Frequently Asked Questions
HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (HIV)

What is HUMAN					Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that 
IMMUNODEFICIENCY				causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). 
VIRUS (HIV)?					This virus is passed from one person to another 	
						through blood-to-blood and sexual contact. Infected 
						pregnant women can pass HIV to their baby during 	
						pregnancy or delivery, as well as through breast-	
						feeding. People with HIV have what is called HIV 	
						infection. A positive HIV test result does not mean 	
						that a person has AIDS.

How do people get HIV?				HIV is spread by sexual contact with an infected 	
						person, by sharing needles and/or syringes (primarily 
						for drug injection) with someone who is infected, or, 
						less commonly (and now very rarely in countries where 
						blood is screened for HIV antibodies), through 	
						transfusions of infected blood or blood clotting factors. 
						Babies born to HIV-infected women may become 	
						infected before or during birth or through breast-feeding 
						after birth.

What are the signs and 				People in the early stages of HIV infection present with 
symptoms of HIV?				a series of warning signs: fever, swollen glands, sore 
						throat, night sweats and an unexplained rash that can 
						persist anywhere from a few days to several months. 
						As the disease gradually progresses, a person may 
						develop yeast 	infections in their mouth and throats. 
						These 	opportunistic infections take advantage of the 
						body’s weakened immune system associated with the 
						progression of the disease.

How is HIV diagnosed?				HIV infection is diagnosed by tests for antibodies 	
						against HIV-1. A reactive screening test must be 	
						confirmed by an additional test. If confirmed by a 	
						supplemental test, a positive antibody test result 	
						indicates that a person is infected with HIV and is 	
						capable of transmitting the virus to others.

How is HIV treated?				There are many treatments that can help people with 
						HIV. Currently, medicines can slow the growth of the 
						virus or stop it from making copies of itself. Although 
						these drugs don’t kill the virus, they keep the amount of 
						virus in the blood low. The amount of virus in the blood 
						is called the viral load, and it can be measured by a 
						test. The lower the viral load, the longer a person can 
						stay healthy and fight off infections.

How can people protect 				Because no vaccine for HIV is available, the only way  
themselves against infection?			to prevent infection by the virus is to avoid risky 	
						behaviors that put you at risk of infection, such as 	
						sharing needles and having unprotected sex.
						Latex or polyurethane male condoms, when used 	
						consistently and correctly, can reduce the risk of HIV 
						transmission of HIV.  

						Many people infected with HIV have no symptoms. 	
						Therefore, there is no way of knowing with certainty 
						whether your sexual partner is infected unless he or 
						she has repeatedly tested negative for the virus and 
						has not engaged in any risky behavior. You should 	
						either abstain from having sex or use male latex 	
						condoms or female condoms, which may offer partial 
						protection during oral, anal or vaginal sex.

For more information:				Call the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at 
						1-800-232-4636, TTY: 1-888-232-6348 In English en 
						Español. 
 

 
  
Contact Number: STD Program, (302) 744-1050
Revised: 03/2007  Doc. # 35-05-20/07/03/10