All you need to know about HIV

HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system of the body. Two types of HIV exist: HIV-1 and HIV-2. There is no effective cure for HIV, so once people get it, they have it for life. For that reason, we will mostly concentrate on recognizing HIV symptoms, getting proper and timely testing, and preventing transmission.

The information on this page should help non-physicians think and see like a doctor. It should not replace a visit to the doctor or testing.

This page is divided into sections based on disease stage so it’s easy to go straight to the part you need.

Each section begins with important tables that give an overview of the chapter’s most important facts. The tables are followed by frequently asked questions answered by an expert STD doctor (“Dr. F”).