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HIV/AIDS
Myths | Spread | Effects | FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is HIV?
What is AIDS?
What does HIV antibody positive mean?
What does HIV antibody negative mean?
Why must you get yourself tested?
Why you may choose not to get tested?
How is HIV/AIDS spread?
How is HIV spread through blood transfusion?
Are there common signs and symptoms of HIV/AIDS?
Is there a cure for HIV/AIDS?
How to protect against HIV?
What is safer sex?
What is HIV?
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), if it enters the blood stream of a
person, attacks the white blood cells which make up part of the immune system
of the body. The immune system protects the body against disease. HIV gradually
stops the immune system from working properly.
Top What is AIDS?
AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
Acquired means not inherited but caught.
Immune deficiency means a breakdown in the body's ability to resist
infection.
Syndrome means a collection of signs and symptoms.
Up to 10 years (or more) after contacting the HIV infection, the immune system may
become so weak it can no longer resist even common illnesses. When life
threatening infections occur as a result of HIV, the illness is known as AIDS.
Top What does HIV antibody positive mean?
People who become infected with HIV develop antibodies against the
virus. Antibodies are found in the blood and help fight infections.
HIV antibodies can usually be detected by a blood test, 3 months after
infection. When HIV antibodies are found in the blood, the person is said to be 'HIV
antibody positive'. This does not mean that they have AIDS but that they carry
HIV in their blood and could pass it on to others.
Top What does HIV antibody negative mean?
This means that HIV antibodies were not detected in your blood because:
- You have not been infected with HIV
- You have been infected so recently that you have not yet developed antibodies to HIV. It can take up to three months from infection, for antibodies to show up in a bood test.
- You should discuss the result with your counselor or doctor to work out which possibility applies to you. The test may need to be repeated. If your test result is negative, resist the urge to relax your caution and celebrate, by behaving unsafely.
Top Why must you get yourself tested?
- To help in the diagnosis of symptoms that may be due to infection with HIV to enable optimal treatment and care:
- As part of a legitimate AIDS research project to help advance our knowledge of the disease
- Where knowing the result is vital, such as when making choices about having children, and other important life decisions;
- Because the test result may provide the necessary incentive for you to change your sexual practices and protect others from infection. You have a responsibility to ensure that you do not pass on the infection.
- People who are antibody-positive can do things that may help reduce their chances of developing AIDS.
With the availability of drugs that are effective in preventing the progress of HIV infection, knowing your test result is positive, could assist you in managing and monitoring your health status. That is, you may make changes in your life-
style aimed at improving your general state of physical health and mental well
being.
Many people consider they have been at risk of infection but delay being
tested because of personal fears about how they will cope or about possible
social or legal consequences if they are found to be antibody-positive . If this is
the case, the best advice is to contact a local AIDS information service to obtain advice or discuss your concerns with a counselor.
Top Why you may choose not to get tested?
- You may feel that you could not cope with a positive result at this time;
- You may feel that you need to seek further information, counseling or support before going ahead with the test:
- You may be concerned that a positive result will become known to others.
- There is a fear of discrimination against antibody-positive in health care, employment, housing, insurance and super-annuation.
- Reassure yourself that the proper precautions are taken b the doctor or clinic to preserve confidentiality.
- Be selective about whom you tell about the rest, or the results.
In any case, you should always practice safer sex and safer Needle practices, whether your result is positive or negative.
Top How is HIV/AIDS spread?
For HIV to be passed on, body fluids containing the virus (semen, blood or vaginal fluids) must pass from an infected person into the blood stream of another person.
This can occur through:
- Unprotected anal, vaginal (& possibly oral) sex where one partner is HIV positive
- The use of an infected needle or syringe
- An HIV positive mother to her baby, during pregnancy, childbirth and sometimes breast-feeding
- Through blood transfusion
HIV/AIDS is not spread by...
Outside the body, HIV becomes very weak and usually dies in a short time. There
is no evidence that HIV is spread by ordinary social or family contact such as:
- Kissing
- Hugging
- Coughing/sneezing
- Sharing food or plates
- Toilets seats
- Donating blood
- Mosquitoes
Top How is HIV spread through blood transfusion?
Since 1985, all blood donations are tested for the HIV antibody. Any infected
blood is destroyed. People who have been at risk or who are known to be HIV positive should not donate blood.
Top Are there common signs and symptoms of HIV/AIDS?
Many people who become infected with HIV will feel well and healthy and many
have no signs of illness at all. Some people will not know that they carry the
virus in their blood. If you had unsafe sex or have shared needles and syringes injecting drugs, you should talk to a doctor. You may need to think about having a blood test.
Top Is there a cure for HIV/AIDS?
No, there is nor cure for HIV infection or AIDS at present but there are drugs
which delay the onset of AIDS and help HIV infected people to live a longer and
fuller life,
Top How to protect against HIV?
It's not you who are but what you do that determines whether you catch HIV. HIV can infect anyone who puts himself/herself at risk. People who do have sex can reduce the risk of getting HIV, by practicing SAFER SEX. People who inject drugs can reduce the risk of getting HIV by never using a syringe or needle that has been used by anyone else.
Top What is safer sex?
Safer (or safe) sex means choosing sexual activities where there is no exchange
of body fluid. Using a condom is the best way to prevent the exchange of body fluids (such as semen, blood and vaginal secretions) and so protect against sexually
transmissible diseases (including HIV). If used consistently and correctly with
plenty of water based lubricants, condoms are effective against pregnancy and
the spread of Sexually Transmissible Diseases.
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