What causes HIV?

HIV is caused by a virus. It can spread through sexual contact, illicit injection drug use or sharing needles, contact with infected blood, or from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding. HIV destroys CD4 T cells — white blood cells that play a large role in helping your body fight disease.

Does HIV go away?

There’s currently no cure for HIV, but there are very effective drug treatments that enable most people with the virus to live a long and healthy life. With an early diagnosis and effective treatments, most people with HIV will not develop any AIDS-related illnesses and will live a near-normal lifespan.

What is the BK virus?

BK virus is a virus that most people get in childhood. Symptoms can feel like a common cold. Once you get a BK virus infection, the virus stays in your system for good. But it does not cause a problem for most people. This is called latent, or like being ‘asleep’ in your body.

What do transplant patients need to know about BK virus?

BK Virus: What Transplant Patients Need to Know. When you take these medicines, your body has a higher risk for infection. You can have BK virus in your system and not be aware of it. After your transplant, the virus may become active again. This is from the anti-rejection medicines. It can damage your new kidney and cause your body to reject it.

What does a BK virus feel like?

Symptoms can feel like a common cold. Once you get a BK virus infection, the virus stays in your system for good. But it does not cause a problem for most people. This is called latent, or like being ‘asleep’ in your body.

What does BKV stand for?

BK virus infection in AIDS The BK virus (BKV) belongs to the family of the polyoma group, which contains three species: JC, which is responsible for progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS); simian virus 40 (SV40), which is a simian virus of little pathologic significance in huma …