Originally published: April 2017
Updated: July 26, 2026
HIV is a virus that affects the immune system, but it is now a manageable long-term health condition when diagnosed early and treated properly.
Although there is currently no widely available cure for HIV, effective antiretroviral treatment can suppress the virus, protect the immune system and allow people living with HIV to live long and healthy lives. A person who takes treatment and maintains an undetectable viral load does not transmit HIV through sex. This is known as Undetectable = Untransmittable, or U=U.
This article explains what HIV and AIDS mean, how HIV affects the body, how it is transmitted, common symptoms, testing, treatment and prevention.
What Does HIV Mean?
HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus.
It is a type of retrovirus that attacks important cells of the immune system, especially CD4 T cells. These cells help the body organise its response against infections.
Without treatment, HIV can gradually weaken the immune system and make it harder for the body to fight certain infections and diseases.
HIV is not the same as AIDS.
What Does AIDS Mean?
AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
It is the most advanced stage of untreated HIV infection. AIDS may be diagnosed when the immune system has been severely weakened, when the CD4 cell count becomes very low, or when certain serious infections or conditions develop.
Not everyone living with HIV develops AIDS.
People who start antiretroviral treatment and remain in care can prevent HIV from progressing to AIDS. Current guidance recommends starting HIV treatment as soon as possible after diagnosis rather than waiting for symptoms or a low CD4 count.
HIV and AIDS: What Is the Difference?
The terms are related but do not mean the same thing:
HIV is the virus.
HIV infection is the health condition caused by the virus.
AIDS is the most advanced stage of untreated or poorly controlled HIV infection.
A person can live with HIV for many years without developing AIDS, particularly when treatment is started early and taken consistently.
How HIV Affects the Immune System
HIV mainly targets CD4 T cells, which are a type of white blood cell.
The virus attaches to receptors on the surface of a susceptible cell and releases its genetic material into the cell. It then uses an enzyme called reverse transcriptase to produce DNA from its RNA.
The viral DNA becomes integrated into the infected cell. The cell may then produce new copies of HIV, which can infect other cells.
Over time, untreated HIV can reduce the number and effectiveness of CD4 cells. This weakens the immune system and increases vulnerability to infections that a healthy immune system would normally control.
Basic Structure of HIV
HIV contains several important components:
RNA: The virus’s genetic material
Reverse transcriptase: An enzyme used to convert viral RNA into DNA
Integrase: An enzyme that helps insert viral DNA into the human cell’s DNA
Protease: An enzyme that helps newly produced virus particles mature
Viral envelope: The outer covering of the virus
Surface proteins: Proteins that help HIV attach to and enter certain human cells
Modern HIV medicines interrupt different stages of this replication process.
Why HIV Is Difficult to Cure
HIV is difficult to eliminate completely because it can create a latent reservoir.
This means that some infected cells contain HIV genetic material but are not actively producing new virus. Because these cells may appear inactive, the immune system and antiretroviral medicines cannot easily identify and remove all of them.
If treatment is stopped, virus from these reservoirs can become active again. This is why people living with HIV usually need to continue treatment even after their viral load becomes undetectable.
Types of HIV
There are two main types of HIV.
HIV-1
HIV-1 is the most common type and is responsible for most HIV infections worldwide.
HIV-2
HIV-2 is less common and is found mainly in West Africa, although cases occur in other regions.
HIV-2 usually progresses more slowly than HIV-1, but it can still cause serious immune-system damage without treatment. Some medicines used for HIV-1 may not work as well against HIV-2, so correct diagnosis is important.
How Is HIV Transmitted?
HIV can be transmitted through certain body fluids from a person living with the virus.
These include:
Blood
Semen
Pre-seminal fluid
Vaginal fluid
Rectal fluid
Breast milk
Transmission can occur when one of these fluids enters another person’s bloodstream or comes into contact with susceptible tissue.
The main routes of HIV transmission are:
Sexual transmission
HIV can be transmitted through vaginal or anal sex when effective prevention measures are not being used and the partner living with HIV does not have sustained viral suppression.
The possibility of HIV transmission through oral sex is extremely low, although other sexually transmitted infections can be transmitted this way.
Sharing needles or injecting equipment
Sharing needles, syringes or other equipment contaminated with blood can provide a direct route for HIV transmission.
Exposure to infected blood
HIV may be transmitted through unscreened blood transfusions, needlestick injuries or procedures involving equipment contaminated with blood.
Proper screening of donated blood and appropriate infection-prevention measures have made transmission through healthcare procedures uncommon in settings where safety standards are followed.
Mother-to-child transmission
A woman living with HIV can transmit the virus to her baby during:
Pregnancy
Labour and delivery
Breastfeeding
However, effective antiretroviral treatment, viral-load monitoring, appropriate care during pregnancy and delivery, preventive medicine for the baby and early infant testing can greatly reduce the possibility of transmission. HIV treatment also reduces transmission risk during pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding.
