What is it?
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is
a treatable infection. There is no cure, but
medicines are available which help people with HIV to keep well and
live healthier lives.
If left untreated HIV damages a person's immune
system, which reduces their ability to fight off other infections
and cancer. Over time, this damage increases the risk of
getting certain types of infections and tumours.
AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is
not a single condition or illness. It descibes the point when
a person's immune system has been so badly damaged by HIV that it
can no longer work effectively. When someone has AIDS they
can develop several serious illnesses and become very unwell.
Having HIV does not mean that someone has done something
wrong. HIV is a medical condition that is found in every
country in the world. It can affect anyone, regardless of
their age, gender, relationship status, sexual orientation,
ethnicity or religion.
Symptoms
Having an HIV test is the only way to know if you have HIV or
not. Many people do not know they are living with HIV and
only find out when they become ill from the damage to their immune
system. The sooner someone is diagnosed with HIV the
sooner they can start on treatment which will keep them
well.
How can a person get HIV?
HIV is found in blood, semen, vaginal fluid and breast milk. You
can only get HIV from someone who already has the virus but
only if the virus gets into your bloodstream.
HIV can affect both men and women of all ages, ethnicities and
religions. It is most commonly transmitted through anal and vaginal
sex without a condom.
You can get HIV:
- Through having anal or vaginal sex without a
condom. Oral sex is a lower risk activity for HIV unless you
have open sores or cuts in your mouth.
- Through infected blood or blood products during a blood
transfusion. In the UK blood has been screened since 1984 and is
safe.
- Through a contaminated needle and syringe. This could be from
sharing injecting equipment to take drugs, or in a hospital or
clinic in a country that did not have good hygiene processes and
where equipment was used on more than one person.
- From an infected mother to her child during birth or from
breastfeeding.
-
You cannot get HIV from:
- Sharing food with someone who has HIV
- Sharing cooking or eating utensils with someone who has
HIV
- Kissing someone with HIV
- Shaking hands or hugging someone with HIV
- Using the same toilet as someone with HIV
There is no vaccine and no cure for HIV. However, HIV is a
treatable infection and a range of medicines are available which
help people with HIV to keep well and live healthy
lives. Treatment options are constantly improving which delay
or prevent damage to the immune system. Most treatments
consist of between one and four tablets a day.
Further information on HIV can be found on