What is HIV? HIV is short for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It damages the body’s defences (called the immune system). HIV is the virus which can lead to AIDS. This is how HIV gets its name:
Human: Something that only affects humans.
Immunodeficiency: This happens when the immune system has been damaged.
Virus: A type of germ.
People don’t catch AIDS, but they can catch HIV. HIV can lead to AIDS over time, if it is left untreated.
What is a Virus? We are surrounded by germs. The very smallest germs are called viruses. Viruses are so small that millions of them can fit on to the top of a needle. Some viruses are harmless but others cause can infection such as flu, measles and chickenpox. HIV is a particular kind of virus that takes away the body’s ability to fight off other infections. What does HIV positive mean? When the body is infected with HIV, the immune system makes special cells and antibodies to try to fight off the virus. A person is said to be HIV positive if antibodies to HIV have shown up in a blood test. Most people who have HIV look and feel completely healthy. Unless they have an HIV antibody test, they will not know that they have the virus. People who are HIV positive look just like people who are not infected with the virus. You cannot tell by looking at someone if they have HIV.
How do you get HIV? The routes of HIV transmission (how HIV can is passed on) occur in certain ways. You can catch it from the blood (including blood from a woman’s period), semen or vaginal fluids of someone with HIV or AIDS. Below are the three most common ways a person can catch HIV.
By having penetrative sex (vaginal or anal) without using a condom, with someone who has HIV or AIDS.
By sharing needles or other injecting equipment with someone who has HIV or AIDS.
From a mother to her unborn child.
The HIV Test
Having an HIV Antibody Test If you are thinking of having the test, or if you are advised that you need to take the test for health reasons, you will be given the opportunity to speak to a trained staff member prior to and after you take the test.
If the test is positive it means that the Antibodies to HIV have been found in your blood and you are infected with HIV. Every positive result is then sent to a special lab for a double check of the result.
The chance of an HIV Positive mother transmitting her infection to her baby can be reduced from 15 - 25% to less that 2 - 3% if appropriate Interventions are used.
Not everyone who is HIV positive requires treatment. The decision to start treatment is based on a number of factors including your CD4 count, your HIV Viral load and whether or not you have had any health problems so far that can be attributed to HIV infection.