Human immunodeficiency virus, or
HIV, is the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome
(AIDS). The virus weakens a person's ability to fight infections
and cancer. People with HIV are said to have AIDS when they
develop certain infections or cancers or when their CD4 count
is less than 200. CD4 count is determined by a blood test in
a doctor's office.
Having HIV does not always mean that you have AIDS. It can take
many years for people with the virus to develop AIDS. HIV and
AIDS cannot be cured. Although people with AIDS will likely
one day die from an AIDS-related illness, there are ways to
help people stay healthy and live longer.
HIV attacks and destroys a type of white blood cell called a
CD4 cell. This cell's main function is to fight disease. When
a person's CD4 cell count gets low, they are more susceptible
to illnesses.
AIDS is the final stage of HIV infection. When the immune system
CD4 cells drop to a very low level, a person's ability to fight
infection is lost. In addition, there are several conditions
that occur in people with HIV infection with this degree of
immune system failure - these are called AIDS defining illnesses.
How do
people get HIV?
A person gets HIV when an infected
person's body fluids (blood, semen, fluids from the vagina or
breast milk) enter his or her bloodstream. The virus can enter
the blood through linings in the mouth, anus or sex organs (the
penis and vagina), or through broken skin.
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.
•
Public bathrooms or swimming
pools.
•
Sharing cups, utensils, or
telephones with someone who has HIV/AIDS.
Who can
get HIV?
Anyone can get HIV if they engage
in certain activities. You may have a higher risk of getting
HIV if you:
•
Have unprotected
sex. This means vaginal or anal intercourse without a
condom or oral sex without a latex barrier with a person
infected with HIV.
•
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.
•
Are born to a mother with
HIV infection. A baby can also get HIV from the breast
milk of an infected woman.
•
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.
