HIV/AIDS: Fast Facts
Reviewed By:
David Slotnick, M.D.
- HIV is short for human immunodeficiency virus and AIDS stands for acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
- HIV and AIDS are names for different stages of the same viral infection that impairs your immune system.
- This infection attacks the cells that coordinate your immune response to foreign invaders.
- This attack prevents your body from fighting off viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites.
- Because of this failure of the immune system, there is an increased risk of developing certain forms of cancer, including cervical cancer.
- You become infected with the HIV virus through contact with the infected body fluids of another person.
- Body fluids that can transmit the HIV virus include blood, semen, vaginal fluids and breast milk.
- Once infected, the virus begins to quietly damage the immune system by invading helper T cells, or CD4 lymphocytes.
- CD4 lymphocytes are the white blood cells that coordinate the immune system.
- Eventually all people with HIV will go on to develop AIDS.
- It can take a decade or more before HIV develops into full–blown AIDS.
- Many of the available treatments, if initiated early enough, can help delay the progression of HIV into AIDS.
- The rate of HIV infection among women in the United States has increased in recent years, particularly among women of color.
- Most cases of HIV infection in women are the result of sexual contact with infected men, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women infected with HIV are at risk of passing the disease on to their children.
- Though there is no cure for HIV and AIDS, treatments have become much more effective in recent years.
- Today, people with AIDS can lengthen their lifespan and enhance their quality of life through a variety of medications.
- Most people in the United States and other developed nations have access to HIV and AIDS drugs.
- In developing parts of the world, access to medications is limited and AIDS mortality rates remain high.
- Safe sex methods such as rigorous condom use during sex can minimize the risk of contracting the HIV virus.
- Pregnant women can minimize transmitting the virus to their babies by taking certain HIV medications.
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