HIV and AIDS Basics

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). HIV weakens a person's ability to fight infections and cancer.

It can take many years for people with the HIV to develop AIDS so having HIV does not necessarily mean you AIDS. Anyone can get HIV if they engage in certain activities.

There is no cure for HIV/AIDS.

What does HIV do?

HIV attacks and destroys white blood cells whose function is to fight diseases. Decreased white blood cell counts increase susceptibility to illnesses.

Common ways people get HIV:

• Sharing a needle to take drugs
• Having unprotected sex with an infected person

You cannot get HIV from:

• Touching or hugging someone who has HIV/AIDS
• Sharing cups, utensils, or telephones with someone who has HIV/AIDS
• Public bathrooms or swimming pools
• Bug bites

You may be at higher risk of contracting HIV if you:

• Have unprotected sex.
• Share needles to inject drugs or steroids with an infected person. The disease can also be transmitted by dirty needles used to make a tattoo or in body piercing.
• Receive a blood transfusion from an infected person. This is very unlikely in the U.S. and Western Europe, where all blood is tested for HIV infection.
• Are born to a mother with HIV infection . A baby can also get HIV from the breast milk of an infected woman.

How Can I Know if I Have HIV?