HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus, can live in your blood, breast milk, and sexual fluids such as semen, vaginal, and rectal mucus. The virus weakens your immune system and your body has a hard time fighting off common germs like bacteria, fungi, parasites, and other viruses.
If HIV advances, it can cause your immune system to stop working. This is called acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). But treatment has come a long way for HIV. With HIV medications, you can live a long time, even if your infection has progressed to AIDS.
At the end of 2024, almost 41 million people in the world were living with HIV. And about 31.6 million with HIV were getting lifesaving antiretroviral treatments, also called ART. Find out where HIV is widespread, who gets the virus, and how to prevent infection.
Where Is HIV Widespread?
HIV is spread throughout the world, but sub-Saharan Africa (the southern part) has the greatest number of people who are infected. The World Health Organization and the United Nations UNAIDS office estimate that more than a third of adults are infected with HIV in some areas of Africa.
There are also many cases of HIV in South and Southeastern Asia. And the numbers of people who have HIV in Eastern Europe are growing because of injection drug use.
Are there different types of HIV?
There are two main types of HIV virus:
- HIV-1
- HIV-2
HIV-2 is most commonly found in West Africa, although places in other parts of the world are seeing it, too. HIV tests usually look for both kinds.
Who Gets HIV?
The infection spreads from person to person when certain body fluids are shared, usually during:
- Vaginal sex
- Anal sex
- Sharing of drugs through a needle
HIV can also spread in dirty needles from tattoos and body piercing. It can be spread through oral sex, too, although the chance is small.
Can I pass HIV to my baby?
Yes, mothers can pass HIV to their child during pregnancy or birth, when the baby is exposed to infected blood or breast milk. That's why it's important to take your antiviral medicine as directed to help lower the chance that your baby will get infected.
What are the symptoms of HIV?
With HIV, you may get:
- Flu-like symptoms two to four weeks after HIV infection
- Fever and chills
- Mouth ulcers
- Night sweats
- Sore throat and swollen lymph nodes
- Rash
- Muscle aches
- Tired
But many other viruses can give you similar symptoms. So if you think you have symptoms or are at risk for HIV, talk to your doctor about HIV testing.
How can I prevent HIV infection?
HIV mainly spreads through unprotected sex and sharing needles. But there are lots of ways to prevent infection. You can:
- Use a condom every time you have sex.
- Never share or reuse needles, syringes, or other injections.
- Use PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis)
Living With HIV and AIDS
If you work closely with your doctors and stick to your treatment plan, you can live a long time with HIV. You can usually expect a near-normal life expectancy.
That's because it can take HIV many years to damage your immune system enough to cause certain diseases.
If you do get other health problems, HIV progresses in stages:
- Stage 1: when you're first infected with HIV
- Stage 2: chronic HIV infection; the virus is active in your body
- Stage 3: Some people can progress, even with treatment, after 10 years or more to this serious stage — AIDS
To diagnose AIDS, your doctor tests certain immune cells called CD4 cells. They're a type of white blood cell that normally helps fight off infection.
You have AIDS if:
- Your CD4 cell number goes below 200 cells per milliliter of blood
- You get "opportunistic infections" or other illnesses like Kaposi's sarcoma, a rare form of skin cancer
What can I do to prevent AIDS?
Your HIV treatments can help prevent your condition from progressing to AIDS. Although there isn't a cure for HIV, many antiviral medicines slow the effects HIV can have on your body. The medicine is called antiretroviral therapy (ART).
ART can lower the number of HIV viruses in your body. That's called your viral load. Your doctor will keep an eye on the number of viruses in your body and adjust your ART as needed.
But just because there's a medicine for it doesn't mean you don't have to be worried about HIV anymore. Treatments don't change the fact that HIV is a potentially life-threatening illness. So talk to your doctor about your specific health and risk for HIV.
Takeaways
HIV can spread in blood, sexual fluids, and breast milk, usually after unprotected sex or sharing an infected needle or syringe. You can prevent HIV with PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) treatment. Although there's no cure, if you have HIV, talk to your doctor about antiretroviral therapy (ART) to help prevent or slow your progression to AIDS.
HIV FAQs
Do HIV and AIDS medications cost a lot?
HIV and AIDS medications can be expensive depending on the type you take. But there are many ways that you can get the medicines for a lower cost, such as:
- Local health centers
- HIV centers near you
- State hotlines
- Patient assistance programs from a company that makes the medicine
You can get PrEP as a prescription to prevent HIV infection in the first place. Follow this How Can I Pay for PrEP? guide. Talk to your doctor about the best option for your situation.
Is it safe to get a blood transfusion?
Yes, all blood products used in the United States and Western Europe today are tested for HIV. Blood banks get rid of any donated blood that tests positive, so it never gets into the public supply.
Someone who donates HIV-positive blood will be contacted so they can be tested by their doctor, and they won't be able to give blood again.
Do I have HIV in my saliva, tears, pee, or sweat?
No, HIV doesn't live in saliva, tears, pee, or sweat — so it can't be spread by casual contact with these body fluids.
Can HIV spread from other animals?
No, HIV can't spread by animals or insects.
