They usually die of an infection or cancer. HIV can only be passed from person to person through body fluids, like blood, semen and vaginal fluid. By having unprotected anal, vaginal or oral sex with an infected person. By sharing needles and syringes for injecting drugs with an infected person. You may be at risk of getting HIV if you have any of the risk factors listed in the box below.
Children born to infected mothers can also become infected during pregnancy.
Use illegal injected drugs. Have had blood transfusions or received blood products. Have had many sex partners. Have a sex partner with any of the above risk factors. HIV can't live very long outside the body, so you can't get it through casual contact.