Back to Basics: HIV 101

There are certain things that we know about HIV that we hold close and turn to for support when we advocate for our cause. For example, here in Indiana, we know that 10,000 people are living with HIV, and that roughly half of those people are right here in Marion County. The CDC also tells us that one in five people (an astonishing 20%) who are living with HIV don't even know they're infected. Powerful statistics, no doubt. But let's get back to something even more basic, something that can help us all understand what we're fighting for and why we care about this issue. What is HIV, and what is AIDS?

Thanks to AIDS.gov, an official U.S. Government website managed by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, we've got an easy breakdown of answers to these questions. (Just to be clear, the content below belongs to AIDS.gov. Please see .aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/hiv-aids-101/ for more great resources and information on HIV.)

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First, what is HIV?

To understand what HIV is, let’s break it down:

H – Human – This particular virus can only infect human beings.

I – Immunodeficiency – HIV weakens your immune system by destroying important cells that fight disease and infection. A "deficient" immune system can't protect you.

V – Virus – A virus can only reproduce itself by taking over a cell in the body of its host.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus is a lot like other viruses, including those that cause the flu or the common cold. But there is an important difference – over time, your immune system can clear most viruses out of your body. That isn't the case with HIV – the human immune system can't seem to get rid of it. Scientists are still trying to figure out why.

We know that HIV can hide for long periods of time in the cells of your body and that it attacks a key part of your immune system – your T-cells or CD4 cells. Your body has to have these cells to fight infections and disease, but HIV invades them, uses them to make more copies of itself, and then destroys them.

Over time, HIV can destroy so many of your CD4 cells that your body can't fight infections and diseases anymore. When that happens, HIV infection can lead to AIDS.

Got it. So, what is AIDS?

To understand what AIDS is, let’s break that down, too:

A – Acquired – AIDS is not something you inherit from your parents. You acquire AIDS after birth.

I – Immuno – Your body's immune system includes all the organs and cells that work to fight off infection or disease.

D – Deficiency – You get AIDS when your immune system is "deficient," or isn't working the way it should.

S – Syndrome – A syndrome is a collection of symptoms and signs of disease. AIDS is a syndrome, rather than a single disease, because it is a complex illness with a wide range of complications and symptoms.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome is the final stage of HIV infection. People at this stage of HIV disease have badly damaged immune systems, which put them at risk for opportunistic infections (OIs).

You will be diagnosed with AIDS if you have one or more specific OIs, certain cancers, or a very low number of CD4 cells. If you have AIDS, you will need medical intervention to prevent death.

For more information, see CDC’s Basic Information About HIV And AIDS.

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We'll pick this topic up again in a few weeks to talk about how HIV works in our bodies, how it's transmitted, and other important basics. The more you know, the better you can protect yourself and others, care for those who need support, and rally around the fight to end AIDS in our community.