World AIDS Day today is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died.
World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day, held for the first time in 1988.
Global HIV Statistics from UNAIDS:
- 18.2 million [16.1 million–19.0 million] people were accessing antiretroviral therapy (June 2016)
- 36.7 million [34.0 million – 39.8 million] people globally were living with HIV (end 2015)
- 2.1 million [1.8 million – 2.4 million] people became newly infected with HIV (end 2015)
- 1.1 million [940 000 – 1.3 million] people died from AIDS-related illnesses (end 2015)
- 78 million [69.5 million – 87.6 million] people have become infected with HIV since the start of the epidemic (end 2015)
- 35 million [29.6 million – 40.8 million] people have died from AIDS-related illnesses since the start of the epidemic (end 2015)
For more information, head to http://www.un.org/en/events/aidsday/
What is HIV/AIDS?
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infects cells of the immune system, destroying or impairing their function. Infection with the virus results in progressive deterioration of the immune system, leading to "immune deficiency." The immune system is considered deficient when it can no longer fulfil its role of fighting infection and disease according to World Health Organisation (WHO). Infections associated with severe immunodeficiency are known as "opportunistic infections," because they take advantage of a weakened immune system. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a term which applies to the most advanced stages of HIV infection. It is defined by the occurrence of any of more than 20 opportunistic infections or HIV-related cancers. According to UNAIDS approximately 36.7 million [34.0 million – 39.8 million] people globally were living with HIV (end 2015). HIV can be transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse (vaginal or anal), and oral sex with an infected person; transfusion of contaminated blood; and the sharing of contaminated needles, syringes, surgical equipment or other sharp instruments. It may also be transmitted between a mother and her infant during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding. Its important to remember that HIV is not spread like airborne viruses such as the flu and cannot be passed on by hugging, shaking hands, coughing or sneezing or by sharing toilets, eating utensils or consuming food and beverages handled by someone who has HIV. Only certain body fluids: blood, semen, pre-seminal fluid, rectal fluids, vaginal fluids, and breast milk from an HIV-infected person can transmit HIV. Most commonly, people get or transmit HIV through sexual behaviours and needle or syringe use. The presence of other sexually transmitted infections increases the risk of HIV transmission which is why regular condom use and STD testing is important. Everyone has a mutual responsibility to protect each other not just from HIV but from other STD’s. Always practice safe sex and talk to your doctor about your HIV risk.
Remember: Tuberculosis (TB) is the most common presenting illness among people with HIV including those who are taking antiretroviral treatment. Talk to your doctor at your local urban health clinic about TB testing if you are HIV positive.
Risk factors
Behaviours and conditions that put individuals at greater risk of contracting HIV include:
- having unprotected anal or vaginal sex;
- having another sexually transmitted infection such as syphilis, herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and bacterial vaginosis;
- sharing contaminated needles, syringes and other injecting equipment and drug solutions when injecting drugs;
- receiving unsafe injections, blood transfusions, tissue transplantation, medical procedures that involve unsterile cutting or piercing; and
- experiencing accidental needle stick injuries among health workers.
HIV/AIDS Symptoms
You cannot rely on symptoms to tell whether you have HIV, the only way to know for sure if you have HIV is to get tested. Knowing your status is important because it helps you make healthy decisions to prevent getting or transmitting HIV. The symptoms of HIV vary, depending on the individual and what stage of the disease you are in: the early stage, the clinical latency stage, or AIDS (the late stage of HIV infection). The below from AIDS.gov is some of the symptoms that some individuals may experience in these three stages. Please note that not all individuals will experience these symptoms.
Early stage HIV: Some people may experience a flu-like illness within 2-4 weeks after HIV infection. But some people may not feel sick during this stage. Flu-like symptoms can include fever, chills, rash, night sweats, muscle aches, sore throat, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes and mouth ulcers. These symptoms can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks. During this time, HIV infection may not show up on an HIV test, but people who have it are highly infectious and can spread the infection to others. You should not assume you have HIV just because you have any of these symptoms. Each of these symptoms can be caused by other illnesses. And some people who have HIV do not show any symptoms at all for 10 years or more. If you think you may have been exposed to HIV, get an HIV test. Most HIV tests detect antibodies (proteins your body makes as a reaction against the presence of HIV), not HIV itself. But it takes a few weeks for your body to produce these antibodies, so if you test too early, you might not get an accurate test result. Talk to your doctor about your result and talk about your treatment options if you’re HIV-positive or learn ways to prevent getting HIV if you’re HIV-negative. You are at high risk of transmitting HIV to others during the early stage of HIV infection, even if you have no symptoms. For this reason, it is very important to take steps to reduce your risk of transmission.
