What HIV is: Human Immunodeficiency Virus causes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). There is no cure, although the combination of early detection and newly developed medications can increase life quality and expectancy. These medications are extremely expensive with complex dosage schedules and side effects. How it is spread: Through blood-to-blood contact, which includes sexual contact or sharing needles with an infected person. Mothers may pass the virus while breast-feeding, as well as during pregnancy and delivery. Heterosexual contact with an infected person is the most frequent cause in the United states. When does HIV become AIDS: A person will usually develop AIDS within 10 years. Symptoms may not appear for many years. Warning signs are rapid weight loss, dry cough, recurring fever or profuse night sweats, extreme and unexplained fatigue, swollen lymph glands, diarrhea that lasts more than a week and spots of discoloration on the tongue. What does HIV do: It weakens the immune system, putting a person at greater risk for opportunistic infections. When the body loses a significant number of immune cells or when there is a large population of HIV particles in the body, and the individual succumbs to one of these opportunistic infections, AIDS has taken control. Such infections include candidiasis of the esophagus, bronchi, trachea, or lungs; chronic cryptosporidiosis, disseminated or pulmonary histoplasmosis, Pneumoscystis carinii, or Kaposi’s sarcoma. What are initial symptoms: A person does not need to look or feel sick to have HIV. However, up to 70 percent of the newly infected will experience flu-like symptoms for a few days. What are later symptoms: Rapid weight loss; dry cough; recurring fever or profuse night sweats; profound and unexplained fatigue; swollen lymph glands in the armpits, groin, or neck; diarrhea that lasts more than a week; unusual blemishes on the tongue, in the mouth, or in the throat; pneumonia; red, pink, brown or purplish blotches on or under the skin or inside the mouth, nose or eyelids; memory loss, depression and other neurological disorders. Who is at risk: Men who have unprotected sex with men, heterosexuals who have unprotected sex, injection drug users, and children of infected mothers. Overall, HIV is spreading fastest in America among young people, women, blacks, and Hispanics. Why be tested: It is important to know if you are infected so that you will not pass the virus on to others, and so that you may notify former sexual partners. When should you be tested: Although an HIV test will usually give accurate results three months after exposure, it may take up to six months. Retest in six months. Where can I be tested: Your nearest county/state health department offers a free or discounted test. Home test kits are also available. At present, the only one approved by the FDA is Home Access, which can be found at drugstores. Otherwise, consult your family physician.