HIV, better known as the human immunodeficiency virus, has been around for many years. It searches for and destroys cells within the body. HIV is like many other viruses, like the flu or the common cold. However, over time these viruses can be eliminated from the body, but HIV is nothing of the sort; the human immune system cannot get rid of it. The virus becomes very strong over time and begins to kill some cells, such as T cells. Over time, HIV can destroy so many cells that your body will not be able to fight off simple infections. When this happens, HIV can lead to AIDS. AIDS is the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. This is the final stage of HIV. At this stage, the immune system is destroyed. Everyone who has HIV will not develop AIDS. Symptoms of this may include fever, chills, rash, genital mouth sores and/or swollen lymph nodes. Many people are unaware of these diseases, and not being aware of them makes them prone to spreading them. One of the main causes of the spread of HIV/AIDS in America is unprotected sex. Unprotected sex is when you have sex without using a condom. A person can become infected if they have any type of sexual intercourse, such as anal, oral, or vaginal sex with an infected partner whose semen or blood enters the body. For example, you may be in a monogamous relationship with someone for two years, but because HIV/AIDS can take a while to show up, your partner may be infected and you don't know it, and you may have unprotected sex and spread the virus. Although HIV transmission is lower through oral sex, the risk is higher when performing oral sex if the person has sores, small tears, or even bleeding gums. For example, if a woman has oral sex with an HIV-infected man and he ejaculates in her mouth, the risks increase. However… half of the document… we are aware that one of the main causes of HIV/AIDS is death. It is never easy to know that you have contracted HIV somehow, whether through unprotected sex, needles, or from your mother, so it is best to educate yourself and protect yourself from many things. There are many ways a person can protect themselves from contracting HIV. One of the best ways to find out if you have HIV and prevent it from spreading is to get tested. It's okay to talk to your partner about getting tested for the virus. Additionally, if you use a condom every time you have sex you can reduce your risk of contracting and transmitting HIV. Additionally, it is always best to limit sexual partners, as this can also reduce the risk. Also, do not inject medications, but be sure to use only clean, sterile needles. An infected person should definitely take care of himself.