All About AIDS/HIV

AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is caused by a virus, HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) first isolated in 1983. It has been identified in over 200 countries and territories worldwide and is spreading rapidly in many affected populations, particularly in developing countries.

While the origins of AIDS remain obscure, it is known that HIV occurred as long ago as the late 1950s in isolated individuals. It began to be widespread in the mid to late 1970s but, because of the long incubation period, the virus did not cause widespread disease until the 1980s. In most countries, in its early stages the viral epidemic progressed undetected.

What is HIV?

In 1983 the virus that caused AIDS was discovered by scientists in France and the routes of transmission were confirmed. The virus eventually became known as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV is a virus that attacks the body's immune system. The immune system is the body's defense against infections by microorganisms (such as very small bacteria or viruses) that get past the skin and mucous membranes and cause disease. HIV finds and destroys a type of white blood cell (T cells or CD4 cells) that the immune system must have to fight disease.

Are HIV and AIDS the same?

No. When someone is described as living with HIV, they have the HIV virus in their body. A person is considered to have developed AIDS when the immune system is so weak it can no longer fight off a range of diseases with which it would normally cope.

Is there a cure for HIV?

No, but treatment can keep the virus under control and the immune system healthy. People on HIV treatment can live a healthy, active life, although they may experience side effects from the treatment. If HIV is diagnosed late, treatment may be less effective in preventing AIDS.

What's it like living with HIV?

If people with HIV are diagnosed early and respond to treatment they can be healthy, work and have relationships like anyone else and have a long life expectancy.

Coming to terms with an HIV diagnosis and getting used to treatment can be very difficult however, and people living with HIV will often need support from healthcare providers, friends and family, employers and support organisations.

HIV prejudice is often the result of ignorance about how HIV is passed on and unfounded fear of becoming infected. Encouraging those around us to talk about HIV and find out the facts can help overcome this.

How is HIV transmitted?

HIV is a fragile virus. It cannot live for very long outside the body. As a result, the virus is not transmitted through day-to-day activities such as shaking hands, hugging, or a casual kiss. You cannot become infected from a toilet seat, drinking fountain, doorknob, dishes, drinking glasses, food, or pets. You also cannot get HIV from mosquitoes.

HIV can be passed on through infected blood, semen, vaginal fluids or breast milk. The most common ways HIV is passed on are:

• Having sex (anal, vaginal, or oral) with someone infected with HIV,
• Sharing infected needles, syringes or other injecting drug equipment,
• From an HIV-positive mother (to her child) during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding.

Can women living with HIV still have a baby?

Yes. HIV can be passed from mother to child, but there are steps that can be taken to reduce the possibility of the child contracting HIV to less than one per cent, including giving the mother and child antiretroviral HIV drugs, delivering the child by Caesarean and not breastfeeding the baby.

What are the risk factors for HIV Transmission?

You may be at increased risk for infection if you have:

• injected drugs or steroids, during which equipment (such as needles, syringes, cotton, water) and blood were shared with others,
• had unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex (that is, sex without using condoms) with men who have sex with men, multiple partners, or anonymous partners,
• exchanged sex for drugs or money,
• been given a diagnosis of, or been treated for, hepatitis, tuberculosis (TB), or a sexually transmitted disease (STD) such as syphilis,
• received a blood transfusion or clotting factor during 1978–1985,
• had unprotected sex with someone who has any of the risk factors listed above.

How can I protect myself from HIV?

• Don't share needles and syringes used to inject drugs, steroids, vitamins, or for tattooing or body piercing.
• Don't share razors or toothbrushes because of they may have the blood of another person on them.
• Don't have sexual contact with anyone who has symptoms of AIDS or who is a member of a high risk group for AIDS.
• Avoid oral, genital and anal contact with partner's blood, semen, vaginal secretions, feces or urine. Unless they know with absolute certainty that their partner is not infected, a latex condom should be used during each sexual act, from start to finish.

What are the symptoms of HIV infection?

Some people who contract HIV experience very strong symptoms, but others experience none at all. Those who do have symptoms generally experience fever, fatigue, and, often, rash. Other common symptoms can include headache, swollen lymph nodes, and sore throat. The symptoms of early infection can also be similar to the symptoms of other sexually transmitted diseases and other infections such as "mono" or hepatitis, which are much more commonly and more easily transmitted. These symptoms can occur within days or weeks of the initial exposure to the virus during a period called primary or acute HIV infection.

Because of the nonspecific symptoms associated with primary or acute HIV infection, symptoms are not a reliable way to diagnose HIV infection. Testing for HIV antibodies is the only way to know whether you have been infected; however, the HIV antibody test only works after the infected person's immune system develops antibodies to HIV. During the "window period" between the initial infection and the period in which antibodies are detectable (which can be from 2 weeks to 6 months, but is usually 3 months), standard HIV testing is ineffective.

If you are concerned that you may have recently acquired HIV and have symptoms described above, see a doctor. A doctor or other health care professional can help determine whether you may be infected with HIV or another infection. If HIV infection is suspected, he or she may perform a Polymerase Chain Reaction (commonly called "PCR") test to determine whether HIV is present in the blood.