HIV/Aids Facts
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HIV
- Stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus
- It infects cells of your immune system and destroys or impairs the function.
- Immediate symptoms of the virus are not always seen although some develop ‘acute retroviral syndrome.
- Carriers of the HIV virus, even in the dormant stage, are still infectious.
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HIV is transmitted through:
- Unprotected penetrative (vaginal or anal) and oral sex with an infected person;
- Blood transfusion with contaminated blood,
- Using contaminated syringes, needles or sharp instruments,
- Mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding.
- HIV CANNOT be transmitted from day-to-day social
activities such as handshakes, hugs, drinking from the
same glass, playing sports together, coughs, sneezes,
sweat, urine or toilets.
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Aids
- Stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome and refers to the advanced stages of HIV infection.
- The time it takes for HIV to develop into Aids varies between individuals.
- Antiretroviral therapy can slow down HIV progression to Aids by decreasing infected person’s viral load.
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Additional Resources
- For more information on HIV/Aids, please visit your nearest health practitioner. Please also visit www.unaids.org
