HIV and Bodily Fluids

HIV stands for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. This virus attacks the immune system, gradually depleting it, until the immune system is seriously compromised and weakened. When this happens, it is called AIDS, which stands for Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome. People with AIDS have a very weak immune system and are at risk to obtain certain infections that are very difficult for healthy people to get. In addition, the body's inability to fight infections makes even minor illnesses potentially life-threatening.

HIV lives in the fluids of the body, including the blood and certain fluids involved in sex, including semen. As a result, HIV can be transmitted from one individual to another if a person who does not have HIV has fluids from someone with HIV enters the body. One common way in which HIV is spread is through sexual contact. In this case, semen or vaginal secretions are exchanged between individuals, which can result in transmission of the HIV virus. HIV can also be spread through the blood, which means that if a person with HIV shares needles or syringes with someone who does not have it, HIV can be transmitted to the formerly HIV-negative person. HIV can also be transmitted through breast milk and other fluids that have blood in them. While other fluids, including saliva and sweat contain small amounts of the HIV virus, they have not been shown to be able to transmit the disease from one person to the other.

Because HIV is spread through bodily fluids, it is possible to prevent transmission from one individual to another by avoiding exchange of fluids. In the case of sexual contact, this can be done via the use of condoms, though there is always the possibility of the condom breaking or not functioning properly, which can lead to HIV transmission. With IV drug use, transmission of HIV can be avoided by not sharing needles with an infected person. For people involved in healthcare, it is important to be very careful when dealing with blood and to try to avoid any contact of blood with your skin.