HIV

HIV is the Human Immunodeficiency Virus.  There are an estimated 77,400 people living with HIV in the UK and more than a quarter of these people are unaware of their infection.

HIV damages body’s immune system so it cannot fight off infections. HIV can lead to AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). HIV can be transmitted in three main ways:

  • Unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex (licking, kissing or sucking someone's genitals)
  • Sharing of needles or other injecting equipment
  • From an infected mother to her baby, during pregnancy, birth or through breastfeeding

HIV is not transmitted by everyday social contact. That means you cannot get HIV from, for example, shaking hands, kissing, sharing toilet seats, cutlery, going to swimming pools or from having your food prepared by someone who is HIV positive.

Around 1 in 10 new HIV cases are in young people aged 16-24. In the UK men who have sex with men are most at risk of getting HIV infection although there are now more new cases each year passed through straight sex.

How to recognise it

People with HIV may have no symptoms for a long time, often 10 years or more.

How it’s treated

HIV is preventable and treatable, but not curable. If you are diagnosed with HIV, you will need to discuss your treatment carefully with your doctor. Current treatment consists of a combination of three or more antiviral drugs which must be taken every day for life but treatments are still being developed.

 


 

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