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WHAT IS HIV?
Human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV)
is a
retrovirus that can lead to
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a
condition in
humans in which the
immune system begins to fail, leading to
life-threatening
opportunistic infections.
Previous names for the
virus include
human T-lymphotropic virus-III
(HTLV-III), lymphadenopathy-associated virus
(LAV), and AIDS-associated retrovirus (ARV).[1][2]
Infection with HIV occurs by the transfer
of
blood,
semen,
vaginal fluid,
pre-ejaculate, or
breast milk. Within these bodily fluids, HIV is
present as both free virus particles and virus within
infected immune cells.
The four major routes of
transmission are
unprotected sexual intercourse, contaminated
needles, breast milk, and transmission from an infected
mother to her baby at
birth. Screening of blood products for HIV has
largely eliminated transmission through blood
transfusions or infected blood products in the
developed world.
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WHAT IS AIDS?
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS
or Aids) is a
collection of symptoms and infections resulting from
the specific damage to the
immune system caused by the
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in humans,[1]
and similar viruses in other species (SIV,
FIV, etc.).
The late stage of the condition leaves
individuals susceptible to
opportunistic infections and
tumors. Although treatments for AIDS and HIV exist
to decelerate the
virus's progression, there is currently no known
cure.
HIV is
transmitted through direct contact of a
mucous membrane or the bloodstream with a
bodily fluid containing HIV, such as
blood,
semen,
vaginal fluid,
preseminal fluid, and
breast milk.[2][3]
This transmission can come in the form of
anal,
vaginal or
oral
sex,
blood transfusion, contaminated
hypodermic needles, exchange between mother and baby
during
pregnancy,
childbirth, or
breastfeeding, or other exposure to one of the above
bodily fluids.
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