HIV and AIDS: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments, and More - Healthline
We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here's our process. HIV is a virus that damages the immune system. Untreated HIV affects and kills CD4 cells, which are a type of immune cell called T cell. Over time, as HIV kills more CD4 cells, the body is more likely to get various types of conditions and cancers. HIV is transmitted through bodily fluids that include: blood semen vaginal and rectal fluids breast milk The virus isn't transferred in air or water, or through casual contact. Because HIV inserts itself into the DNA of cells, it's a lifelong condition and currently there's no drug that eliminates HIV from the body, although many scientists are working to find one. However, with medical care, including treatment called antiretroviral therapy, it's possible to manage HIV and live with the virus for many years. Without treatment, a person with HIV is ...