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.

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.

For more information on HIV you may wish to go to the new HIV Scotland website at www.hivscotland.com