With no known cure, and infection rates continuing to climb, here's the lowdown on a virus you can't afford to ignore.
What is it?
To understand HIV (Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus), you have to know something about the immune system which stops us from getting ill.
How do you get HIV?
The HIV virus is found in infected blood, semen or vaginal fluid. In general, infection can occur in four different ways:
There are many myths about how HIV is spread. For the record, the virus is unable to survive outside of the body. It means you CANNOT catch HIV from kissing, snogging, toilet seats, sharing towels or giving blood.
What are the symptoms?
Treatment
To understand HIV (Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus), you have to know something about the immune system which stops us from getting ill.
- Blood plays an important part in the body's defence against illness. It contains millions of cells, about 1% of which are white, and a particularly important type of white cell is called the t-helper cell. One of the jobs of these cells is to fight off infection.
- HIV is a virus which attacks the t-helper cells and damages the body's ability to fight infection.
- HIV can develop into Acquired Immune-Deficiency Syndrome, known as Aids - in which the body is no longer able to guard against infection and disease, with fatal consequences.
How do you get HIV?
The HIV virus is found in infected blood, semen or vaginal fluid. In general, infection can occur in four different ways:
- By having unprotected sex with someone who already has the HIV virus when the penis enters the vagina or anus without a condom. The risk of contracting Aids through unprotected oral sex is thought to be much lower - but transmission is possible if semen, vaginal fluid or menstrual blood comes in contact with bleeding gums or mouth infections. You can protect yourself from HIV infection by using condoms;
- Using or sharing a hypodermic syringe which has already been used by someone infected by HIV, can lead to the exchange of a small amount of infected blood;
- A mother who has HIV can pass it on to her baby whilst she is pregnant;
- People have contracted the HIV virus from receiving contaminated blood in a blood transfusion. However, nowadays this is incredibly rare because most industrialised countries test blood for HIV prior to any transfusions.
There are many myths about how HIV is spread. For the record, the virus is unable to survive outside of the body. It means you CANNOT catch HIV from kissing, snogging, toilet seats, sharing towels or giving blood.
What are the symptoms?
- Six weeks after infection, flu-like symptoms can develop for a short period of time (though some people experience no symptoms at this stage).
- In a bid to combat any infection, the blood produces antibodies. Within three months of HIV infection, it is possible to test for the presence of antibodies and confirm whether that person is HIV positive (which means they have the infection) or HIV negative (which means they do not)
- Someone who is HIV positive may feel perfectly well, even though the virus is still active within the body - destroying new blood cells.
- The virus is also infectious from the moment it is contracted. This means there's a risk that someone with HIV can be unaware of their condition for some time, and unwittingly expose a partner to the virus through unprotected sex.
- Over time, the number of T-helpers in the blood will slowly drop - weakening the immune system. Without treatment, to slow or stabilize the progress of the infection, that person will start showing symptoms of Aids.
- On average, it can take nine years for an untreated HIV infection to develop into Aids.
- The onset of Aids is associated with a wide-range of symptoms. This is because the body's immune system has become so weak that it is vulnerable to all kinds of infection and conditions. Common complaints include fatigue, weight loss, chest and skin infections, diarrhoea, night sweats and ulcers. Eventually, the immune system can no longer resist, which generally proves fatal.
Treatment
- To date, there is no cure for HIV or Aids. Treatment focuses on slowing down or stabilising the progress of the HIV infection, and managing the symptoms of any associated infection or complaint.
- Research into tackling HIV and Aids is big business, and new drugs often appear on the market.
- A range of drugs and medication are available for the treatment of HIV. What is used differs from patient to patient, while the virus itself can often become resistant to certain drugs.
- Counselling is often of great benefit, especially to those who lack support among family and friends. Support groups for people with HIV and Aids can also help to put you in touch with people going through a similar experience, which may help you to cope. Consult your GP for more information.
