What is HIV & AIDS

HIV stands for HUMAN (only happens to humans) IMMUNODEFICIENCY (body not able to fight infection) VIRUS (causes disease). HIV is a condition in which the body's immune system is slowly destroyed, allowing so-called “opportunistic infections” to take hold.

AIDS stands for ACQUIRED (passed from person to person) IMMUNE (body’s defence against disease) DEFICIENCY (not working properly)SYNDROME (a collection of signs and symptoms that combine to make up a disease). HIV attacks and gradually destroys the immune system, which protects the body against infections. AIDS develops during the last stages of HIV infection.

In order to understand how HIV affects the body, let's compare your immune system to an army:

When an enemy (e.g. disease) enters your body, Generals (T-cells) order the immune army to “attack and destroy” them. Memory cells remember who the attackers are so if they try to attack again, the army will immediately destroy them. HIV attaches itself to the generals (T-cells) and destroys them, using them as factories to reproduce HIV. The Immune army is no longer able to function properly. HIV and other attackers enter the body without the body noticing. More and more generals are destroyed and can no longer order army to fight these attackers. When the body is no longer able to fight infection…HIV becomes full blown AIDS

A person with weak or failing immune system is susceptible to many infections or diseases more so than someone with a healthy immune system. These are called opportunistic infections because they take advantage of the body's weakened immune system. It may take years (sometimes as long 15 years or more) for a person's immune system to weaken to such an extent that the person gets ill and is diagnosed with AIDS. The fact that someone can live for so many years without getting sick explains why so many people are not aware that they may be infected. However, even though they feel healthy, they can still transmit the virus to others.

How can you become infected with HIV?

1. Through sex (oral, vaginal, anal):  having unprotected vaginal and anal intercourse with an HIV+ person. Anal intercourse is the most risky because of possible tears that can occur on the anus during sex which the virus can pass through easily. Oral sex may be unsafe if there are small cuts in the mouth or gum abrasions.

2. Through Blood:  blood transfusions, needle pricks, razors, tattoos, sharing needles

3. Through mother to Child:  during pregnancy, labour and breastfeeding

You cannot get infected with HIV through social kissing, touching or hugging an HIV positive person; masturbation; coughing, sneezing or saliva; sharing objects (pens etc) or eating utensils; using public toilets; swimming in public pools; sharing a home or being friends with someone who is HIV + or through mosquito or insect bites.