What is HIV? ·
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It is the virus that can cause AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).
Many people often confuse the terms HIV and AIDS, but they are actually two different things.
HIV is a virus that affects the body’s immune system (defence system). Someone who has HIV is said to be HIV-positive.
AIDS is the name given to a collection of illnesses that someone with HIV may develop because the virus has attacked their immune system.
You can catch and pass on HIV but not AIDS. AIDS only develops if someone with HIV goes too long without receiving treatment, or if their treatment stops working.
HIV can affect anyone. It is found in bodily fluids such as blood, sexual fluids and breast milk. It can only be passed on if one of these fluids enters the body. There are only a few very specific ways that this could happen:
- through unprotected anal or vaginal sex (sex without a condom)
- unprotected oral sex (licking or sucking of the genitals). Getting HIV this way is much less common, but there is a small risk
- through sharing of drug-injecting equipment such as syringes, needles, spoons, filters, water, mirrors and straws
- from a mother to her baby during pregnancy, at birth or when breast feeding
- accidental stabbing with an infected needle (needle stick injury)
It cannot be passed on through day-to-day contact such as kissing, cuddling, shaking hands, sharing toilet seats, sneezing or drinking from the same glass or mug.
