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.

What are the causes of HIV?

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 transfusion is 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.

HIV can lead to AIDS and AIDS is the last stage of HIV, where the body is so weak to ward infections. At present there is no cure for AIDS, there are just medications that are used to develop a better life for those affected.

What are the causes of HIV?

HIV or Human Immunodeficiency virus is can be transmitted through four possible ways.

First possible way of transmission is through unprotected sex. Any individual, male or female, who had an unprotected sex with any contact with rectal, genital or oral with an HIV/AIDS positive, will also be infected with the disease.

Second, is through blood transfusion, in the U.S, blood is really screened for HIV/AIDS but if you are in other countries and you need transfusion, make sure that you check first the blood before it is transfuse to you but if not make sure that you submit yourself for HIV/AIDS tests.

Third, Use of infected needles, people should avoid sharing needles especially those that are used in hospitals, tattoos, piercing and scarification.

Lastly, HIV/AIDS can be transmitted to mother and child transmission through pregnancy and breast feeding.

At present, there's really no cure for HIV/AIDS, the only prevention for this deadly disease is prevention.

Understanding HIV Information Recommended Resources:

New York University Student Health Center

WKU Health Services