The National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA) is proud to be one of three Latino organizations in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Act Against AIDS Leadership Initiative (AAALI). AAALI is a multi-year national communication initiative to reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS among diverse communities. NHCOA uses community outreach and communication efforts to reach and inform Latino senior, their families, and caregivers about HIV/AIDS, as well encourage them to talk HIV in their communities and with loved ones.

In our conversations and efforts about this issue, HIV and AIDS are often referenced together and by their abbreviations. However, HIV and AIDS are not the same. So, what exactly is the difference?

According to the CDC, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, commonly known as HIV, is a virus that infects humans and weakens the immune system by destroying important cells that fight disease and infection. HIV differs from other viruses because over time the immune system can fight and clear most viruses. However, this isn’t the case with HIV yet. Scientists are still trying to figure out why the human immune system can’t clear HIV once infected.

Over time, HIV can destroy so many of your T-cells – the cells that fight infections and diseases, which are cells that the body requires to fight infections and disease. As a result, HIV can lead to AIDS

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, commonly known as AIDS, is the final stage of HIV infection. At this stage, the immune systems – which includes all the organs and cells that fight disease – is deficient, or no longer working properly.  Rather than a disease, AIDS is classified as a syndrome, which is a collection of symptoms and signs of disease, because it is a complex illness with a wide range of complications and symptoms.

In order to be diagnosed with AIDS, one must have one or more specific opportunistic infections, certain cancers or a very low number of T-cells. Individuals with AIDS must have medical treatment to prevent death.