basics
AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is a collection of illnesses and conditions, which occur because the body's immune system has been damaged by HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), a virus which weakens the body's resistance to infections and illnesses. People do not die of AIDS, they die as a result of those illnesses and infections.
HIV
is an unusual virus because a person can be infected with it for many
years and appear to be perfectly healthy. The virus multiplies inside the
body and eventually destroys its abilities to fight off illness. People
who contract HIV are infected for life and can pass the virus on to
others.
HIV is transmitted through infected body fluids such as blood, semen,
vaginal-cervical secretions and breast milk. This means that ANYBODY can become infected,
usually through unprotected anal or vaginal sex (i.e.
without a condom), by sharing needles and syringes (or any other activity
which causes blood to enter another person's body), or through an infected
woman passing the infection to her baby before or during birth or by
breast feeding.
You cannot get HIV from giving blood because all the equipment that is used is either disposable or carefully sterilised after use. However, people who give blood should be aware that all blood products are screened and that testing for HIV is not anonymised - if you are HIV positive you will be recalled and given this information by a doctor who is trained in pre and post test discussion.
In the past some people were infected with HIV after being given blood
that carried the virus, although this is now highly unlikely in developed
countries as all blood is tested. Blood has been screened in the UK since
October 1985 and people in certain groups have been asked to refrain from
giving blood since 1983. Only 4 cases have been reported between 1985 and
1997, which are likely to have occurred because the donor was in the
window period when they gave blood. It is also important to recognise that
not all people who are given HIV-infected blood will themselves
seroconvert - those who do, are more likely to have received large
quantities of blood or to have received it from a donor who developed AIDS
shortly after giving blood.
Blood transfusions may be a problem in some countries - depending upon
where you are travelling, it may be as well to seek advice before you go.
Some people choose to carry a supply of disposable needles in case they
become ill and people are also increasingly carrying a supply of their own
blood - this is called an autologous transfusion - this may not be an
appropriate solution in all cases and is probably more suitable for longer
trips. Remember that some countries require a HIV test before they will
issue an entry visa and may require proof of HIV negative status before
issuing a work permit.
Any
risk from administering or receiving first aid is very low indeed and there is no
known case of HIV transmission because of mouth to mouth resuscitation.
However, it is good practice to use gloves and resuscitation mouthpieces
if they are available.
It is usually safe to have tattoos, piercings and acupuncture, because
most reliable practitioners will use disposable needles and sterilise all
other equipment after use.
The risk of HIV transmission attributed to biting is low. Transmission has only occurred in cases
where the person who has bitten has had blood in their saliva either
through bleeding gums or through biting their own tongue.
You
cannot get HIV from mosquitoes because although they suck blood they do not regurgitate blood
containing live HIV into the bodies of those they bite.
There is still no vaccine for HIV and no 'cure' once a person has been
infected. If we become infected we stay infected for the rest of our
lives. Great advances are being made in treatments, which have had great
success in reducing the harm the virus can do within the body and
preventing the virus reproducing itself successfully. Combination therapy
is a regime of different drugs which all affect the virus in varying ways.
This medication is making a great deal of difference to many peoples lives
as it is enabling people to return to work and greatly enhancing their
quality of life. While this medication is not suitable for everyone it
appears that many people are living with HIV for long periods of time and
it is by no means the immediate death sentence that was first imagined.
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