HIV is the virus which causes AIDS. You get HIV by exchanging body fluids with someone who's already infected. This means you can get HIV by having sex with an infected partner. You can also get HIV by sharing needles with an infected person. Once HIV is in your bloodstream, that's it -- you're infected also.

People who have HIV don't look or act any differently from uninfected people. They may even seem very healthy. HIV usually takes several years to cause AIDS, so HIV carriers may not know they have it.

Just because you can't see or cure AIDS doesn't mean there's nothing you can do about it. Using a condom during sex can protect you from getting the virus. So can using clean needles if you're shooting drugs. AIDS can happen to you -- protect yourself.