Preventing HIV Transmission: A Guide to Protection and Treatment.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

a virus that weakens the immune system and causes people to become sick with infections that would not normally affect them

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks the immune system, which is the body’s defense system against infections. HIV targets a type of white blood cell called CD4 cells, which are crucial for maintaining a healthy immune system. The virus enters CD4 cells and uses them to multiply, eventually causing the cells to break down and die.

HIV is transmitted through certain bodily fluids, including blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk. The most common ways of transmission are through unprotected sexual contact, sharing needles or syringes with an infected person, and from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.

If left untreated, HIV can progress to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), a condition that occurs when the immune system becomes severely weakened and is unable to fight off infections and cancers. However, with modern antiretroviral treatment, most people with HIV can live long and healthy lives and reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to others.

Prevention measures include the use of condoms during sexual contact, avoiding sharing needles or other injection equipment, and getting tested and treated for sexually transmitted infections. Additionally, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medication is available for people who are at high risk of HIV infection.

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