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What is AIDS?
AIDS stands for: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
What causes AIDS?
AIDS is caused by HIV.
HIV is a virus that gradually attacks immune system cells. As HIV progressively damages these cells,
the body becomes more vulnerable to infections, which it will have difficulty in fighting off. It is at the
point of very advanced HIV infection that a person is said to have AIDS. It can be years before HIV has
damaged the immune system enough for AIDS to develop.
What are the 2 ways a person can be diagnosed with AIDS?
A person is diagnosed with AIDS when they have developed an AIDS related condition or symptom,
called an opportunistic infection, or an AIDS related cancer. The infections are called ‘opportunistic’
because they take advantage of the opportunity offered by a weakened immune system.
It is possible for someone to be diagnosed with AIDS even if they have not developed an opportunistic
infection. AIDS can be diagnosed when the number of immune system cells (CD4 cells) in the blood of
an HIV positive person drops below a certain level.
Is there a cure for AIDS?
Worryingly, many people think there is a 'cure' for AIDS - which makes them feel safer, and perhaps
take risks that they otherwise wouldn't. However, there is still no cure for AIDS.
What is HIV? HIV is a virus that damages human immune cells. It weakens the immune system
and, without treatment, leads most infected people to develop AIDS.
How is HIV diagnosed? It is not possible to reliably diagnose HIV infection or AIDS based
on symptoms alone. HIV symptoms are very similar to the symptoms of other illnesses. So the only
way to know for sure whether a person is infected with HIV is for them to have an HIV test.
People living with HIV may feel and look completely well but their immune systems may nevertheless
be damaged. It is important to remember that once someone is infected with HIV they can pass the
virus on immediately, even if they feel healthy.
How is HIV transmitted?
Like all viruses, HIV infects the cells of a living organism in order to make new copies of itself. HIV is
found in blood and other body fluids such as semen and vaginal fluids. It cannot live for long outside the
body, so to be infected with HIV you need to allow some body fluid from an infected person to get
inside your body. The virus can enter the body via contact with the bloodstream or by passing through
delicate mucous membranes, such as inside the vagina, rectum or urethra.
The most common ways that people become infected with HIV are:
1. having sexual intercourse with an infected partner.
2. injecting drugs using a needle or syringe that has been used by someone who is infected.
3. as a baby of an infected mother, during pregnancy, labor or delivery, or
through breastfeeding.
You cannot get HIV from. . .
Kissing
To become infected with HIV you must get a sufficient quantity of the virus into your body. Saliva does
contain HIV, but the virus is only present in very small quantities and as such cannot cause HIV
infection. Unless both partners have large open sores in their mouths, or severely bleeding gums,
there is no transmission risk from mouth-to-mouth kissing.
Sneezing, coughing, sharing glasses/cups, etc
HIV is unable to reproduce outside its living host and does not survive well in the open air. HIV cannot
be transmitted through spitting, sneezing, sharing glasses, cutlery, or musical instruments. You also
can't be infected in swimming pools, showers or by sharing washing facilities or toilet seats.
Insects
HIV cannot reproduce inside an insect. So, the insect does not become infected and cannot transmit
HIV to the next human it feeds on or bites.
Providing Care for a Person with HIV/AIDS
(ARC p 422)
Type of precautions used.
Care Principles