How Do People Get AIDS?
What Is HIV? HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the immune system. AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) happens after someone has had HIV for many years. In AIDS, the immune system is severely weakened. People with AIDS get serious infections and health problems. How Does HIV Spread? HIV spreads when infected blood, semen ("cum") or vaginal fluids enter the body. Because symptoms can be mild at first, people with HIV might not know they're infected. They can spread HIV to others without knowing it. HIV can spread: during sex (especially anal sex and vaginal sex) through sharing needles for injecting drugs or tattooing by getting stuck with a needle with an infected person's blood on it HIV also can pass from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding. HIV does not spread through: pee, poop, spit, throw-up, or sweat (as long as no blood is present) coughing or sneezing holding hands sharing eating utensils o