Common STIs - HIV and AIDS

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Causes

HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus.

AIDS stands for acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

Someone who is HIV positive carries the HIV virus. AIDS can occur 5 to 10 years after being infected with the virus. By then the HIV virus has usually damaged a person's immune system and they start getting sick from other infections or cancers.

Symptoms

Not everybody gets symptoms, however, early HIV symptoms can include flu like symptoms such as fever, night sweats and swollen glands in the neck, armpits and groin.

There may be no further signs or symptoms for years.

Weight loss, tiredness, recurrent fever, swollen glands, dry cough, diarrhoea and decreased appetite may be signs of HIV infection developing into AIDS but all these symptoms may also be caused by infections other than HIV.

HIV is usually detected by a blood test that checks for HIV antibodies. These antibodies show that the body's immune system is trying to fight the virus.

How is it transmitted?

HIV is found in the blood (including menstrual blood), semen, vaginal fluid and breast milk of an HIV positive person. It can be passed to another person through:

• unprotected vaginal or anal sex
• unprotected oral sex, however this is less common
• sharing injecting equipment and needles
• blood products in countries that do not screen for HIV.

In Australia, all blood products have been screened since 1985. This means that blood transfusions in this country are extremely low risk.

HIV cannot be spread by shaking hands, sharing a cup, using toilet seats, through saliva or at swimming pools.

Management

There is no vaccine or cure for HIV.

There are new combinations of drugs to help manage HIV and possibly increase the time a person remains well.

Many people also find alternative and complementary therapies helpful to improve their wellbeing.

Prevention

The risk of catching HIV is greatly reduced by using condoms and lubrication correctly for all anal and vaginal sex.

Not sharing needles or injecting equipment will also protect against the spread of HIV.

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Department of Human Services

Disclaimer Copyright Updated: 9 Jun 2009