Similarities and differences between HIV and SARS-CoV-2

In the last 50 years we have experienced two big pandemics, the HIV pandemic and the pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2. Both pandemics are caused by RNA viruses and have reached us from animals. These two viruses are different in the transmission mode and in the symptoms they generate. However, they have important similarities: the fear in the population, increase in proinflammatory cytokines that generate intestinal microbiota modifications or NETosis production by polymorphonuclear neutrophils, among others. They have been implicated in the clinical, prognostic and therapeutic attitudes.

Automated summary

Over the past 50 years, two major pandemics, HIV and COVID-19, caused by RNA viruses from animals have caused fear in the population and led to increased proinflammatory cytokines and other immune responses. Despite the differences in transmission modes and symptoms, both pandemics have had significant implications on clinical treatment and prognostic outcomes.