index_aids

What is HIV?
HIV — Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus — is a small infectious entity that can reproduce itself. The immune system is a group of cells and organs that will protect the body against an infection. People can be infected with HIV by people that are already infected. Such people will be called HIV+. It is found in its highest concentration in bodily fluids such as blood, semen and vaginal & cervical secretion. HIV can be carried asymptomatically for 10 years or more. The primary route of transmission is sexual intercourse with an infected person. However, it is also spread through sharing needles (intravenous drug users), exchanging contaminated blood products and breastfeeding.

Why is HIV dangerous?
Different virus will attack the body in different ways — the common cold is caused by a virus. HIV is so dangerous, because it attacks the immune system itself, or better a specific immune cell. The result is the weakening of the entire immune system and the virus is able to spread through the whole body.

What is AIDS?
A weakened immune system is not only unable to protect the body against the HIV virus, but against other virus attacks too. A person infected with HIV will get ill more often and more severely than other people. Most infected people will fall ill to a number of specific illnesses, usually several years after infection. This is the point when the HIV infection turns into AIDS. Another measuring point is the number of T-cells. If the number of these cells falls below a certain level the infection turns into AIDS.. The HIV-virus can be detected by a blood test a few weeks after infection. Although development of a vaccine is being pursued it is not yet available. Education remains the best and only way to prevent transmission. All individuals who may be at even the slightest risk of infection are encouraged to be tested in order to prevent the unknowing spread of HIV to others.