AIDS Information Sheet

What is HIV and AIDS?

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus. HIV acts by gradually destroying the immune system of an infected person. After several weeks, and sometimes years, the immune system becomes so weak or 'deficient' that it cannot fight off infections as it used to.

Antibiotics cannot cure illnesses caused by a virus, although medicines may help to reduce the symptoms of AIDS.

An infected person may lose weight and become ill with fever, sore throat, fatigue, muscle aches, swollen glands, persistent severe diarrhoea, pneumonia or skin cancer. He or she has now developed AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).

There is no cure for HIV or for AIDS so, sadly, it is almost certain that people diagnosed with AIDS will die.

How is it passed?

HIV is found in body fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids and breast-milk. It is passed or transmitted from one person to another only in very specific ways. These are:

• Through sexual intercourse between a man and a woman or between men or women.

• Through infected blood - for example through contaminated blood transfusions or unsterilized needles and syringes, razors or toothbrushes.

• From an infected mother to her baby while it is still in the womb or during breastfeeding.

• HIV does not spread through "casual" everyday contact between people. It is not transmitted by coughing, sneezing, or by touching or hugging someone who has the virus.

• It is not spread in air, water or in food, or toilet seats. HIV is not transmitted by biting insects such as mosquitoes.

Sexual Relationships

In many cases, HIV is transmitted during sex between a man and a woman or between two men or two women.

The virus is passed on when infected blood, semen, or vaginal fluids from one partner enters the body of the other partner through the very thin skin of their sex organs, mouth or anus, or through sores or cuts on their mouth, hands or body.

Infected Blood

If blood from a person infected by HIV gets into the blood stream of another person, it will infect her or him also with HIV.

This can happen if contaminated instruments are used to pierce the skin during: injections, circumcisions, scarification, body piercing, tattooing or acupuncture.

Infection can be prevented if the equipment used is brand new, or is carefully sterilized each time it is used.

HIV can be transmitted through a blood transfusion with infected blood. Blood transfusions may be necessary after a bad accident, during a hospital operation, after childbirth if the mother has lost a lot of blood, or if a person is anemic due to bilharzia, hookworm or malaria parasites. In some countries, all blood which has been donated is tested for HIV infection, and only non-infected blood is used. More and more countries are now trying to do this.

Sharing needles

If people inject themselves (or someone injects them) with medicines or drugs using a needle or syringe which has been used by someone else who might have HIV, they will be at high risk of getting HIV themselves. It is never safe to share someone else's needles or syringes.

• Remember that it is not possible to tell if a person has HIV. They might not know it themselves.

• How can someone who injects medicines or drugs protect himself or herself?

• Have medicines or drugs by mouth rather than by injection whenever possible

• Always use a new needle and syringe

•      Always use your own needle or syringe, keeping them clean, and never letting anyone else use them.

•      Make sure that any used needles or syringes have been properly sterilized.

How can a person sterilize needles and syringes and make them safer to use?

HIV is killed by household bleach, so this can be used to sterilize equipment.

The needles or syringes should first be thoroughly washed, preferably in hot water containing detergent, and then rinsed in clean cold water.

They should then be completely covered in a mixture of 1 part strong bleach to 10 parts of clean cold water, and left there for 30 minutes if possible. They must then be rinsed several times with clean water, as bleach and detergent are poisonous, and must never be put in or on the body, or drunk as a medicine.

Mother to Child

If a woman has been infected with HIV, either from her infected husband or partner, or from an injection with an unclean needle or syringe, and she then becomes pregnant, the HIV virus can pass from her blood (through the placenta) into the growing baby.

HIV may also be transmitted to the baby during birth and breastfeeding. About one in three babies born to HIV positive mothers is infected with the virus. Most are sick from birth and do not survive for long.

A married man who has multiple sex partners should consider the impact of HIV not only on his wife or wives but also on his future children.

Having safe sexual relationships

How can people protect themselves from HIV during sex?

NO RISK

•      They can abstain from sex altogether.

•      Two people who are not infected with HIV can remain absolutely faithful to one another, and never have sex with other partners. A polygamous family is also safe as long as all the wives and the husband are HIV free and have sex only with each other. People can give each other sexual pleasure in ways that do not involve penetration of the penis into the vagina, anus or mouth. This way, even if one partner is infected, there will be no risk of passing on the virus.

•      People can protect themselves from HIV by always using a good quality condom during sex that involves penetration.

VERY HIGH RISK:

A person who has unprotected sex with someone, even only one person, is most at risk because it is not possible to know whether people have the HIV/AIDS virus just by looking at them or talking to them. They may appear very healthy and seem very convincing but still have HIV/AIDS.

Do condoms help?

A condom is a thin rubber sheath that fits over an erect penis and collects the discharged semen. It acts as a tough extra skin, and the virus (and other sexually transmitted diseases) cannot get through it. HIV can be stopped from going from one person to another if a person always uses a good quality condom such as latex, not animal skin. Condoms should never be used more than once.

Helping others

How can we help people who are HIV positive or who have AIDS? Now that we know how HIV is not passed on, you will understand that with basic precautions it is absolutely safe to work with people who are HIV positive or have AIDS. These people may at first feel lost and frightened, but with friendship and support they can learn to cope, remain integrated in their communities and make plans for the future of their families