Southern Alberta HIV Clinic

HIV Information

HIV Disease Description

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks and weakens the body’s immune system. When the immune system is damaged, the body loses its ability to fight infections.

How is HIV Transmitted?

Unprotected anal, vaginal or oral sex with an infected partner.
Contact with infected blood.
Sharing needles or syringes (e.g., injection drugs, tattoo needles, body piercing).
From a mother to her baby during pregnancy, birth or through breast milk.

HIV is NOT Transmitted

Through saliva (e.g., kissing).
Through casual contact (e.g., touching, hugging, shaking hands).
By sharing utensils, towels, swimming pools, telephones, or toilet seats.
Through mosquito or other insect bites.

More HIV Facts

Sexually transmitted infections, such as syphilis, genital herpes, chlamydia or gonorrhea, increase the risk of becoming infected with HIV.

Many people do not show any symptoms when they are first infected with HIV. Some people, however, will experience a flu-like illness within a month or two after contact with HIV. This flu-like illness is called "seroconversion illness". For more information see Seroconversion Illness.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

When the body’s immune system becomes severely damaged by HIV, HIV-positive people can develop AIDS, which stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.

"Acquired" refers to the fact that people are not born with AIDS. A person will develop AIDS only if they become infected with HIV. "Immunodeficiency" means a weakness of the immune system. "Syndrome" is a combination of symptoms and/or illnesses. AIDS is diagnosed when a person:

Has antibodies against HIV in their blood
Is diagnosed with one or more AIDS-Defining Illnesses

In the U.S.A., but not in Canada or Europe, the AIDS definition also includes all HIV-infected individuals with a CD4 count lower than 200 cells/mmł or a CD4 count of less than 14%.

Seroconversion Illness

AIDS-Defining Illnesses

Community Resource List: HIV Testing Sites

Alberta Public Health Act & HIV/AIDS

Quick Links

Return to HIV Information Home




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Southern Alberta Clinic Home About the Clinic HIV Information HIV disease description Epidemiology of HIV Information for Patients Booking process Medical Visits Disease management plan Nutrition services Social work Paying for drugs Lab and blood work Research Information for Professionals Clinic protocols Treatment guidelines Clinic Policies Laboratory monitoring Education Opportunities Enrolment stats Drug Information Drug information sheets Paediatric patients Formulations Drug interactions Research Collection and usage of data Research activity Publications and abstracts Resources Community resource list HIV/AIDS links Glossaries Contact Us	Southern Alberta HIV Clinic HIV Information HIV Disease Description HIV \| AIDS \| Related Pages \| Quick Links Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks and weakens the body’s immune system. When the immune system is damaged, the body loses its ability to fight infections. How is HIV Transmitted? Unprotected anal, vaginal or oral sex with an infected partner. Contact with infected blood. Sharing needles or syringes (e.g., injection drugs, tattoo needles, body piercing). From a mother to her baby during pregnancy, birth or through breast milk. HIV is NOT Transmitted Through saliva (e.g., kissing). Through casual contact (e.g., touching, hugging, shaking hands). By sharing utensils, towels, swimming pools, telephones, or toilet seats. Through mosquito or other insect bites. More HIV Facts Sexually transmitted infections, such as syphilis, genital herpes, chlamydia or gonorrhea, increase the risk of becoming infected with HIV. Many people do not show any symptoms when they are first infected with HIV. Some people, however, will experience a flu-like illness within a month or two after contact with HIV. This flu-like illness is called "seroconversion illness". For more information see Seroconversion Illness. Back to top Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) When the body’s immune system becomes severely damaged by HIV, HIV-positive people can develop AIDS, which stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. "Acquired" refers to the fact that people are not born with AIDS. A person will develop AIDS only if they become infected with HIV. "Immunodeficiency" means a weakness of the immune system. "Syndrome" is a combination of symptoms and/or illnesses. AIDS is diagnosed when a person: Has antibodies against HIV in their blood Is diagnosed with one or more AIDS-Defining Illnesses In the U.S.A., but not in Canada or Europe, the AIDS definition also includes all HIV-infected individuals with a CD4 count lower than 200 cells/mmł or a CD4 count of less than 14%. Back to top Related Pages Seroconversion Illness AIDS-Defining Illnesses Community Resource List: HIV Testing Sites Alberta Public Health Act & HIV/AIDS Back to top Quick Links Return to HIV Information Home Back to top
	E-mail comments to Southern Alberta HIV Clinic Webmaster. Page last updated on: January 23, 2009