Difference Between AIDS and Herpes

AIDS vs Herpes

Humans have an immune system. This is the organized system of biologic fighters that fend off ordinary colds and flu. This system can seriously be affected when one becomes infected by HIV or the human immunodeficiency virus. As a result, the immune system cannot function normally and, if it does, it is just ineffective. You can therefore die with just a simple cold infection. This is the virus responsible for the popular condition (now considered as a pandemic) ‘“ AIDS. Completely known as Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, AIDS is an aggregate of many symptoms.

Even if it has already become a popular knowledge that AIDS can be contracted by way of sex, making it a form of STD, AIDS can also be transmitted through non-sexual acts like: direct mucous membrane contact with an infected semen, blood, vaginal secretions, preseminal secretions and even breast milk. Other than sex, you can therefore get the HIV virus from blood transfusions, injections using infected needles, childbirth and breastfeeding.

On the other hand, herpes is caused by two viruses namely HSV1 (herpes simplex virus one) and HSV 2. The mode of transmission is based on directly contacting an active lesion or by an infected body fluid. HSV2 is contracted by direct skin to skin contact. It is a type of STD (sexually transmitted disease) or STI (sexually transmitted infection). Whenever you have one, you become twice and even five times more susceptible to getting an HIV infection than normal people. Hence, you are two to five times more prone in developing AIDS. This maybe because of the fact that most STDs manifest as sores or skin lesions that become entry points for the HIV virus. There’s also enough biologic proof that the presence of STDs in a person who also has HIV increases the likelihood for the HIV virus to be transmitted.

There are many type of herpes. One of the most controversial is the genital herpes. It is said that 1 out of 6 persons has herpes in the U.S. alone and it is more common among women. Take note, partners of infected persons can still have sex with them but they just need to employ the necessary protection like condom to minimize the risks.

The tricky thing about herpes is that even if you don’t know that you already have it and even if you don’t see any visible lesions developing in your genitals, you still have a good chance of infecting someone else with your herpes virus.

With regard to treatment, both Herpes and AIDS have drugs that may slow down the virus progression and development. Nonetheless, the two conditions don’t have any sort of cure or vaccine to this day. Like AIDS, once you have herpes you have to live the rest of your life with it.

1. AIDS is a graver condition than Herpes. There’s a greater possibility of dying in AIDS than in Herpes.

2. AIDS affects one’s immune system unlike Herpes.

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