1. HIV AIDS Myths and Facts Slideshow Pictures
2. Take the HIV/AIDS Quiz
3. AIDS Retrospective Slideshow Pictures

Medical Author:

Mary D. Nettleman, MD, MS, MACP

Mary D. Nettleman, MD, MS, MACP

Mary D. Nettleman, MD, MS, MACP is the Chair of the Department of Medicine at Michigan State University. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt Medical School, and completed her residency in Internal Medicine and a fellowship in Infectious Diseases at Indiana University.

View Full Profile

Medical Author:

Rowena A. Medina, MD

Medical Editor:

Eric S. Daar, MD

Eric S. Daar, MD

Dr. Daar received his undergraduate degree from UCLA and medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine. He completed an internship and residency in internal medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and his clinical and research fellowship in infectious diseases at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and UCLA.

View Full Profile

Medical Editor:

Jay W. Marks, MD

Jay W. Marks, MD

Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

View Full Profile

In this Article

• Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) facts
• What does AIDS stand for? What causes AIDS?
• What is the history of AIDS?
• What are symptoms and signs of AIDS?
• What are risk factors for AIDS?
• How is AIDS diagnosed?
• What is the treatment for HIV/AIDS?
• What is the treatment for HIV during pregnancy?
• What is the treatment for non-HIV-infected people who are exposed to the genital secretions or blood someone with HIV?
• What are the complications of HIV?
• What is the prognosis for HIV infection?
• Can AIDS be prevented?
• Is there a vaccine for HIV?
• What research is being done to find a cure for HIV?
• Where can a person find information about clinical trials for HIV and AIDS?
• HIV-AIDS FAQs
• Find a local Infectious Disease Specialist in your town
• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Index

Because AIDS is caused by HIV, the risk factors for developing AIDS are the same as for HIV. Specifically, behaviors that result in contact with infected blood or sexual secretions pose the main risk of HIV transmission. These behaviors include sexual intercourse and injection drug use. The presence of sores in the genital area, like those caused by herpes, makes it easier for the virus to pass from person to person during intercourse. HIV also has been spread to health care workers through accidental sticks with needles contaminated with blood from HIV-infected people, or when broken skin has come into contact with infected blood or secretions. Blood products used for transfusions or injections also may spread infection, although this has become extremely rare (less than one in 2 million transfusions in the U.S.) due to testing of blood donors and blood supplies for HIV. Finally, infants may acquire HIV from an infected mother either while they are in the womb, during birth, or by breastfeeding after birth.

The risk that HIV infection will progress to AIDS increases with the number of years since the infection was acquired. If the HIV infection is untreated, 50% of people will develop AIDS within 10 years. This time is shortened if the person already has a weak immune system or if HIV was acquired through transfusion. Of people with HIV, the risk of progressing to AIDS is increased if there is evidence that the immune system is weakening as shown by falling levels of CD4 cells or if the virus is reproducing rapidly as shown by a high number of viral particles in the blood (high viral load).

Antiretroviral, or anti-HIV, treatment substantially reduces the risk that HIV will progress to AIDS. In developed countries, use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has turned HIV into a chronic disease that may never progress to AIDS. Conversely, if infected people are not able to take their medications or have a virus that has developed resistance to several medications, they are at increased risk for progression to AIDS. If AIDS is not treated, 50% of people will die within nine months of the diagnosis.