Just the Facts:
What are HIV and AIDS?

There is a lot of misinformation about the answer to the question, what are HIV and AIDS? Luckily, this misinformation has largely been dispelled since the famous AIDS scare of the 1980's and early 1990's. However, the extent to which some people are committed to ridiculous myths and urban legends about HIV and AIDS is simply mind boggling.

Below, we'll try to give a summary of what, exactly, HIV is, what AIDS is, how the two relate to one another, and measures you can take to prevent contracting HIV. Hopefully, we can dispel some of the common myths.

A Brief Definition

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which can lead to AIDS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.

People suffering from HIV can live an entire lifetime without suffering from AIDS. This is particularly true with help from anti-retroviral treatment. However, HIV can, and often will, mutate into AIDS.

AIDS is a condition wherein the immune system begins to fail, leading to life threatening opportunistic infections. Put simply, every disease becomes potentially lethal.

Without help from the immune system, a disease would simply keep feeding on a person's body until the person dies. Because of our immune systems, we may catch a cold and barely even notice it. Without a strong immune system to fight infection, a virus simply won't stop, and that cold could kill us.

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Contracting HIV

HIV is contracted through blood or sexual fluids, though it can also be passed on from mother to child in utero. Without treatment, the odds of a child contracting HIV from his or her mother is about 25%. Breast feeding may also present a risk.

You cannot contract HIV from kissing, unless both partners have open sores in their mouths. You cannot contract HIV from skin contact, sharing toilet seats, door handles, or silverware.

HIV generally takes around ten years to mutate into AIDS. With treatment, a person suffering from AIDS is generally expected to live five years. Without treatment, a person suffering from AIDS may only live one year.

Prevention

This explains the answer to the question, what are HIV and AIDS, but what's more important is what we can do to prevent and fight these conditions. It's simple. Know your sex partner's history, practice safe sex, and don't share needles.

Yes, researchers continue to work tirelessly to develop a cure, but we're not there yet.

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