AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. It is the most advanced stage of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV is a virus that kills or damages cells of the body's immune system.

HIV most often spreads through unprotected sex with an infected person. AIDS may also spread by sharing drug needles or through contact with the blood of an infected person. Women can give it to their babies during pregnancy or childbirth.

The first signs of HIV infection may be swollen glands and flu-like symptoms. These may come and go a month or two after infection. Severe symptoms may not appear until months or years later.

A blood test can tell if you have HIV infection. Your health care provider can perform the test, or call the National AIDS hotline for a referral at (800) 342-AIDS (1-800-342-2437). There is no cure, but there are many medicines to fight both HIV infection and the infections and cancers that come with it. People can live with the disease for many years.

HIV is spread through some of the body's fluids. HIV is in:

blood
semen
vaginal fluids
breast milk
some body fluids sometimes handled by health care workers (fluids surrounding the brain and spinal cord, bone joints, and around an unborn baby)

HIV is passed from one person to another by:

having sex (vaginal, anal, or oral) with a person who has HIV
sharing needles with a drug user who has HIV
during pregnancy, birth, or breast-feeding if a mother has HIV
getting transfusions of blood with HIV

Abstaining from (not having) sex is the most effective way to prevent HIV transmission. There are several ways to protect yourself or to prevent transmitting HIV during vaginal, oral, or anal sex if you choose to have sex:

Get tested for HIV and know the HIV status of yourself and your partner
Be faithful to your sexual partner
Use condoms or other latex barriers during vaginal, oral, and anal sex, and never resue condoms or latex barriers

HIV does not survive well outside of the body. Myths about HIV surviving in. There are many myths about how HIV is passed. Here are the facts:

You cannot get HIV through casual contact such as shaking hands or hugging a person with HIV/AIDS.
You cannot get HIV from using a public telephone, drinking fountain, restroom, swimming pool, Jacuzzi, or hot tub.
You cannot get HIV from sharing a drink.
You cannot get HIV from being coughed or sneezed on by a person with HIV/AIDS.
You cannot get HIV from giving blood.
You cannot get HIV from a mosquito bite.

Transmission of HIV while getting a tattoo or through a body piercing is possible, but it can be prevented through:

Single-use instruments intended to penetrate the skin being used only once, then disposed of
Reusable instruments or devices that penetrate the skin and/or contact a client's blood should be thoroughly cleaned and sterilized between clients according to medical guidelines

These guidelines are the same as those practiced within any medical facility where there is a risk of instruments coming into contact with blood.

HIV and AIDS are life threatening conditions. There is no cure yet for HIV/AIDS. The transmission of HIV occurs through three well documented means: 1) having sex (anal, vaginal, or oral) with someone infected with HIV; 2) sharing needles and syringes with someone infected with HIV; and 3) being exposed (fetus or infant) to HIV before or during birth or through breast feeding. HIV transmission can be prevented through avoiding behaviors that expose someone to the means of transmission and by taking preventive measures if identified risk behaviors occur.

What is HIV?

Answer: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the virus that weakens the immune system and causes HIV disease and AIDS.

H - Human, because this virus can only infect human beings

I - Immuno-deficiency, because the effect of the virus is to create a deficiency, a failure in the normal function of the immune system

V - Virus, because the organism is a virus, which means one of its characteristics is that it is incapable of reproducing by itself. It needs a human cell to reproduce itself.

What is HIV Disease?

Answer: The disease caused by HIV that attacks and destroys a person's immune system until it is not able to fight off infection. Most doctors use the term "HIV disease" to cover the entire HIV spectrum or progression, from initial infection to AIDS. During the Asymptomatic HIV Disease, a person may be infected with HIV and not show any outward symptoms for up to 8-12 years. When a person begins to have severe and persistent symptoms, it is called Symptomatic HIV Disease. However any individual who is infected with HIV (that is, anyone who tests positive on the HIV antibody test) has "HIV disease."

What is AIDS?

Answer: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome is the life-threatening stage of HIV disease, also called Advanced HIV Disease. It is a medical diagnosis for someone whose immune system is so damaged that certain diseases (opportunistic infections) or cancers can develop. It is identified as such because:

A - Acquired; it is an acquired condition or infection, not something transmitted or inherited through the genes.

I - Immune; it affects the body's immune system, that part of the body which is responsible for protecting the body from germs such as bacteria, fungi and viruses.

D - Deficiency; it makes the immune system deficient (does not work properly).

S - Syndrome; someone with AIDS may experience a wide range of different diseases and opportunistic infections.

What causes AIDS?

Answer: HIV is the virus that most researchers believe causes AIDS. However, some scientists remain unconvinced that HIV causes AIDS. These scientists believe that HIV can cause AIDS only in the presence of a cofactor, some other virus or condition which has not been found yet.

How long does it take for HIV to cause AIDS?

Answer: Scientists have estimated that about half the people with HIV develop AIDS within 10 years after becoming infected. The time that it takes for each individual person to go through the stages/spectrum of the disease varies greatly from person to person and can depend on many factors, including a person's health status and their health-related behaviors.

