HUMAN-NATURE : How Do You Get AIDS?

BEING HUMAN MEANS A SIMPLE LIFE WITH GOOD FAITH AND ACTION

How Do You Get AIDS?

AIDS is the late stage of HIV infection, when a person’s immune system is severely damaged and has difficulty fighting diseases and certain cancers. Before the development of certain medications, people with HIV could progress to AIDS in just a few years. Currently, people can live much longer - even decades - with HIV before they develop AIDS. This is because of “highly active” combinations of medications that were introduced in the mid 1990s. Read more about how HIV causes AIDS.

HIV/AIDS 101

What Is HIV/AIDS? How Do You Get HIV or AIDS?

Signs & Symptoms U.S. Statistics Global Statistics A Timeline of AIDS

Fact Sheets & Print Materials

CDC – HIV/AIDS Fact Sheets

CDC - Oral Sex And HIV Risk (PDF)

Related Topics on AIDS.gov

Sexual Risk Factors

Substance Abuse

Blood Transfusions/Organ Donation

Pregnancy & Childbirth

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get—or transmit—HIV through oral sex?

It’s possible. The risks are much lower than for anal or vaginal sex, but there have been cases of HIV infection traced to oral sex. For more information, see CDC’s Oral Sex And HIV Risk.

Can I get AIDS from sharing a cup or shaking hands with someone who has HIV or AIDS?

HIV is found only in body fluids, so you can’t get HIV by shaking someone’s hand or giving them a hug (or by using the same toilet or towel). While HIV is found in saliva, sharing cups or utensils has never been shown to transmit HIV. For more information, see CDC’s HIV Transmission: Can I Get HIV From Casual Contact?

Can I get HIV from an insect bite?

No. HIV can’t live or reproduce in insects, so you can’t get HIV from a bug bite. For more information, see CDC’s HIV Transmission: Can I Get HIV From Mosquitoes?

Additional Resources

CDC - HIV Transmission

NIH - How HIV Causes AIDS

AIDSinfo - Glossary

CDC – HIV/AIDS Recommendations And Guidelines

AIDS.gov