HIV/AIDs

Human Immunodeficiency Virus, also referred to as HIV, is a viral infection spread through various bodily fluids. These vectors include blood, pre-seminal fluid, semen, breast milk, vaginal fluids, and rectal fluids. Contrary to popular belief, the HIV virus cannot spread through saliva. In order for the virus to spread, it must come into contact with mucous membranes located in varying sections of the body or damaged tissue. Through these, the HIV virus can be injected into the bloodstream. The typical person to person spread is known as HIV transmission; when HIV is transmitted from a woman to her child during pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding, it is called mother-to-child transmission.¹⁾

Individuals who have HIV become immunocompromised because HIV directly attacks the cluster of differentiation 4 cells (CD4), a type of T cell, which help the immune system fight off infection. When compromised, CD4 levels drop making an individual with HIV more likely to contract infections because their immune system is not at full strength. At the late stage of infection, a person is considered to have developed acquired immune deficiency syndrome; at this point, they will have an extremely low amount of CD4 cells and a high amount of HIV RNA present.²⁾