HIV BASICS
What does HIV stand for?
Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Name one common early symptom of HIV.
Fever, fatigue, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, rash
What type of barrier method can prevent HIV transmission?
Condoms (internal or external)
About how many people worldwide live with HIV today?
39 million
What decade did HIV first become widely known in the U.S.?
The 1980s
How is HIV most commonly transmitted?
Through unprotected sexual contact or sharing needles
True or False: Some people with HIV don’t show symptoms for years.
True
What daily medication can prevent HIV?
PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis)
Can mosquitoes transmit HIV?
No
True or False: HIV originally jumped to humans from chimpanzees.
True — from a type of SIV (SIV (Simian Immunodeficiency Virus) is the ancestral virus from which HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) originated)
True or False: You can get HIV from sweat or saliva.
False
Imagine HIV as a “slow burner.” During which stage does the virus quietly multiply—even if the person feels completely fine?
Clinical latency (chronic HIV stage)
What medication can reduce HIV risk after a possible exposure and how long do you have to take it for most effective?
PEP (within 72 hours)
True or False: HIV can be transmitted through kissing.
False, unless blood is present in large amounts
Before modern treatment, what was the average lifespan after an AIDS diagnosis in the 1980s?
About 1–3 years
What is the difference between HIV and AIDS?
HIV is the virus that weakens the immune system; AIDS is the advanced stage of HIV when the immune system is severely damaged.
Someone says, “I felt super sick right after I think I was exposed — like a sudden flu out of nowhere.”
Which stage of HIV might they be describing?
Acute HIV infection
You’re giving advice to a friend who wants the highest level of protection from HIV. They say,
“Does it matter what kind of condom I use or how I use it?”
What two things should you tell them to make condom use most effective?
Use latex or polyurethane (synthetic leather) condoms and use them correctly every time (new condom each time, check expiration, proper fit, no doubling up, and water- or silicone-based lube).
True or False: A condom is most effective when it’s used every single time and put on before any sexual contact begins.Can you tell if someone has HIV just by looking at them?
→ True
What’s one of the biggest ways stigma harms people living with HIV?
It discourages testing, treatment, or open conversations about sexual health.
What does “viral load” mean, and why is it important?
Viral load is the amount of HIV in the blood. Lower viral load = better health and lower chance of transmitting HIV.
True or False: Without treatment, HIV always progresses to AIDS.
True
Why is getting tested regularly one of the most powerful things someone can do for their health?
Early detection = early treatment = better health and zero transmission risk.
True or False: HIV is a death sentence.
False — with treatment, people live long, healthy lives
How long can HIV remain undetected in the body before symptoms appear or a routine test finds it?
HIV can remain silent for 8–10 years without major symptoms