IMMUNE SYSTEM
That part of the body that fights germs to keep you healthy and helps your body to heal after sickness or an injury.What is HIV?
WHAT IS HIV?
HIV (Human Immuno Deficiency Virus) is a virus that enters the bloodstream, multiplies very quickly and attacks the body’s immune system.
WHAT IS AIDS?
When the immune system is so weak that is cannot heal itself, the person with HIV, start to get illnesses like pneumonia or TB. Then a person can be diagnosed as having a disease called “Aids”. Aids is a killer disease that knows no race, culture, gender or income group and as yet there is no cure.
The “window period” This is the period between the time the person has been infected and the time the HIV tests become positive. This is normally between 0-8 weeks after infection.
HOW IS HIV SPREAD?
HIV is spread from one person to another in any of the following ways: Sex The virus can be found in semen and vaginal fluids of a person that is HIV positive. The most common way of spreading the virus is through unprotected sex (vaginal, oral or anal sex) with someone who already has the virus. Pregnancy and breast feeding A mother who is HIV positive on pass the virus to her unborn baby during the pregnancy, the birth process or when breast feeding. Blood The Virus can pass from the blood of one person to another in various cases. Sharing needles or syringes through an open cut or wound sharing razor blades accidental exposure in the medical profession.
WHAT IS SAFE?
HIV is not transmitted by
- eating food prepared by someone with HIV
- sharing utensils like cups, plates, knives etc
- working or living with someone who has HIV
- touch, hugging, kissing or shaking hands
- laughing or dancing
- sneezing, coughing, tears or saliva
- swimming pools, baths or public toilets
- mosquitoes and insects
- telephones, towels or clothes
DECIDE TO TAKE ACTION
By having an HIV test done you have made a conscious decision and taken the first step in taking control over your own life. When you receive the result of the tests you will know your HIV status. Now you will need to make more decisions and take control over the rest of your life as well. Only HIV testing can determine if you have HIV.
WHY SHOULD YOU GET TESTED?
HIV is a serious health risk, but it is preventable. Aids is a frightening disease, but today we have new therapies and approaches that are keeping many people with HIV healthy. Anyone who may have been exposed to the virus should be tested. The first and most important step you can take is to find out whether you’ve been exposed to HIV and what you can do to stay healthy and protect yourself and your loved ones. New therapies can attack the virus, while vitamins, good nutrition, and exercise play a critical role in keeping your body strong.
WHO SHOULD GET AN HIV TEST?
Well, if you’ve had unsafe sex or injected drugs, you may want to be tested. It doesn’t matter if you’re gay or straight, male or female, or even if you only engage in oral sex. All sexual behaviours carry with them some degree or risk.
THE BENEFITS OF KNOWING
The time it takes HIV to progress to Aids varies greatly from person to person. An early diagnosis allows you to use available medical treatments that can slow the rate at which the virus weakens your immune system and early treatment can greatly improve your long term health.
People with HIV, even those who show no symptoms, can still transmit the virus to others. Knowing your status may help you change behaviours that would put yourself and others at risk.
Knowing your HIV status enables you to make better choices when it comes to sex. If you’re negative, you can take the necessary precautions to stay that way. If you’re positive, you can find out where to get proper treatment and counselling to learn how to live with HIV, which includes not passing it on.
Knowing your HIV status will provide you with the power to make informed, educated decisions about your health and well- being.
The only way to get a definitive answer on your HIV status is to be tested. Your GP can administer an HIV test or an ICAS counsellor can direct you to a testing facility in your area.
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