a stage or period of time where a person with HIV has had their immune system so severely damaged that the body can no longer cope with the various infections and diseases out there. These are then referred to as “opportunistic infections”. A person can therefore be diagnosed with AIDS if a HIV sufferer contracts any one of these opportunistic diseases or in some countries, a selection of them.

You can also be diagnosed with AIDS if you have a blood test for CD4. In a normally healthy person, the CD4 count is around 500 – 1500 per micro liter of blood. If this count drops below 200 you will be classified as having AIDS.

This can be quite confusing as the differences between HIV and AIDS are not well known. If someone suspects they have been in a position where they may have contracted HIV they should seek medical advice about obtaining a HIV Antibody test. This test does not detect AIDS; a separate CD4 test will detect AIDS in HIV sufferers after an extended period of time and is not necessary for those who are newly infected.