Written by: Bratislav Prokić / March 2021
What is HIV?
HIV is short for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It belongs to the group of retroviruses and is transmitted from person to person. It was identified in the 1980s, and isolated in 1983.
Where is HIV found?
It is found in blood, genital fluids (semen and seminal fluid, vaginal secretions and anal mucus) and breast milk.
How is HIV transmitted?
It is most often transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse (anal, vaginal and oral), then by sharing drug paraphernalia and from an infected mother to her child during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding..
How does HIV work in the body?
It directly attacks the cells of the immune system (CD4 lymphocytes) that help the body fight infections. HIV affects the reduction of their number, creating an immune deficit (deficiency) over time. HIV also affects other organs such as the heart or brain. The natural course of untreated HIV infection ends in death.