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Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Diagnosis and Tests
• Prevention and Risk Factors
• Treatments and Therapies

Learn More

• Living With
• Related Issues
• Specifics

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• Images

Research

• Statistics and Research
• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Reference Desk
• Find an Expert

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• Women
• Older Adults

Summary

What are HIV and AIDS?

HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It harms your immune system by destroying a type of white blood cell that helps your body fight infection.

AIDS is the final stage of infection with HIV. It happens when the body's immune system is badly damaged because of the virus. Not everyone with HIV develops AIDS.

Are there treatments for HIV?

There is no cure for HIV, but there are many medicines to treat both HIV infection and the health problems and infections (called opportunistic infections, or OIs) that come with it. The medicines allow people with HIV to have long, healthy lives.

How can I live a healthier life with HIV?

IIf you have HIV, you can help yourself by:

• Getting medical care as soon as you find out that you have HIV. You should find a health care provider who has experience in treating HIV.
• Taking your medicines every day.
• Letting your provider know if you get any new symptoms or health problems.
• Keeping up with your regular medical and dental care.This includes staying up to date with your recommended health screenings and vaccinations. Your provider can let you know which ones you need.
• Managing stress and getting support, such as from support groups, therapists, and social service organizations
• Trying to live a healthy lifestyle, including:
• Eating healthy foods.This can give your body the energy it needs to fight HIV and other infections. It can help you manage HIV symptoms and medicine side effects. It may also improve absorption of your HIV medicines.
• Getting regular physical activity. This can strengthen your body and immune system. It may also reduce the risk of depression.
• Getting enough sleep. Sleep is important for your physical strength and mental health.
• Not smoking. People with HIV who smoke have a higher risk of developing conditions such as certain cancers and infections. Smoking can also interfere with your medicines. Talk to your provider if you need help quitting smoking.
• Avoiding heavy drinking or taking illegal drugs. They can damage your liver, which means your HIV medicine may not work as well. They can also make it harder for your body to fight infections.
• Protecting yourself from OIs. Talk to your provider about medicines and vaccines that prevent certain OIs. Also, be careful to avoid exposure to contaminated food and water.

It is also important to reduce the risk of spreading HIV to other people. You should tell your sex partners that you have HIV and always use latex condoms. If your or your partner is allergic to latex, you can use polyurethane condoms.

Start Here

• HIV Treatment Overview (HIV.gov; National Institutes of Health, Office of AIDS Research)
• How to Stay Healthy with HIV (National Library of Medicine) - PDF Also in Spanish
• Living with HIV (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• What to Do after Finding Out You Have HIV (National Library of Medicine) - PDF Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

• HIV Clinical Guidelines Now Recommend High Resolution Anoscopy as Part of Anal Cancer Screening Program for People with HIV (HIV.gov)
• Stages of AIDS-Related Lymphoma (National Cancer Institute)

Prevention and Risk Factors

• HIV and Immunizations (National Institutes of Health, Office of AIDS Research) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

• How to Find HIV Treatment Services (National Institutes of Health, Office of AIDS Research) Also in Spanish
• Treatment Option Overview (AIDS Related-Lymphoma) (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Living With

• Get the Facts about HIV Medical Care (National Library of Medicine) - PDF Also in Spanish
• HIV and Nutrition and Food Safety (National Institutes of Health, Office of AIDS Research) Also in Spanish
• HIV Treatment Adherence (National Institutes of Health, Office of AIDS Research) Also in Spanish

Related Issues

• Drugs, Alcohol and HIV (Department of Veterans Affairs)
• HIV and Cancer (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
• HIV/AIDS & Oral Health (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research) Also in Spanish
• How to Take Care of Your Mental Health with HIV (National Library of Medicine) - PDF Also in Spanish
• Just Diagnosed: Next Steps after Testing Positive for HIV (National Institutes of Health, Office of AIDS Research) Also in Spanish
• Mental Health (HIV.gov; National Institutes of Health, Office of AIDS Research)
• Neurological Complications of HIV and AIDS (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) Also in Spanish
• Sex and Sexuality and HIV (Department of Veterans Affairs)

Specifics

• Frequently Asked Questions (Department of Veterans Affairs)
• General Information about AIDS-Related Lymphoma (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
• HIV and COVID-19 (National Institutes of Health, Office of AIDS Research) Also in Spanish
• HIV and Infections: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

Images

• Pets and People Living with HIV (National Institutes of Health, Office of AIDS Research) Also in Spanish
• Tips for Taking Your HIV Meds, on Time, All the Time (National Institutes of Health, Office of AIDS Research) Also in Spanish

Statistics and Research

• Fast Facts: HIV in the United States (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: HIV and Quality of Life (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Monitoring Patient Adherence and Follow-up in Option B+ Program: Understanding Healthcare Workers'...
• Article: Role of HIV Serostatus Communication on Frequent HIV Testing and Self-Testing...
• Article: Stigma trajectories, disclosure, access to care, and peer-based supports among African,...
• Living with HIV -- see more articles

Reference Desk

• Glossary (HIV.gov; National Institutes of Health, Office of AIDS Research)
• HIV.gov Clinical Info: Clinical Guidelines (HIV.gov) Also in Spanish

Find an Expert

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Also in Spanish
• Clinicalinfo: Information on HIV/AIDS Treatment, Prevention, and Research (HIV.gov; National Institutes of Health, Office of AIDS Research) Also in Spanish
• HIV.gov (National Institutes of Health, Office of AIDS Research)
• HIVinfo (National Institutes of Health, Office of AIDS Research)

Women

• HIV and Pregnancy: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

Older Adults

• Aging with HIV (HIV.gov)
• HIV, AIDS, and Older Adults (National Institute on Aging) Also in Spanish