Red Ribbon Project Limerick Hiv

HIV

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)

There is an entire section of this website dedicated to HIV, if you are looking for detailed information please visit this section. However, this page will give you an overview of HIV.

What Is It?

HIV is a virus that copies itself into the cells of your immune system. These cells remain infected for the rest of their life. Currently, there is no way to remove the HIV from the cells of your body that it has already infected. However, medication exists which slows the rate at which HIV is able to infect further cells within your body.

There remains confusion as to whether HIV and AIDS are the same thing. They are in fact very different! HIV is a medical condition (the presence of a virus) that can be managed throughout one's life. AIDS is term used when their immune system has been compromised by the HIV virus to the point that a collection of illnesses which a healthy immune system could usually cure or control can become life threatening.

Symptoms

As HIV damages the immune system and this damage takes a considerable amount of time to occur there may be no direct symptoms of the HIV infection. However, a person living with HIV may have symptoms of other infections as a result of their weakened immune system.

Transmission

There are only four fluids in which HIV can survive in high enough viral loads for it to be passed from person to person. These are:

Blood
Breast Milk
Semen
Vaginal Fluid

In order for HIV to be transmitted there must be a series of things in place (QQR):

Quantity - there has to be a high enough quantity of HIV present in the blood, breast milk, semen or vaginal fluid during transmission
Quality - the HIV cells have to be healthy
Route - there has to be a way for the virus to pass from one person into another

There are three main ways in which HIV is generally transmitted:

Sex - through unprotected sexual contact with an infected person
Blood - through infected blood products like transfusions or sharing needles
Pregnancy - from mother to child in the womb, during labour or after birth from breast milk

HIV cannot be transmitted by hugging, sharing cups, sleeping in the same bed, kissing, massaging, talking, going out drinking, smoking or generally hanging out with someone who is living with HIV.

Prevention

Condoms can dramatically reduce the risk of HIV transmission during sexual activity as they create a barrier that HIV cannot pass through. They may be used for penetrative and/or oral sexual activities. Female condoms and glyde dams can also be used to reduce the risk of HIV transmission.

As HIV is present in the blood of a person living with HIV here are some points to be aware of:

If you are an injecting drug user, never share needles or works with anyone. Always use sterile needles and injecting equipment - a needle exchange programme can assist in you obtaining clean works.
If you are considering having a tattoo or piercing, only go to a reputable tattoo or piercing parlour and ask what hygiene policies are in place.
HIV is present in any blood lost from the body of a person living with HIV, for example accidental cuts, nosebleeds or any other body part including the anus. If a woman is living with HIV, the virus will be present in menstrual (period) blood.

As a woman living with HIV will carry the virus in her breast milk, ingestion of infected breast milk carries a risk of transmission.

Control

If you think you have been at risk, you can have a full sexual health screening in your local STI clinic and to receive treatment if required.

Your sexual partner(s) are advised to get tested for HIV if you have received a positive result.

Remember - regular screening at your local STI clinic is recommended to maintain your sexual health.

Treatment

Whilst there is no cure for HIV, once your viral load has been assessed you may be offered anti-viral drugs, if required, which will help to control the viral load in your system.