HIV Facts

Basic facts about HIV and AIDS

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) which causes AIDS is transmitted through body fluids, in particular blood, semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk.

You can become infected with HIV through:

• Unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected partner
• Sharing needles when injecting or other use of contaminated injection or other skin-piercing equipment
• Blood and blood products, for example, infected transfusions and organ or tissue transplants
• Transmission from infected mother to child in the womb or at birth and breastfeeding

You cannot get HIV by:

• Casual physical contact
• Coughing, sneezing or kissing
• Sharing toilet and washing facilities
• Using eating utensils or consuming food and beverages handled by someone who has HIV
• Mosquitoes or other insect bites

What happens if you have HIV?

HIV weakens the human body's immune system, making it difficult to fight infection. Treatments exist which can prevent the onset of AIDS and although there are side effects, a person can lead a healthy, active life with a long life expectancy if they respond well to treatment. However, they can still transmit the infection to others.

Early symptoms of AIDS include:

• Chronic fatigue
• Diarrhoea
• Fever
• Mental changes such as memory loss
• Weight loss
• Persistent cough
• Severe recurrent skin rashes
• Herpes and mouth infections
• Swelling of the lymph nodes

Opportunistic diseases such as cancers, meningitis, pneumonia and tuberculosis may also take advantage of the body's weakened immune system.

Is there a cure?

Treatments exist which can prevent the onset of AIDS and allow periods of illness to be followed by periods of remission. However, there is no cure for AIDS.  Research is currently under way into vaccines, but none is viable as yet.

How does HIV transmission occur?

HIV is a fragile virus, which can only survive in a limited range of conditions. It can only enter the body through naturally moist places and cannot penetrate unbroken skin. Prevention therefore involves ensuring that there is a barrier to the virus, for example condoms, and that skin-piercing equipment is not contaminated.