HIV & AIDS
What is HIV?
HIV stands for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus and affects men and women. The virus damages the body's immune system so that over time it becomes vulnerable to illness and infections.
What is AIDS?
AIDS is caused by HIV. When a person has AIDS it means their immune system is very weak and they have developed certain infections or cancers. These can be fatal.
How is it passed on?
HIV is mainly passed on in the following ways:
- by unprotected vaginal or anal sex
- a pregnant woman with HIV can pass it on to her baby during birth, although there is now a very effective treatment to help prevent this. HIV can also be passed on through breastfeeding
- by sharing needles or syringes when injecting drugs.
Signs and symptoms
- A flu-like illness may occur shortly after getting infected with HIV, but most people don't notice they have become infected.
- Symptoms vary from person to person and occur when the immune system is so damaged that other infections begin to cause health problems.
Tests and treatment
- The only way to establish if a person has the virus is for them to have an HIV test.
- After a discussion about the test and the consequences of the result, a sample of blood will be taken and tested. It is necessary to wait three months after infection might have occurred before doing the HIV test.
- There is no cure for HIV. However, drugs are available to slow down the damage that HIV does to the immune system. People who are HIV positive can now stay healthy for many years with anti-HIV drugs.
If you would like information about other sexually transmitted infections you can telephone the fpa helpline on +44 (0)845 310 1334 or visit www.ssha.info
Contacts
The contacts database contains details of organisations that may be able to offer information or assistance on this issue.
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