La entrada Is HIV AIDS? What is the difference between the two diseases and what are they like? se publicó primero en La Voz De Ibiza.
]]>With today’s medical advances, living with HIV no longer necessarily means developing AIDS or having a poor quality of life. That is why it is essential to differentiate between the two concepts.
What is AIDS and how does it manifest itself?
AIDS is the most advanced stage of HIV infection: its acronym stands for acquired immune deficiency syndrome, a condition that occurs when the immune system is severely weakened. At this point, the body loses much of its ability to defend itself against common infections or diseases that would not normally pose a serious risk.
This stage does not emerge immediately; AIDS results from years of untreated HIV infection, and not all people with HIV go on to develop it. Thanks to antiretroviral therapy, many people keep their immune systems strong and never reach this stage.
From the medical point of view, AIDS is diagnosed when the number of CD4 cells (a type of white blood cell that is key to defense) falls below a critical level, or when severe opportunistic infections or certain types of cancer associated with immunodeficiency appear. Without treatment, AIDS can be fatal, but with early detection and medical follow-up, it is now a preventable condition.
What is HIV and how it affects the body
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the causative agent of the entire infection. It is a virus that progressively attacks the immune system, especially the CD4 cells: upon entering the body, the virus begins to replicate, gradually weakening the natural defenses.
One of the characteristics of HIV is that it can be symptom-free for years, especially if the person receives treatment from the early stages. This means that someone can live with the virus without developing serious illnesses and lead a completely normal life.
HIV is transmitted through certain body fluids (such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids or breast milk) and the most common routes of transmission are unprotected sex, needle sharing or mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding. It is not spread by everyday contact, such as hugging, kissing, sharing eating utensils or living together in the same space.
Although there is currently no definitive cure, modern treatments allow the virus to be controlled to undetectable levels, which not only protects the health of the individual, but also prevents sexual transmission.
The key difference between HIV and AIDS
The essential difference between the two concepts lies in the timing and status of the infection: HIV is the virus that is acquired; AIDS is a possible consequence if that infection goes untreated for years. Having HIV is not the same as having AIDS, and developing AIDS is not an inevitable destiny.
Thanks to antiretroviral therapy, most people with HIV never reach the AIDS stage. Treatment slows the multiplication of the virus, protects the immune system and allows a life expectancy and quality of life similar to those of the general population.
In terms of diagnosis, HIV is detected by specific tests that identify the presence of the virus in the blood. AIDS, on the other hand, is diagnosed when the damage to the immune system is already profound, either by a marked decrease in defenses or by the appearance of associated diseases.
Information, prevention and less stigma
Understanding the difference between HIV and AIDS is not only a medical issue, but also a social one. Misinformation fuels fear and discrimination, when the current reality shows that HIV is a treatable and controllable infection.
Speaking out, being informed and accessing testing and treatment are the most effective tools to prevent the disease, improve the quality of life of those living with the virus and move towards a fairer and more prejudice-free society.
La entrada Is HIV AIDS? What is the difference between the two diseases and what are they like? se publicó primero en La Voz De Ibiza.
]]>La entrada Is HIV AIDS? What is the difference between the two diseases and what are they like? se publicó primero en La Voz De Ibiza.
]]>With today’s medical advances, living with HIV no longer necessarily means developing AIDS or having a poor quality of life. That is why it is essential to differentiate between the two concepts.
What is AIDS and how does it manifest itself?
AIDS is the most advanced stage of HIV infection: its acronym stands for acquired immune deficiency syndrome, a condition that occurs when the immune system is severely weakened. At this point, the body loses much of its ability to defend itself against common infections or diseases that would not normally pose a serious risk.
This stage does not emerge immediately; AIDS results from years of untreated HIV infection, and not all people with HIV go on to develop it. Thanks to antiretroviral therapy, many people keep their immune systems strong and never reach this stage.
From the medical point of view, AIDS is diagnosed when the number of CD4 cells (a type of white blood cell that is key to defense) falls below a critical level, or when severe opportunistic infections or certain types of cancer associated with immunodeficiency appear. Without treatment, AIDS can be fatal, but with early detection and medical follow-up, it is now a preventable condition.
What is HIV and how it affects the body
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the causative agent of the entire infection. It is a virus that progressively attacks the immune system, especially the CD4 cells: upon entering the body, the virus begins to replicate, gradually weakening the natural defenses.
One of the characteristics of HIV is that it can be symptom-free for years, especially if the person receives treatment from the early stages. This means that someone can live with the virus without developing serious illnesses and lead a completely normal life.
