What is AIDS?

AIDS is short for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is the most advanced stage of the HIV disease. HIV disease is caused by HIV- the human immuno deficiency virus. Immune Deficiency means your body cannot defend itself against certain illnesses. Syndrome means a collection of signs and symptoms that a doctor may recognise as a disease. HIV breaks down the immune system, our body's shield against disease. HIV causes people to become sick with infections that normally wouldn't affect them. If HIV is untreated the disease progresses to AIDS.

What are the later symptoms of HIV disease?

• A thick, whitish coating of the tongue or mouth (thrush) that is caused by a yeast infection and sometimes accompanied by a sore throat

• Severe or recurring vaginal yeast infections

• Periods of extreme and unexplained fatigue that may be combined with headaches

• Light-headedness, and/or dizziness

• Bruising more easily than normal

• Long-lasting bouts of diarrhoea

• Recurring fevers and/or night sweats

• Swelling or hardening of glands located in the throat, armpit, or groin

• Periods of continued, deep, dry coughing

• The appearance of discoloured or purplish growths on the skin or inside the mouth

• Unexplained bleeding from growths on the skin, from mucous membranes, or from any opening in the body

• Recurring or unusual skin rashes

• Severe numbness or pain in the hands or feet

• The loss of muscle control and reflex, paralysis, or loss of muscular strength

• An altered state of consciousness, personality change, or mental deterioration

HIV is transmitted in blood, semen, breast milk, and vaginal fluids. You can get it by:

• Having unprotected sexual intercourse with someone who has the virus

• Sharing needles

• Untreated blood products from an infected source

• Getting HIV-infected blood, semen, or vaginal secretions into open wounds or sores

HIV can also be passed from a woman to her foetus during pregnancy or birth. HIV is not transmitted by simple casual contact such as kissing, sharing water glasses, or hugging.

Diagnosis

Blood test

Treatments for HIV and AIDS

A variety of new treatments - combinations of medicines called "cocktails" - offer hope. They are often very expensive and are not available to everyone. They only work for some people and may only work for limited periods of time. While there is increasing hope for people with HIV, there is still no cure at present.

How can I avoid getting HIV?

• The surest way is to abstain from sexual intercourse and from sharing needles.

• Remain faithful to one sexual partner who is also faithful to you.

• Refrain from using any device that punctures the skin, as this could be infectious. Examples would be syringes, getting a tattoo or piercing. Avoid unless they have been properly sterilised.

• Be tested and treated for sexually transmitted infections every year.

• Women and men with open sores from herpes and other infections get HIV more easily than other people.

• Some people have lived with AIDS for many years. New treatments and increased knowledge may help many more people live with AIDS even longer.

Where to get tested for HIV

Referral to a STD clinic is essential for diagnosis. A test is available which can find out if you have antibodies to HIV in your blood. Antibodies are substances that the body produces to fight germs and viruses. If antibodies are present this means you have been infected by the virus. This person is deemed HIV positive.