HIV and AIDS
HIV -Human Immunodeficiency Virus – damages and lowers the immune system making it harder for the body to fight off infection.
AIDS – Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome – can develop from prolonged HIV and is a life-threatening illness.
This page will provide you with some information on HIV and AIDS including, signs and symptoms, how to get tested and the treatment.
HIV and AIDS
HIV -Human Immunodeficiency Virus – damages and lowers the immune system making it harder for the body to fight off infection.
AIDS – Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome – can develop from prolonged HIV and is a life-threatening illness.
This page will provide you with some information on HIV and AIDS including, signs and symptoms, how to get tested and the treatment.
Signs and Symptoms
After you’re infected with HIV, you may experience a short flu-like illness 2 to 6 weeks later. This illness usually goes away on its own. But even after the illness goes away, HIV can still damage your immune system.
For many years, people with HIV may not have any symptoms but even if you don’t have any symptoms, you can still spread HIV to other people.
That’s why it’s important to get tested for HIV if you’re sexually active.
How is it Transmitted?
The HIV virus can be transmitted from person to person through unprotected sex. However, the AIDS virus cannot – this develops from having HIV for a long time.
The most common way to get HIV is through having anal or vaginal sex without a condom.
As HIV is found in bodily fluids is possible to get it through:
- Sharing needles, syringes or other injecting equipment
- Transmission from mother to baby during pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding
How to Get Tested
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