Most teens have gotten some form of HIV education in school or from their faith community. Young adults learn that this infection is transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse, blood contact, from drug needles, and by being born to an infected mother. HIV may take over 10 years to cause people to look and feel sick.
Many infected teens look healthy.
There is no way to tell if someone is HIV infected just by looking at them. Despite all of this, HIV is increasing among teens. HIV can be avoided in three ways. One way is not to have sex. People who do not have sex do not get sexually transmitted diseases.