In the STI Special we’re looking at HIV and AIDS. HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus is a common STI. The virus weakens your ability to fight infections and diseases such as cancer.
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AIDS is the last stage of the HIV infection, at which point your body can no longer fight life-threatening infections. HIV is incurable but there are treatments that allow for those who have the virus to live a long and healthy life.
HIV is found in the fluid of the infected person. These fluids include semen, vaginal fluids, inside the anus, blood and breast milk.
The most common ways for HIV to be spread is through unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex, using and sharing contaminated needles when injecting drugs, and from mother to child before or during birth and when breastfeeding.
The virus enters the bloodstream, often through cuts and sores, and attacks the immune system, which protects the body against infection.
HIV does produce symptoms, but these can take weeks to present. Symptoms of early HIV infection, also called primary HIV infection or seroconversion, include:
- fever
- sore throat
- tiredness
- joint pain
- muscle pain
- swollen glands (nodes)
- a blotchy rash
If left untreated, HIV will weaken your ability to fight infection so much that you become vulnerable to serious illnesses.
This stage of infection is known as AIDS, although doctors now prefer to use the term late-stage HIV infection. Typically, a person with late-stage HIV infection has:
- persistent tiredness
- night sweats
- weight loss
- persistent diarrhoea
- blurred vision
- white spots on the tongue or mouth
- dry cough
- shortness of breath
- fever of above 37C (100F) that lasts a number of weeks
- swollen glands that last for more than three months
For more information about the symptoms of HIV and AIDS click here.
If you think you may have contracted HIV, you should get tested immediately. The earlier HIV is detected the more successful the treatment will be.
Emergency anti-HIV medication called PEP may stop you becoming infected, but treatment must be started within three days of coming into contact with the virus.
Many people newly infected with HIV have no signs or symptoms at all. The only way to find out if you have HIV is to have an HIV test.
There are a number of places you can get an HIV test, including your GP surgery, sexual health clinics and Fastest clinics (run by the Terrence Higgins Trust)
There is no cure for HIV but there are treatments that will enable sufferers to lead a normal life as possible. The medicine antiretrovirals, works by slowing down the damage the virus does to the immune system and includes taking tablets every day.
You’re encouraged to live a healthy life, no smoking, eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly. Having yearly flu jabs and five-yearly pneumococcal vaccinations to minimise the risk of getting serious illnesses is also recommended.
Someone with HIV is said to have AIDS when tests show their immune system has stopped working and they develop life-threatening illnesses such as cancer.
The best way to prevent catching the HIV infection is by always using a condom during sex. If you inject drugs, never share needles.
For more information about HIV and AIDS, and any other STIs, visit your GP, GUM clinic or nhs.uk.