About Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

What is HIV?

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks and breaks down the body’s immune system , which fights disease and infections. Blood T-lymphocyte cells are the primary target of HIV and are necessary for the virus to reproduce.

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is the name for an advanced phase of HIV.

How is HIV transmitted?

A person can contract HIV through the transfer of certain bodily fluids, such as semen, vaginal fluid, pre-ejaculate, breast milk or blood. Bodily fluids that do not spread the virus include sweat, saliva, urine and tears.

HIV can affect anyone regardless of age, race, gender or sexual preference; however, some people are at a higher risk of getting the disease than others. Sexual intercourse is the primary mode of transmission, but HIV is also transferred through contaminated needles and from an infected mother to her baby at birth or through breast milk. In developed countries, such as the United States, there are strict laws for blood screening that largely eliminate transmission through blood transfusion.

There is no danger of contracting HIV through casual contact, the air or from insect/animal bites.

What are the symptoms of HIV?

Most people do not show symptoms of HIV until years after infection. People who have HIV may appear healthy and unknowingly transmit the virus to others. Therefore, it is important for everyone, and especially for those at a higher risk of contracting the disease, to be tested for HIV.

Early HIV symptoms appear flu-like and include fever, rash, muscles aches and swollen lymph nodes and glands. People in the later stages of HIV are more susceptible to illnesses, infection and cancers that do not normally affect the healthy population. Advanced symptoms may include:

• chronic yeast infections or thrush (yeast infection of the mouth);
• unexplained body rashes;
• appearance of purplish lesions on the skin or inside mouth;
• fever and/or night sweats;
• easy bruising;
• extreme exhaustion;
• sudden unexplained weight loss; and,
• chronic diarrhea (month or longer).

What HIV treatment does National Jewish Health offer?

Learn about our HIV program , which is currently accepting new patients.

Reliable resources for additional HIV information

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: HIV/AIDS

Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS

TheBody.com

Aids Infonet (English and Spanish fact sheets)

AidsMeds.com

AIDS Treatment News

This information has been approved by Ken Lichtenstein, MD (January 2008).