Sexual Health Infections

continued from

HIV and AIDS

What is HIV and how is it passed on? Find out how to prevent HIV, what are the initial signs and symptoms of HIV, HIV testing and treatment.

Rates of infection for HIV are on the rise, especially among heterosexuals. Here's how HIV and AIDS are transmitted, when a person can be said to have AIDS and the treatment options open to those with this fatal disease.

How's HIV passed on?
HIV is a virus that damages a person's immune system, the body's defense against disease. A person infected with HIV is infected for life - there's no cure. Being infected with HIV is often referred to as being HIV-positive.

Over time, as the immune system weakens, a person with HIV may develop rare infections or cancers. When these are particularly serious, the person is said to have AIDS.

HIV can only be passed on through the transfer of blood, semen, vaginal fluids and breast milk. The two main ways in which a person can become infected are:

• vaginal or anal sexual intercourse (without a condom) with an infected person
• using a needle or syringe that's already been used by someone who's infected

An HIV infected pregnant woman can also pass the virus to her unborn baby, before or during the birth.

Other potential routes of transmission include:

• Giving and receiving first aid, although transmission will only occur if significant amounts of HIV-infected blood pass from one person to another.
• Contact with used needles and syringes.
• Giving and receiving oral sex, although there are very few proven instances of this. Generally, transmission will only occur if a person has cuts or sores in their mouth.
• Seeing a dentist, doctor or nurse. It's extremely rare for HIV to be passed from a healthcare professional to a patient, as all medical instruments are sterilized or used only once.
• Fighting and biting. There have been extremely few cases of infection in such cases.
• Kissing, although generally this won't pass on HIV as saliva doesn't contain a high enough concentration of HIV. The only risk would be if both people had noticeably bleeding cuts and sores in their mouths.
• Sport. The only risk in sport is if HIV-infected blood gets into a wound or a cut.

It's important to emphasize that even though the risk of transmission through any of the above is small, it still remains and care should always be taken.

Although blood transfusions and use of blood products are a potential route of transmission, all blood in the US and UK has been screened for HIV since 1985.

HIV isn't passed on by:

• sharing plates and utensils
• touching, hugging or shaking hands
• using the same toilet
• insect or animal bites

Preventing HIV transmission
There are several ways in which you can prevent HIV being passed on:

• using a condom during sexual intercourse
• using a clean needle every time if you inject drugs

There are also a number of steps an HIV-positive woman can take to reduce the chance of passing on HIV to her child during pregnancy. These include:

• taking an anti-HIV drug towards the end of pregnancy and at the time of delivery
• considering having a caesarean section delivery
• giving the baby formula milk instead of breastfeeding

Who's at risk?
You're only at risk of HIV if you're involved in a high-risk activity. In some communities in the UK, particularly gay and African communities, there are a higher number of people who're HIV-positive.

Initial signs and symptoms of HIV
There are no immediate signs or symptoms after infection. Research has shown that after a few weeks some people experience flu-like symptoms, but these symptoms usually go undiagnosed. The only way to know if you are HIV-positive is to have a test.

HIV Testing
The HIV test looks for HIV antibodies in the blood. It normally takes three months for antibodies to develop, so if you have a test soon after possible infection, the result may be inaccurate. You'll need to be tested again after three months to get a definite result.

Anyone in the US can have a free HIV test. The test is available from your family doctor or from any county health or Planned Parenthood clinic. Test results are completely confidential - and no one will be informed without your consent. You can also go anonymously. A trained counselor will explain the test procedure and discuss possible results. You normally have to wait one week for a result.

Treatment
There's no cure for HIV, but there are a number of drugs that can help prevent someone who's HIV-positive becoming ill. Drug treatment is free in the UK.

advertisement

Treatment consists of taking several drugs every day, which is known as combination therapy. These drugs aren't a cure for HIV infection but they can increase enormously the life expectancy of someone with HIV. If the drugs aren't taken correctly, the treatment will stop being so effective and the person may become ill.

Research continues around the world to develop a HIV vaccine. Great progress is being made, although it's likely to be a number of years before such a treatment is widely

How to avoid STIs

1. Before you have sex, talk to your partner about how to protect yourselves.
2. A male or female condom can provide protection from most STIs if used correctly every time you have sex.
3. Become familiar with how to use condoms and have a supply ready.
4. Seek advice straight away if you think you've been at risk.

Last updated: 10/05

Related Information:

• Sexually Transmitted Infections Index
• Emergency Contraception
• Why Practice Safer Sex?

top ~ next ~ sexual diseases index ~ send page to friend