These estimates were developed before powerful anti HIV drugs were developed. However, it is now known that early detection and early treatment tend to delay the onset of AIDS.

How can I tell if I'm infected with HIV?

Answer: The only way a person can find out if he/she is infected with HIV is by taking the HIV antibody test. The HIV antibody test measures the presence of antibodies to HIV in the blood. The test should be taken 3-6 months after the last time a person may have been at risk.

Human Immune Deficiency Virus or HIV is a virus that affects the immune system, the natural defense of the body against diseases and without a strong immune system; the body cannot ward off diseases. Both the virus as well as the infection is also called as HIV.

The white blood cells are a vital part of body’s immune system but with the presence of HIV, the immune system becomes susceptible to other kinds of disease as HIV invades and damages the white blood cells CD4+ cells. If large quantities of CD4+ cells are damaged, the body becomes weak against harmful infections.

HIV infection will then lead to AIDS or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. People who are infected with AIDS have decreased number of CD4+ cells and they easily get infections or cancers that seldom affects in healthy people. Because of these, HIV and AIDS are considered very deadly.

However, it does not that HIV infected people also have AIDS. AIDS progress from HIV usually takes ten to twelve years longer. And if HIV is diagnosed early, available medicines can slow down the attacks to the immune system.

With proper health care and responsible actions, HIV infected people can still live active lifestyle.

What are the causes of HIV/AIDS?

HIV is caused by human immunodeficiency virus. An individual can get HIV from four possible ways.

Unprotected Sex – an individual can be infected by having an unprotected sex with HIV infected person. Any unprotected contact with genital, oral, rectal or mucous membranes can transmit the disease.
Blood transfusion – receiving an HIV infected blood can also transmit HIV. It is important that you check first the blood that will transfuse to you before you receive any blood transfusion. In America, blood transfusions are always checked from HIV.
Use of infected needles – people who share needles are also susceptible in infected needles. Sharing needles in tattoos, piercing and scarification are also susceptible in HIV.
Mother to child transmission – the transmission from mother to child happens when the mother is infected and the virus is transmitted during pregnancy and breast feeding process.

Misconception About HIV/AIDS

It is a misconception that sexual intercourse with a virgin can cure HIV/AIDS. This misconception had increase the amount harasment to women especially the younger ones as other culture believe that sexual intercourse with a virgin can cure them but this belief is totally false and unfounded as having an unprotected intercourse with a virgin will not heal HIV/AIDS.

HIV or Human ImmunoDeficiency Virus is a virus that strikes the immune system of the body. Immune system is the natural defense of the body to ward off diseases against the body.

If the body doesn’t have a strong immune system, the body cannot protect itself against viruses. In the case of HIV/AIDS, the infection as well as the virus itself is known as HIV.

It is a common knowledge that white blood cells is a important part of the body, but when HIV is present in the body, the immune system becomes at risk to different kinds of virus as HIV attacks and damage the white blood cells CD4+ cells of the body. And when CD4+ cells are attacked, the body becomes very weak to fight infections.

HIV infection may then lead to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or much popularly known as AIDS. People who have AIDS have reduced number of CD4+ cells and they are more prone to be infected by different infections or cancers that rarely affect the healthy people. In lieu with this, HIV and AIDS are known to be a life threatening and deadly.

But HIV infected people do not necessarily mean that they have AIDS. Some cases progress to AIDS and the progress usually take between ten to twelve years and if the HIV is detected earlier, there are medications that can be taken to slow the damage done to immune system.

It is important that people with HIV should learn to live responsibly along with proper health care; they can still live an active lifestyle.

What are the causes of HIV/AIDS?

The Human Immunodeficiency virus causes AIDS and an individual can get HIV from these possible ways:

1. Unprotected Sex – a person can be infected if he or she had an unprotected sex with an already HIV/AIDS infected person. Body fluids and any unprotected contact either to rectal, oral or genital or any part of the mucous membrane from the HIV infected person can transmit the disease to non infected person.

2. Uses of infected needles – people who engage in needle sharing are at high risk of getting the infection. It is important that you dispose any needles that you use especially in tattoos, piercing and scarification purposes.

3. Blood transfusion – blood transfusion from America are screen for HIV/AIDS infection but other countries do not screen their blood donors for the infection. If you received an HIV/AIDS infected blood, you will likely to get infected too.

4. Pregnancy and Breast feeding – if the mother is infected with the HIV/AIDS disease, she would also infect her baby during her pregnancy and breast feeding.

HIV/AIDS Misconception

Over the years, a misconception about HIV/AIDS was developed. People in third world countries believed that the infected person should have an intercourse with a virgin as this will cure the HIV/AIDS. This is pure lie.

This belief is the major reason why harassment to women are increasing especially to younger ones but this belief is NOT true because medical studies show that having sex with virgin will NOT cure HIV/AIDS.

Understanding HIV AIDS Recommended Resources:

National HIV/AIDS Clinicians' Consultation Center

VCU HIV/AIDS Center