What is the cause of HIV? I don’t understand what HIV is and
what causes the disease. Can you help me understand the cause of
HIV? Lisa Oldson, MD on November 23, 2011 You’re asking a good
question, and I’m happy to help you learn more about HIV. Human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a type of sexually transmitted
virus that can attack the body’s immune system. People usually
get HIV from unprotected sex or intravenous drug use.
Unfortunately, when HIV enters the body, it begins to damage the
body’s CD4+ T-cells that are normally involved in the body’s
immune response to infections. When HIV lives in the body for a
while, it can attack so many CD4+ T-cells that the body can’t
fight infections well. If the person with HIV doesn’t start
treatment, HIV could lead to AIDS and other complications.
Luckily, with treatment ⎼ highly active antiretroviral therapy
(HAART) ⎼ it’s often possible to slow the progression of HIV. In
fact, with treatment, many people with HIV are living longer and
healthier lives. How long?