The first symptom of HIV is a flu-like illness which disapears after around 1-2 weeks. At this point the virus is attacking the patients immune system
Overtime the patient's immune system becomes severely damaged and at some point their immune system will be so badly damaged that they wont be able to fight off other infections that other people often easily deal with
The damaged immune system is also unable to fight off cancer cells therefore the patient may also develop cancer
When the immune sistem reaches this highly damaged stage, the patient can now easily contract other infections/diseases such as TB (Tuberculosis) - at this point the patient is described as having late-stage HIV/AIDS
at this late-stage of HIV the disease is fatal
Antiretroviral drugs stops the virus from multiplying inside the patient so the virus cannot damage the patient's immune system
Patients who take antiretroviral drugs do not go on and develop AIDS and can lead a normal life expectancy
HIV is transmitted by unprotected sex, sharing needles, infected mothers passing it onto babies during pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding, contaminated blood products and sexual assault
HIV is spread through bodily fluids like blood, semen or vaginal fluid