What is HIV?
The initials in HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus.
This particular virus was identified in the 1980s & belongs to a group of viruses called ‘retroviruses’.
HIV attacks the immune system, & gradually causes damage. This can mean that, without treatment & care, a person with HIV is at risk of developing serious infections & cancers that a healthy immune system would fight off.
Current treatment for HIV works by reducing the amount of HIV in the body so the immune system can work normally. This doesn’t get rid of HIV completely, but with the right treatment & care, someone with HIV can expect to live a long & healthy life.
HIV is present in blood, genital fluids (semen, vaginal fluids & moisture in the rectum) & breast milk.
The main ways HIV can be passed on to someone else are:
A test can tell if you have HIV. If you do, this is described as being HIV positive.
If you are ‘HIV positive’ this means that you have a virus called HIV in your body. It doesn’t mean that you are ill, or that you have AIDS, or that you are dying.
If you have HIV but don’t take treatment, HIV will slowly attack the immune system, which is your body’s ability to fight other infections.
But there are drug treatments for HIV. They can stop HIV reproducing, & so limit the damage to your immune system & keep you in good health. Because of these drugs, most people living with HIV can expect to have a normal life expectancy.
‘AIDS’ is different from HIV. AIDS can happen if somebody goes a long time without treatment & the immune system becomes very weak. It means that a person with HIV is at risk of developing serious infections & illnesses that a healthy immune system would be able to fight off.
AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
This particular virus was identified in the 1980s & belongs to a group of viruses called ‘retroviruses’.
HIV attacks the immune system, & gradually causes damage. This can mean that, without treatment & care, a person with HIV is at risk of developing serious infections & cancers that a healthy immune system would fight off.
Current treatment for HIV works by reducing the amount of HIV in the body so the immune system can work normally. This doesn’t get rid of HIV completely, but with the right treatment & care, someone with HIV can expect to live a long & healthy life.
HIV is present in blood, genital fluids (semen, vaginal fluids & moisture in the rectum) & breast milk.
The main ways HIV can be passed on to someone else are:
- during unprotected anal, vaginal & oral sex,
- by sharing injecting equipment, &
- from a mother to her baby during pregnancy, birth or through breastfeeding.
A test can tell if you have HIV. If you do, this is described as being HIV positive.
If you are ‘HIV positive’ this means that you have a virus called HIV in your body. It doesn’t mean that you are ill, or that you have AIDS, or that you are dying.
If you have HIV but don’t take treatment, HIV will slowly attack the immune system, which is your body’s ability to fight other infections.
But there are drug treatments for HIV. They can stop HIV reproducing, & so limit the damage to your immune system & keep you in good health. Because of these drugs, most people living with HIV can expect to have a normal life expectancy.
‘AIDS’ is different from HIV. AIDS can happen if somebody goes a long time without treatment & the immune system becomes very weak. It means that a person with HIV is at risk of developing serious infections & illnesses that a healthy immune system would be able to fight off.
AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
AIDS is the result of damage to the immune system. A damaged immune system is unable to protect the body against certain specific 'opportunistic' infections & tumours.
These infections & tumours are called opportunistic because they are caused by organisms normally controlled by the immune system, but that 'take the opportunity' to cause disease when the immune system has been damaged.
The timing & types of clinical problems affecting persons with AIDS can vary widely & this is why it is termed a syndrome. AIDS is a collection of different signs and symptoms that are all part of the same underlying medical condition, human immunodeficiency virus infection.
These infections & tumours are called opportunistic because they are caused by organisms normally controlled by the immune system, but that 'take the opportunity' to cause disease when the immune system has been damaged.
The timing & types of clinical problems affecting persons with AIDS can vary widely & this is why it is termed a syndrome. AIDS is a collection of different signs and symptoms that are all part of the same underlying medical condition, human immunodeficiency virus infection.
