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HIV is a Human immunodeficiency virus that attacks the body's immune system by destroying important cells that fight against diseases and infection.

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HIV is considered a retrovirus. This means that it invades your cells to make copies of itself into your DNA.

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It is usually hard to tell if you have HIV because there are no obvious symptoms for years.

Within 2-4 weeks of being infected, you may get flu-like symptoms like fever. chills, muscle aches, sore throat, and fatigue.

The only way to know for sure that you have HIV is to get tested !!

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Infants with HIV usually don't show signs until around 2-3 months

some of these symptoms include yeast infection, ear/ sinus infection, failure to gain weight, not meeting milestones, and upper respiratory infections.

infants born to HIV-positive women are tested 4

times after birth. If they test positive 2/4 times then it is confirmed that they have HIV

a few hours after birth

14 - 21 days after birth

1-2 months

4-6 months

if a baby is born with aids they are given treatment at least 6 hours after birth. Just like adults, there is no cure for HIV, but it can be controlled.

If a baby is not treated as soon as possible they are unlikely to live to age 1.

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Living with HIV long-term puts you at risk for other health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, diabetes, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, and some cancers.

Majority of these health conditions are caused by the HIV treatment.

There are also mental health problems connected to Living with HIV. Many survivors are known to have survivor guilt and depression.

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There is no cure for HIV but there is medicine to help you control it. When you take the treatment it lessens your viral load making it undetectable. This means that if you do have any sexual encounters you won't pass the infection onto your partner.

The name of the treatment is called Antiretroviral therapy ( ART). This treatment helps reduce the amount of HIV in your body. This is a combination of two or more drugs that serve different purposes.

stopping the creation of new resistant strains

suppression of the virus

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You can get HIV from sex whether it's anal sex, vaginal sex, or oral sex.

HIV can also be transmitted from mother to baby. ( breastfeeding, vaginal birth)

There is a high risk of transmission when sharing needles, syringes, or other drug injection equipment

You can become infected if someone else's infected fluid enters your open wounds.

HIV can be transmitted through Blood, semen, rectal fluids, vaginal fluids, and breast milk.

Even though it's rare you can also get Hiv through tattoos and piercing needles.

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You can avoid HIV by getting tested regularly

use condoms or other barriers when having sex

Limit your sexual partners

Do not share needles, syringes, or other drug equipment

Ask your partner(s) to get tested

talk to your health care provider about Prep which is a pre-exposure drug to lower the chances of getting HIV.

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What happens if you don't get treated ? 

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What happens if you don't get treated ? 

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The more you delay treatment the more you are damaging your immune system.

Your HIV replicates and weakens your immune system. HIV can progress and become aids.

You are more likely to pass the disease on to someone else if you do not get treated.

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Anyone can get HIV

Blacks and Latinos are more at risk of getting HIV

The HIV epidemic started in the 1980s and in 1985 HIV got its name

More than 3.5 million people living with HIV worldwide

HIV affects all communities not just the LGBTQ community.

National HIV/ AIDS awareness day is September 18th