What is it?

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus and is a virus that can damage the body's defence system so that it cannot fight off certain infections. If someone with HIV goes on to get certain serious illnesses, this condition is called AIDS which stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

How do you get it?

There are four main ways in which HIV can be passed on:

1. By having vaginal, anal or oral sex without a condom with someone who has HIV.
2. By using needles, syringes or other drug-injecting equipment that is infected with HIV.
3. From a woman with HIV to her baby (before or during birth) and by breastfeeding.
4. By receiving infected blood, blood products or donated organs as part of medical treatment. In the UK all blood, blood products and donated organs are screened for HIV and infected materials are destroyed. This may not be the case in some developing countries and in eastern Europe.

You cannot get HIV from:

• Kissing, touching, hugging, shaking hands
• Sharing crockery and cutlery
• Coughing or sneezing
• Contact with toilet seats
• Insect or animal bites
• Eating food prepared by someone with HIV.

Symptoms

People with HIV may have no symptoms but the vast majority will eventually develop AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).

Caused by

Virus

Treatment

There is still no cure for HIV or AIDS.  Current treatment consists of a combination of anti-viral drugs.  This combination has enabled people with HIV to maintain good health.  However 25% of new HIV cases are found to be resistant to one or more drugs.

Effect on Health

The human immunodeficiency virus damages the body's immune system so that most people with HIV develop AIDS.  People with AIDS get serious infections and/or cancer which eventually lead to their death.