For a more detailed explanation, read How Is HIV Transmitted? Facts, Risks and Common Myths Explained once the new article is published at that address.
How HIV Is Not Transmitted
HIV is not spread through ordinary social contact.
You cannot acquire HIV from:
Hugging or shaking hands
Sharing food or drinks
Sharing plates, cups or cutlery
Sharing toilets or bathrooms
Coughing or sneezing
Saliva, sweat or tears
Swimming pools
Mosquitoes or other insects
Living or working with someone who has HIV
Touching clothes, bedding or household objects
HIV does not survive or reproduce effectively outside the human body, and it cannot be transmitted through activities that do not involve exposure to relevant body fluids.
People living with HIV should not be excluded from schools, workplaces, homes, places of worship or social activities.
Can HIV Be Transmitted Through Kissing?
HIV is not transmitted through ordinary kissing.
Saliva does not transmit HIV. Extremely rare theoretical concerns would involve substantial blood-to-blood exposure from open, bleeding wounds in both people’s mouths, not saliva itself.
Kissing, hugging and touching a person living with HIV are safe.
What Are the Symptoms of HIV?
Symptoms alone cannot confirm whether someone has HIV.
Some people develop a flu-like illness several weeks after infection. Others experience mild symptoms or no noticeable symptoms.
Possible early symptoms can include:
Fever
Sore throat
Skin rash
Swollen lymph nodes
Headache
Muscle aches
Tiredness
Night sweats
These symptoms are common in many illnesses and do not necessarily mean that a person has HIV.
After the early stage, HIV may remain without noticeable symptoms for years. During this period, the virus can still affect the immune system and can be transmitted if it is not controlled by treatment.
Advanced untreated HIV may be associated with:
Persistent fever
Unexplained weight loss
Chronic diarrhoea
Recurrent infections
Persistent cough
Severe tiredness
Night sweats
Oral or skin infections
Tuberculosis
Certain cancers
Neurological problems
The only reliable way to know your HIV status is to take an approved HIV test.
How Is HIV Diagnosed?
HIV is diagnosed through a nationally approved testing process.
Different tests may detect:
Antibodies produced in response to HIV
HIV antibodies and the p24 antigen
The virus’s genetic material
A single reactive screening test does not usually establish a final diagnosis. Further testing is required according to the approved national testing algorithm.
Testing should be voluntary, confidential and accompanied by accurate information.
What Is the HIV Window Period?
The window period is the time between acquiring HIV and when a test can reliably detect it.
The length of the window period depends on the type of test used. Testing too soon after a possible exposure may produce a negative result even when infection has occurred.
A trained healthcare professional can advise when repeat testing is needed.
Anyone with a recent possible exposure should not wait for the window period to end before seeking care. Post-exposure prophylaxis may help prevent infection when started as soon as possible and no later than 72 hours after exposure.
Can HIV Be Treated?
Yes.
HIV is treated with antiretroviral therapy, commonly called ART.
ART uses medicines that prevent HIV from making new copies of itself. Lowering the amount of virus in the body allows the immune system to recover and remain stronger.
People should begin treatment as soon as possible after a confirmed diagnosis. Starting early reduces illness, helps prevent progression to AIDS and lowers the possibility of transmission.
HIV treatment may be provided as daily tablets or, in some settings and for eligible patients, long-acting injections. Treatment selection should be made with a qualified healthcare professional.
What Is Viral Suppression?
Viral load refers to the amount of HIV in the blood.
Viral suppression means that treatment has reduced the amount of virus to a very low level. When the viral load becomes so low that a standard laboratory test cannot detect it, it is described as undetectable.
A person who maintains an undetectable viral load:
Protects their immune system
Reduces the risk of HIV-related illness
Does not transmit HIV through sex
This is the scientific basis of U=U.
An undetectable viral load does not mean HIV has been cured. Treatment must continue as prescribed to maintain viral suppression.
What Is HIV Treatment Failure?
HIV treatment failure means that treatment is not controlling HIV as expected.
Treatment response is assessed primarily through viral-load testing. A detectable viral load does not automatically mean that the medicines have permanently failed.
Healthcare workers may need to assess:
Missed doses
Problems taking medicines consistently
Drug interactions
Difficulty accessing medication
Incorrect dosing
Absorption problems
Drug resistance
Treatment should not be changed or stopped without professional assessment.
Read more in What Is HIV Treatment Failure?. This linked article should also be refreshed with current viral-load guidance.
Why Are Several HIV Medicines Used Together?
HIV can change, or mutate, as it reproduces.
Using an effective combination of medicines makes it much harder for the virus to develop resistance. Modern treatment often combines multiple active medicines in one tablet, making treatment easier to take.
