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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 10% of people with HIV in the United States also have hepatitis B, a liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV).
HBV is spread through contact with the blood, semen, or other body fluid of a person who has HBV.
Substance use refers to the use of drugs and alcohol and includes the misuse of prescription drugs or over-the-counter medicines.
Substance use can lead to less safe behaviors (such as condomless sex or sharing needles) that increase the likelihood of getting HIV or passing it on to others.
Substance use can harm the health of a person with HIV by weakening the immune system, damaging the liver, disrupting an
Resources are available that can help people with HIV find a health care provider, pay for medicines, and get help with HIV-related mental health issues.
The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program is a federal program designed to help people with HIV get the medical care and other support services they need.
In people with HIV, good nutrition helps to maintain the immune system, maintain a healthy weight, aid in the absorption of HIV medicines, and support overall health and well-being.
Food and water can be contaminated with germs that cause illnesses (called foodborne illnesses), which can be more serious for people with HIV due to a weakened immune system.
According to an HIV Surveillance Report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), of the nearly 1.1 million people living with diagnosed HIV in the United States and dependent areas in 2021, about 41% (441,614) were aged 55 and older.
Many HIV risk factors are the same for people of any age, but older people are less likely to get tested for HIV.
Perinatal transmission: HIV can pass from a mother with HIV to their child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding, called perinatal transmission of HIV. In the United States, this is the most common way children under 13 years of age get HIV.
