HIV & AIDS

Latest figures show that around 83,00 people in the UK have the HIV virus (this is known as being "HIV positive") - and around half of those people identify as gay/bisexual men.

A third of those with the virus do not know they are infected, potentially (and unknowingly) passing it on to others (usually) through unprotected sex because they are unaware of their HIV status.

Recent information from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) also tells us that a third of people diagnosed in the South West didn't get tested until the HIV was in a late stage of infection, meaning that the drugs used to manage HIV are less effective - sometimes with fatal consequences due to inaction.

Once you have HIV, you can't get rid of it.

However, if you are HIV positive, much has changed in the last 3 decades since we became aware of the virus, and thankfully we don't see infected people dying of AIDS-related illnesses in the numbers we did in the early days in the UK. We now have treatments that reduce the impact of HIV on the body, which means people are "living with HIV" as opposed to "dying of AIDS-related illnesses".

Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) which, if taken up to 72 hours after coming into contact with HIV can reduce the likelihood of becoming infected considerably. Click here to be taken the PEP page, which tells you more.

Whilst all of the above are steps in the right direction, it doesn't mean HIV is any less of a health issue than it was years before. The drugs are NOT a cure, they have side effects, and once a person starts taking them to combat the effects of HIV on the body, they have to take them for the rest of their lives for them to be effective. PEP is NOT a morning after pill.

And because the numbers of infected men continue to rise, you are more likely to come into contact with HIV than ever before.

They may also be living with the stigma, ignorance and discrimination of being HIV positive - people can make massive assumptions when someone discloses they are HIV positive, so telling people may be incredibly difficult for some. Terrence Higgins Trust's website provides a comprehensive overview of the pro's and con's of disclosure - click here to be taken the page

There has been a number of high profile prosecutions against people with HIV deliberately infecting others recently, which has brought further fear and stigma for people living with the Virus. Terrence Higgins Trust provide up-to-the minute advice and information around this - click here for more details.

So what is HIV? what is AIDS?

HIV

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

HIV infects and gradually destroys an infected person's immune system, reducing their protection against infection and cancers.

Initially, someone living with HIV may show no symptoms of HIV infection as their immune system manages to control it. However, in most cases their immune system will need help from anti-HIV drugs to keep the HIV infection under control. These drugs do not completely rid the body of HIV infection.

AIDS

AIDS is short for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

HIV 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

There is no cure for HIV, but there are treatments for many of the illnesses that people with HIV are prone to. There are also combinations of drug treatments that many people with HIV can benefit from. These combinations are sometimes referred to as Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART). The drugs reduce the level of HIV in the blood and delay the development of AIDS defining illnesses. However, there can be unpleasant side effects from these drugs and in some cases these may be so severe that people are unable to tolerate them.

There is no vaccine for HIV

Demographics of HIV/AIDS?

HIV infection is spread throughout the world, but there are some parts of the world where levels of infection in the population are bigger than others. For example, in sub-Saharan Africa there is a huge problem with HIV. Southern Asia and Eastern Europe also have high levels of infection.

In the UK about 6000 people now test positive for HIV per year and the number of people living with HIV continues to rise as combination therapies help to delay the onset of illness. Gay and bisexual men are still the most affected group of people in the UK if we are looking at the numbers of people who actually get their infection in the UK. The rate of infection in the UK amongst heterosexual men and women is rising rapidly. A lot of these infections have not taken place here and instead have just been diagnosed here. This can in some circumstances confuse the statistics especially when infection rates are being discussed in the press.

How is HIV passed on?

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

• Anal or vaginal sex without a condom (with someone who has HIV)
• A mother can pass on HIV to her baby during pregnancy, at birth or through breastfeeding
• Sharing needles or syringes that are infected with HIV

HIV can also be caught through:

• Oral sex (with someone who has HIV) - although this carries a much lower risk than unprotected anal or vaginal sex, around 5% of people who caught HIV through sexual contact report that it was through oral contact with an infected partner.
• Blood transfusions in some developing countries

You cannot get HIV through...

• Kissing, touching, hugging, shaking hands
• Sharing crockery and cutlery
• Coughing or sneezing
• Toilet seats
• Insect or animal bites
• Swimming pools
• Eating food prepared by someone who has HIV

Safe or not?

Giving blood
Donating blood in the UK is completely safe. The equipment used is sterile and used once only. Staff will ask questions to assess what the likelihood is that a donor has come into contact with HIV, depending on this risk assessment a decision will be made as to whether they should or should not give blood.

Recieving blood
All blood, blood products, organs and tissues for transplant in the UK are screened for antibodies to HIV. Blood products are also heat-treated.

Doctors and dentists
Doctors, dentists and other health-care workers use precautions when dealing with patients to prevent any risk of infection

Piecing and tattooing
Anything that punctures the skin, including tattooing, acupuncture needles and equipment for ear-piercing, body-piercing or removing hair by electrolysis could pass on HIV and other infections. Reliable practitioners will use disposable equipment or sterilise it before use. They should also be licensed by the local authority to provide these services.

HIV Testing

What is an HIV test?

What is commonly known as the 'AIDS test' does not show if someone has AIDS at all, the test looks for antibodies to HIV, in other words, whether someone has been infected with HIV - the virus that causes AIDS. It's called 'the HIV-antibody test' or 'HIV test' for short.

Antibodies are substances in the blood that your body makes to defend itself when you get an infection. Some antibodies protect against specific infections, but HIV-antibodies do not protect an infected person from developing HIV-related diseases and eventually an AIDS defining illness.

Getting tested

Most tests are carried out by NHS sexual health clinics. See HIV Clinics and Services.
These offer free HIV testing as well as other sexually transmitted infections. GP's will not be told you have had the test or the results without your permission. Otherwise information is kept strictly confidential. It is not necessary for your GP to refer you to a clinic as you can ring or visit a clinic to make an appointment. The test is also available from GP's but then it will be entered into your medical records, this is something you may not wish to happen.

What does the test involve?

If you ask for a test at an NHS sexual health (GUM) clinic, you will see a doctor, a trained counsellor (Health Adviser) or a nurse practitioner in private. He or she will explain what the test involves and what the results mean. The test will only go ahead if you agree to have it done. A small sample of blood will be taken from your arm, sent to a laboratory and tested.

It can take anything from a few hours to a week or longer to get the result back. Some clinics can give you the result on the same day. When you make your appointment you can check the arrangements that operate at a clinic because some clinics only do same day tests on particular days of the week.

If the test is positive and confirms that you have HIV antibodies in your blood you will have to have another test to confirm the result.

The results

• HIV negative
  No antibodies to HIV found in the blood
  This usually means that a person does not have HIV

However, a single negative result may not be enough to rely on. It can take up to three months, sometimes longer, for HIV-antibodies to develop in the blood test after someone becomes infected. For this reason a re-test should be done and the clinic will give advice as to when this would be appropriate.

• HIV Positive
  Antibodies to HIV were found in the blood
• You have HIV
  This does not tell you whether you have AIDS

There are a number of other tests that can be done at this point that will give you and the medical staff information about the nature of your infection. The results of these tests can help you decide if you may require HAART and what would be the most suitable drugs to use.

 If you're at all worried about HIV and want to talk to someone about it, or would support in going for a test click here to contact us or call the GU clinic to make an appointment on: 01872 358750