HIV

• HIV is a virus spread by sexual contact or exchanging bodily fluids such as blood - this can happen when sharing needle when taking drugs
• HIV initially causes flu-like symptoms . usually the person dosent then experience any symptoms for several years. during this time HIV can be controlled by antiretroviral drugs- stop virus replicating in the body
• the virus will attack the immune cells - if badly damaged the immune system cant fight off other pathogens (infections or cancer) at this stage this is know as AIDS