stds

Common Stds

HIV / AIDS

HIV / AIDS In Brief

HIV is the term used to describe Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

AIDS is the term used to describe Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

HIV is caused by exposure to the bodily fluids of an infected person. This can be through sexual contact or other means such as intravenous drug use.

AIDS develops after a person has been infected by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

The time between becoming infected by HIV and developing AIDS is on average, approx. 9 years.

HIV can also be spread via vertical transmission from mother to newborn baby at birth and via breast milk.

Incurable, although some success has been achieved in slowing the progress of the development from HIV to AIDS.