Clinical Latency Stage: After the early stage of HIV infection, the disease moves into a stage called the clinical latency stage (also called “chronic HIV infection”). During this stage, HIV is still active but reproduces at very low levels. People with chronic HIV infection may not have any HIV-related symptoms or only mild ones. For people who aren’t taking medicine to treat HIV (called antiretroviral therapy or ART), this period can last a decade or longer, but some may progress through this phase faster. People who are taking medicine to treat HIV the right way, every day may be in this stage for several decades because treatment helps keep the virus in check. It’s important to remember that people can still transmit HIV to others during this phase even if they have no symptoms, although people who are on ART and stay virally suppressed (having a very low level of virus in their blood) are much less likely to transmit HIV than those who are not virally suppressed.
Progression to AIDS: If you have HIV and you are not on ART, eventually the virus will weaken your body’s immune system, and you will progress to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), the late stage of HIV infection. Symptoms can include: rapid weight loss, recurring fever or profuse night sweats, extreme and unexplained tiredness, prolonged swelling of the lymph glands in the armpits, groin, or neck, diarrhoea that lasts for more than a week, sores of the mouth, anus, or genitals, pneumonia, red, brown, pink, or purplish blotches on or under the skin or inside the mouth, nose, or eyelids, memory loss, depression, and other neurologic disorders.
Testing and Treatment of HIV
Testing for HIV is the only way to know for sure if you have HIV, many people do not have any symptoms and can live for many years without knowing they have the virus. Testing for HIV is quick, easy, painless and confidential. It important that while you wait for your test results that you do not engage in any sexual activity as your results will only be current from the day you were tested. A positive result can lead to feelings of shock, anger, distress and depression, talk to your doctor about making an appointment with a counsellor to discuss your result. If your test is negative talk to your doctor to make sure you continue taking the right preventative measures. HIV is treated using a combination of medicines to fight HIV infection called antiretroviral therapy (ART). ART isn’t a cure, but it can control the virus so that you can live a longer, healthier life and reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to others. ART is recommended for all people with HIV, regardless of how long they’ve had the virus or how healthy they are. If left untreated, HIV will attack the immune system and eventually progress to AIDS. It is important that the medications prescribed by your doctor are taken exactly as prescribed (right time, right amount, and right way). If you are unsure you’re are taking your medications correctly talk to your doctor.
Top Tips to Reduce Your Risk of Getting HIV or STD’s.
1. Always Practice Safe Sex: When used consistently and correctly, condoms are highly effective in preventing HIV. They are also effective at preventing sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) that are transmitted through bodily fluids, such as gonorrhea and chlamydia. However, they provide less protection against STDs spread through skin-to-skin contact like human papillomavirus (genital warts), genital herpes, and syphilis. Have condoms handy if you will be having sex and make sure you know how to use them correctly.
2. Use Lubricant: Condoms should always be worn and used with a water based lubricant which helps prevent condoms from breaking.
3. Get Tested Regularly: (even If you are in a monogamous relationship) and encourage your partner to do the same. If you are not at high risk for getting HIV or any STD (not having sex regularly), it is still important to get tested. Always get tested before starting a new sexual relationship and encourage your new partner to do the same.
4. Avoid Sexual Activity: If you feel you are unable to have sex safely, you should avoid all sexual activity as you may be putting yourself or others at risk. If you are unsure if you have HIV or an STD get tested. If your test has returned positive make sure to listen to your doctor’s advice on treatment and make sure you have the all-clear from your doctor before resuming sexual activity.
5. Have Sex Only Within a Mutually Monogamous Relationship: Two people who have sex only with one another don’t have any opportunity to bring a new STD into the relationship. If you and your partner have been tested and are healthy, remaining faithful to each other is a very good way to reduce your chances of contracting an STD. It is important to be comfortable talking about safe sex with your partner.
6. Never Rely on the Withdrawal Method: Pre-ejaculate of an HIV-positive man may transmit the virus, always use a condom.
7. Only Use Safe Injecting Equipment: Using unclean or sharing injecting drug equipment is one of the most efficient ways of transmitting HIV.
8. Don’t Drink or Use Drugs Before Having Sex: It’s difficult to make responsible choices about your sex life if you’re impaired by drugs or alcohol. When you are under the influence, you are more likely to choose to have sex with someone you wouldn’t otherwise have picked as a partner, and less likely to be able to successfully negotiate safer sex.
11. Be Comfortable Saying No!!!!: You should never have sex unless you want to. Get comfortable saying no. If you don’t feel it is right, that’s ok. It’s your choice to say yes to sex, and it’s also your choice to say no. Similarly, if your partner tells you no, listen.
12. Be Responsible for Your Own Protection: It doesn’t matter if you’re male or female. If you’re going to have sex, you should be prepared. This is not only a matter of emotional preparation but practicality. Bring your own safer sex supplies. The worst thing that can happen is that you’ll have extras. If you are unsure how to use these correctly talk to your doctor.
Remember: Can you use two condoms for extra protection against STD’s and Pregnancy? No, you should never use more than one condom at a time. Using two condoms actually offers less protection than using just one. Why? Using two condoms can cause friction between them, weakening the material and increasing the chance that the condoms might break. No other method of birth control is as successful at protecting people against sexually transmitted diseases as a condom so always use a condom if you are having sex but always only use one at a time.