Missing doses repeatedly can allow the virus to reproduce and may increase the possibility of resistance. Anyone having difficulty taking treatment should speak with a healthcare professional rather than stopping it.
Global HIV Statistics
According to UNAIDS estimates for 2024:
Approximately 40.8 million people were living with HIV worldwide.
Around 1.3 million people acquired HIV during the year.
Approximately 630,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses.
About 31.6 million people were accessing antiretroviral treatment.
Globally, new HIV infections have fallen substantially since their peak, but progress remains uneven and millions of people still lack diagnosis, treatment or viral suppression.
WHO estimates that in 2024, 87% of people living with HIV knew their status and 73% of all people living with HIV had suppressed viral loads.
HIV in Nigeria
Nigeria continues to carry a significant HIV burden.
National survey estimates commonly cited by NACA place HIV prevalence among adults aged 15 to 49 at approximately 1.3% to 1.4%, with an estimated 1.9 million people living with HIV. Prevalence varies by state, sex, age group and population.
Nigeria’s response includes:
HIV testing
Antiretroviral treatment
Prevention of mother-to-child transmission
Condom programming
Pre-exposure prophylaxis
Post-exposure prophylaxis
HIV self-testing
Community-based services
Viral-load monitoring
Stigma-reduction programmes
The national strategic framework aims to reduce new infections, AIDS-related deaths, stigma and discrimination.
How Can HIV Be Prevented?
HIV prevention involves several evidence-based options.
Know your HIV status
Routine and voluntary testing helps people make informed decisions about treatment and prevention.
Use condoms correctly
Correct and consistent condom use reduces the possibility of HIV and several other sexually transmitted infections.
Consider PrEP
Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, is HIV prevention medicine for people who do not have HIV but may experience exposure to the virus.
Long-acting options are expanding alongside oral PrEP. Learn more about twice-yearly lenacapavir for HIV prevention.
Seek PEP after a possible exposure
Post-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP, is an emergency course of HIV medicine taken after a possible exposure.
It should be started as soon as possible and no later than 72 hours after exposure.
Avoid sharing injecting equipment
Needles, syringes and other injecting equipment should never be shared.
Use sterile instruments
Medical, tattooing, piercing, barbing and traditional instruments that may come into contact with blood should be sterile or single-use.
Take HIV treatment consistently
People living with HIV should take their medicines as prescribed and attend recommended clinical and viral-load appointments.
Effective treatment protects health and prevents sexual transmission when viral suppression is maintained.
Prevent mother-to-child transmission
Pregnant women should receive HIV testing as part of antenatal care. Women living with HIV should begin or continue treatment and follow professional guidance during pregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding.
Reducing HIV Stigma
Fear and misinformation can be as damaging as the virus itself.
HIV is not transmitted through friendship, family contact, work, school, food or ordinary social interaction.
People living with HIV deserve:
Privacy
Respect
Accurate information
Equal access to healthcare
Freedom from discrimination
Support to remain in treatment
Prevention messages should focus on specific behaviours and exposures rather than describing people or entire communities as dangerous.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HIV the same as AIDS?
No. HIV is the virus, while AIDS is the most advanced stage of untreated HIV infection.
Can HIV be cured?
There is currently no widely available cure. However, effective treatment can suppress HIV and allow people to live long and healthy lives.
Can someone with HIV live a normal life?
Yes. With early diagnosis, effective treatment and appropriate healthcare, people living with HIV can live long, productive lives.
Can HIV be transmitted through kissing?
No. HIV is not transmitted through ordinary kissing or saliva.
Can mosquitoes transmit HIV?
No. Mosquitoes cannot transmit HIV.
Can someone look healthy and still have HIV?
Yes. Many people living with HIV have no visible symptoms. Testing is the only reliable way to know a person’s status.
Can someone with an undetectable viral load transmit HIV sexually?
No. A person who takes treatment and maintains an undetectable viral load has zero risk of transmitting HIV through sex.
Should HIV treatment begin only when symptoms appear?
No. Treatment should begin as soon as possible after a confirmed diagnosis, even when the person feels healthy.
Can HIV be prevented after a recent exposure?
PEP may prevent HIV when started promptly and no later than 72 hours after a possible exposure. Seek qualified medical care immediately.
Final Thoughts
HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system, while AIDS is the most advanced stage of untreated HIV infection.
HIV is transmitted through specific body fluids and exposures. It is not spread through ordinary social contact, food, toilets, saliva, sweat, mosquitoes or living with someone who has HIV.
Testing is the only reliable way to know your status. People diagnosed with HIV should begin treatment promptly and take it consistently.
Modern HIV treatment is highly effective. It protects health, prevents progression to AIDS and, when an undetectable viral load is maintained, prevents sexual transmission.
About the Author
Adeyinka Joseph Alonge is a public health professional, researcher and writer with interests spanning health, science, technology, personal development and practical knowledge for everyday life.
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