HIV is transmitted through certain body fluids (such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids or breast milk) and the most common routes of transmission are unprotected sex, needle sharing or mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding. It is not spread by everyday contact, such as hugging, kissing, sharing eating utensils or living together in the same space.
Although there is currently no definitive cure, modern treatments allow the virus to be controlled to undetectable levels, which not only protects the health of the individual, but also prevents sexual transmission.
The key difference between HIV and AIDS
The essential difference between the two concepts lies in the timing and status of the infection: HIV is the virus that is acquired; AIDS is a possible consequence if that infection goes untreated for years. Having HIV is not the same as having AIDS, and developing AIDS is not an inevitable destiny.
Thanks to antiretroviral therapy, most people with HIV never reach the AIDS stage. Treatment slows the multiplication of the virus, protects the immune system and allows a life expectancy and quality of life similar to those of the general population.
In terms of diagnosis, HIV is detected by specific tests that identify the presence of the virus in the blood. AIDS, on the other hand, is diagnosed when the damage to the immune system is already profound, either by a marked decrease in defenses or by the appearance of associated diseases.
Information, prevention and less stigma
Understanding the difference between HIV and AIDS is not only a medical issue, but also a social one. Misinformation fuels fear and discrimination, when the current reality shows that HIV is a treatable and controllable infection.
Speaking out, being informed and accessing testing and treatment are the most effective tools to prevent the disease, improve the quality of life of those living with the virus and move towards a fairer and more prejudice-free society.
La entrada Is HIV AIDS? What is the difference between the two diseases and what are they like? se publicó primero en La Voz De Ibiza.
]]>La entrada World AIDS Day: Ibiza consolidates HIV control with record number of undetectable patients se publicó primero en La Voz De Ibiza.
]]>«Being undetectable is of great importance, both on a personal level, because treatment turns what was a fatal disease into a controlled chronic condition, and on a collective level, because if the person is undetectable, he or she does not transmit the infection,» explains Dr. García Almodóvar from the HIV Unit of the Can Misses Hospital. Prevention, she adds, cannot remain in the background: «In addition to early diagnosis and treatment, prevention is fundamental».
Clinical monitoring: 791 patients and continued increase in follow-up
The Health Area has registered a 4.3% growth in the number of people under treatment compared to last year, from 758 to 791 users in 2025, according to official information from the Ibizan public hospital. This increase is part of a sustained trend, driven by therapeutic advances that reduce mortality and make it possible to maintain a stable follow-up. The Pharmacy Service will serve 715 people in 2023, 692 in 2022, 620 in 2021, and 637 in 2020, according to internal records.
New diagnoses: slight decrease but increased access to treatment
The Microbiology Service of the Hospital Can Misses confirmed 38 new HIV diagnoses in 2025, compared to 39 the previous year, a decrease of 2.5%. However, the most significant variation is not in the number of cases, but in the healthcare response: 32 of the people diagnosed this year went for consultation to start treatment, much higher than the 17 recorded in 2024. The increase in treatment initiations reinforces early diagnosis and early intervention, considered by specialists to be the most effective strategy to curb transmission.
No waiting list and growing demand for PrEP
The PrEP clinic, aimed at people at risk of contracting HIV, provides prophylaxis to 174 users and has no waiting list, despite having started its activity with a capacity for 50 people. This increase reflects the progressive integration of
CAITS, Pharmacy and a multidisciplinary unit
The approach to HIV on the island is supported by a health structure that includes the HIV Unit, made up of specialists in Internal Medicine, Dermatology, Microbiology and Nursing, in addition to the Pharmacy Clinic and the Sexually Transmitted Infection Care Clinic (CAITS), which offers care by appointment from Monday to Friday. According to the Health Area, the epidemiological profile of the new diagnoses has not changed in recent years: men who have sex with men, aged between 35 and 40.
World AIDS Day information table
On the occasion of World AIDS Day, the Health Area of Ibiza and Formentera will set up an information table tomorrow at the main entrance of Building D of the Can Misses Hospital, in collaboration with La llave del armario and the Red Cross. Professionals from the HIV Unit, microbiologists and Hospital Pharmacy staff will attend to those who request information on prevention, diagnosis and treatment, with the aim of raising awareness and highlighting the importance of early diagnosis.
La entrada World AIDS Day: Ibiza consolidates HIV control with record number of undetectable patients se publicó primero en La Voz De Ibiza.
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