Aids how do u get it

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Health Library. Flu Information. Nutrition Videos. Injury Prevention. Community Health Needs Assessment. Protecting Yourself The best way to protect yourself from HIV is to abstain from oral, vaginal, and anal sex and to not share needles.

Health Library Search. In AIDS, the immune system is severely weakened. People with AIDS get serious infections and health problems. 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. Top of Page. More HIV Topics. Follow HIV. Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.

You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. As a result, the infection spreads more easily during primary infection than during the next stage. In this stage of infection, HIV is still present in the body and in white blood cells. However, many people may not have any symptoms or infections during this time. This stage can last for many years if you're not receiving antiretroviral therapy ART. Some people develop more severe disease much sooner.

As the virus continues to multiply and destroy your immune cells — the cells in your body that help fight off germs — you may develop mild infections or chronic signs and symptoms such as:. Thanks to better antiviral treatments, most people with HIV in the U. When AIDS occurs, your immune system has been severely damaged. You'll be more likely to develop opportunistic infections or opportunistic cancers — diseases that wouldn't usually cause illness in a person with a healthy immune system.

If you think you may have been infected with HIV or are at risk of contracting the virus, see a doctor as soon as possible. HIV is caused by a virus. It can spread through sexual contact or blood, or from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth or breast-feeding. HIV destroys CD4 T cells — white blood cells that play a large role in helping your body fight disease. The fewer CD4 T cells you have, the weaker your immune system becomes.

To become infected with HIV , infected blood, semen or vaginal secretions must enter your body. This can happen in several ways:. You can't become infected with HIV through ordinary contact.

HIV isn't spread through the air, water or insect bites.