Understanding HIV/AIDS: Causes, Symptoms & Transmission

AIDS is a life-threatening, chronic disease caused by HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus.

HIV

• HIV reduces the body's ability to fight of infections, such as pneumonia and viruses like hepatitis.

Symptoms

• Flu-like symptoms are common during early infection. These symptoms can range from sore throat and headache to a rash.

Replication

• Once the HIV virus is inside the body, it infects healthy lymphocytes with its genetic material and copies itself.

Transmission

• HIV is contracted when infected blood, vaginal secretions or semen enters the body. It is not transmitted through normal skin contact.

AIDS

• HIV becomes AIDS when a person's lymphocyte count falls below 200; the normal count is between 800 and 1,200.