Top 7 HIV Facts Everyone Needs to Know

There is essential HIV information that everyone living with HIV, caring for an HIV infected loved one should know. This is information essential to living a long healthy life with HIV. This information is now together in one place. You can beat HIV and live a productive life with the disease. The first step is to learn all you can about HIV. Remember, knowledge is power.

1.) What is HIV?
Human Immunodeficiency Syndrome, more commonly know as HIV is a virus that, if left untreated, slowly damages the body's immune system. Without a strong, healthy immune system, the body becomes susceptible to many infections and illnesses. If a person living with HIV becomes sick with one of the more serious types of these infections, they are said to have Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or AIDS. While there is no cure for HIV or AIDS, people are living long productive lives, thanks to HIV medicines and aggressive treatment programs.

How HIV is Transmitted
Contrary to public perception, you can't get HIV infected by drinking from a water fountain, sitting on a toilet seat, hugging or touching an HIV infected person, or by eating off plates and utensils. The following are ways HIV can be transmitted from one person to another:

By way of bodily fluids (blood, semen, and vaginal secretions) during sexual contact. Saliva is not considered a transmission route for HIV.

By sharing needles to inject drugs. Infected blood can be exchanged between the parties who are using the same needle and syringe.

By accidental needle sticks (needles contaminated with HIV infected blood).

Through the transfusion of infected blood or blood products (because of new and improved blood screening tools, this has rarely occurred since 1992).

HIV infected woman can pass HIV to their babies while pregnant, during delivery, or when breast feeding.HIV Signs and Symptoms
Often people who are HIV infected have few or no symptoms. Other times, symptoms of HIV are confused with other illnesses such as the flu. If a person were to have symptoms they would include:

Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, groin or under the arms

Diarrhea

Unexplained weight loss

Fatigue