There is this misconception that HIV and AIDS are the same thing, which, unfortunately, is still prevalent. This confusion is not only wrong but also leads to stigmatization and discrimination against people living with HIV.
As befits the name, HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that affects the body's immune system since it utilizes the CD4 T lymphocytes or "helper T cells," a type of white blood cell that fights infection by triggering the immune system. HIV spreads through the body by using the CD4 cells to multiply, destroying them in the process. AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), on the other hand, occurs when a person is infected with HIV and does not receive treatment. In other words, it is the later stage of HIV infection, and it develops when the immune system of the body has been severely damaged by the virus.
