What is HIV?

HIV is a virus. Viruses such as HIV cannot grow or reproduce on their own, they need to infect the cells of a living organism in order to replicate (make new copies of themselves). The human immune system usually finds and kills viruses fairly quickly, but HIV attacks the immune system itself.

It cannot live for long outside of the body. HIV can directly enter the body via the bloodstream, or mucous membranes such as:

• vagina - via the lining of the vagina, cervix or womb
• penis -  via the urethra or inside of foreskin
• anus - via the lining which is very delicate

HIV enters and attacks the cells of the immune system itself - the very thing that would normally kill off a virus. Once HIV is present in the body of an infected person, it is found in their:

• semen (cum) or pre-seminal fluid (pre-cum)
• vaginal fluid
• breast milk
• blood (including menstrual blood)
• rectal secretions/mucosa.

There are four main routes of HIV transmission:

• unprotected vaginal or anal or oral sex (oral sex carries a very small risk)
• sharing unsterilized injecting drug equipment
• from mother-to-baby in pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding
• infected blood transfusions or medical procedures, although most countries have processes in place to prevent this.

Who is at risk?

Anybody can be at risk of HIV if infected fluids of an HIV-positive person enters their body. HIV does not exclusively affect certain groups of people.

Myths!

HIV cannot be transmitted by:

• Surfaces - HIV cannot be transmitted by contact with toilet seats, eating utensils, musical instruments, hugs or handshakes.
• Air – Breathing the same air as someone living with HIV does not transmit HIV. Coughing, sneezing or spitting cannot transmit HIV either.
• Kissing - Saliva contains very small amounts of HIV. The risk is neglifible unless both partners have large open sores in their mouth or bleeding gums.
• Insect bites - Insects such as mosquitoes don't transmit HIV because they do not inject blood when they bite.
• Sterile needles - Sterilised or new needles and syringes are safe from HIV transmission. Do not share used needles.
• Water - HIV cannot survive in water, so you are free from HIV transmission in swimming pools, baths or shower areas.

http://www.avert.org/hiv.htm

What is AIDS?

AIDS stands for: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

AIDS is a medical condition. A person is diagnosed with AIDS when their immune system is too weak to fight off infections. As HIV progressively damages these cells, the body becomes more vulnerable to infections, which it will have difficulty in fighting off. It is at the point of very advanced HIV infection that a person is said to have AIDS. If left untreated, it can take around ten years before HIV has damaged the immune system enough for AIDS to develop.

http://www.avert.org/aids.htm