HIV and AIDS

By: Joanne Jansen PharmD and Anjanette Dymerski PharmD

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that causes AIDS. Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is the disease caused when a person’s immune system becomes too weak to fight off the virus. A person can have HIV without having AIDS but cannot have AIDS without having HIV.

HIV is spread through sexual contact, intravenous drug use and contact with infected blood. It is not spread through toilet seats, hugging or touching, kissing, or using towels or dishes that have previously been used by someone with HIV. Even if someone has HIV, in order for you to get it you must come into contact with his or her blood, and you must have a way for the virus to get inside your body. The virus can enter through places such as your eyes, mouth, vagina, rectum and cuts.