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Facts about HIV/AIDS

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

• HIV is the virus that causes AIDS by entering the bloodstream and attacking the immune system.
• HIV can be transmitted from person to another even if no symptoms are present.
• HIV can take 4 - 15 years to develop into AIDS. The only way to diagnose HIV is to be tested for the HIV Antibody.

Symptoms of HIV can show up 3 - 15 years after infection with HIV. Some symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Extreme and rapid weight loss
• Frequent diarrhea
• Night Sweats
• Swollen Lymph glands
• These symptoms are similar to many other infections and are not specific to HIV.

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

• AIDS is the last stage of HIV, when the immune system is too weak to fight off most infections.
• Typically a variety of life threatening diseases develop, called opportunistic infections.

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