HIV&AIDS What are they?
ISBN 087 46 321 098
A beginners guide –
By Eamonn Smythe
HIV&AIDS What are they? A beginners guide –
By Eamonn Smythe
Funding generously provided by: ‘Queen of the whole Universe’ 2006 Author: Eamonn Smythe Illustration: Darren Carville Printed in New Zealand by KB Print © NZAF HIV & AIDs–What are they? Published by New Zealand AIDs Foundation, 31-35 Hargreaves St, College Hill, Ponsonby, Auckland, New Zealand. www.nzaf.org.nz All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any way or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of NZAF. ISBN 1346 8763 9876 77
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Contents Ooooh!, I can’t watch – they are doing it with out us again!
* What is HIV? .....................................................................................02 * What is AIDS? .................................................................................04 * How do you get HIV?..............................................................06 * Safe sex or risky business?......................................................08 * Condoms ...................................................................................................12 * You don’t get HIV by – ........................................................... 14 * How do I know if I am HIV positive? ..................... 16 * When should I test?........................................................................17 * What is the “Window period?” ............................................ 18 * Is there a vaccine or a cure? ...................................................20 * Where can I get more information/support? ...........22 1
What is HIV? HIV stands for-
Human ImmunodeďŹ ciency Virus. This virus belongs to a group called Retroviruses, which work by invading the genetic material of cells within your body. Normally, the body’s immune system would fight off such an infection, but HIV is unique in that it actually
prevents the immune system from working properly. It does this by making copies of itself. These copies then infect key cells in your immune system (called CD4 cells) and either destroy or disable them.
If you have this virus, you are commonly referred to as being HIV positive.
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What is AIDS? AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. AIDS is a collection of specific illnesses and conditions which occur if your immune system has been signifcantly damaged by HIV and is no longer able to protect you against infections which a healthy immune system would normally control. These are called “opportunistic infections”.
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Different people with AIDS may experience different clinical problems, depending on which of the specific opportunistic infections they develop. This is what a syndrome means – a collection of different signs and symptoms that are all part of the same underlying medical condition.
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How do you get HIV? The HIV virus is present in blood, semen and rectal and vaginal bodily fluids. It can only be transmitted to another person if those fluids get into his or her body.
Sexual transmission: The most common mode of transmission, by having either anal or vaginal sex without using a condom.
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Vaginal fluids, rectal fluids and semen (including precum) can carry HIV, but the virus cannot pass through an intact latex condom – so this is the best universal precaution to take when engaging in sexual activity.
From mother to child: Transmission from an HIV positive mother to her child during pregnancy, birth or later as a result of breastfeeding, is known as ‘vertical transmission’. However, with planning from healthcare professionals, people who are HIV positive are able to conceive, deliver and care for healthy HIV negative children.
Blood-to-blood transmission: Most commonly associated with injecting drug users who share needles, where one user is HIV positive. Infection via blood transfusion was a risk in the early days of the epidemic, but with current screening procedures this has been completely eliminated in New Zealand.
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Safe sex or risky business?
Sex plays a key part in the lives of most adults, and to protect yourself and others from transmission of HIV it is important to understand the ‘relative risk’
Who is most at risk?
of different sexual practices.
While globally HIV is most prevalent in heterosexuals (straight), the most at risk group here in
HIV is not an equal opportunity virus, and as shown in the graph over leaf - condoms (used with water-based lubricant) dramatically reduce the risk of contracting HIV for all sexual practices -
New Zealand is men who have sex with men (gay and bisexual men) with the second most infected group being people from sub-Saharan Africa and other heterosexuals who contracted HIV overseas.
in particular receptive anal sex, which carries the highest risk. Ooooh!, I can’t watch – they are doing it with out us again!
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There is NO RISK of HIV transmission from massage, masturbation (wanking), or kissing.
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The Relative risk for different sexual activities – 0 to 2000 times ‘more likely’ * Insertive oral with condom Insertive oral Receptive oral with condom Receptive oral Insertive vaginal with condom Insertive vaginal Receptive vaginal with condom Receptive vaginal Insertive anal with condom Insertive anal Receptive anal with condom Receptive anal 10
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 * ‘Jaffe & Janssen (2003) Morbidity Mortality Weekly Report, CDC’
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Condoms
People use many excuses not to use condoms, for example seeing condoms as a barrier
Condoms are available from many different sources; from supermarkets to sexual health centres and come in a range of sizes and even different materials for those with allergies to latex. A female condom is now also available from Family Planning.
to intimacy, being afraid to talk to your partner about them, being afraid to buy or carry them, feeling pressured into not using them, or losing an erection. If any of these apply then you can talk to your Doctor, local sexual health service or Family Planning centre.
A condom is your protection from most sexually transmitted diseases including the risk of HIV. Respect yourself and use them.
A A A H CHOO ! O
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You don’t get HIV by...
– by donating blood, as equipment is not reused.
ordinary social contact like:
* Shaking hands * Hugging * Kissing * Sharing a cup Sharing household items like:
* toilet seats, * showers or swimming pools
You don’t get HIV by receiving a blood transfusion as the screening in New Zealand is excellent and uses the newest technology ensuring that all blood is carefully screened. 14 10
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How do I know if I am HIV positive? To determine whether or not HIV is present in your blood, you will need to take a test which involves giving a blood sample. At New Zealand AIDS Foundation centres, this can be done via a 20-minute “rapid test”, which involves giving a finger prick sample.
This test is free, simple and completely confidential. It is conducted with a qualified counsellor, psychotherapist or social worker who has experience with sexual health and HIV and who can answer any questions you may have. Elsewhere, you will need to take a regular full blood test and return for your results at a later date. 16
In the event of a positive result, a second confirmatory test with a full blood sample (called Western Blot) is required to confirm that you are HIV positive.
When should I test? you have had anal or vaginal intercourse without * aIf condom, you have placed yourself at risk. you are, or have in the past, shared injecting * Ifdrug paraphernalia. to ensure the safety of your child. * If Ifyouyouarearepregnant, entering into a new sexual relationship. * In a relationship you have concerns that * your partner maywhere have had sex with someone else. have been sexually assaulted. * If you * If the condom breaks.
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What is the “window period”? The HIV test actually measures antibodies to HIV which your body produces, not HIV itself. It is not possible to find
out if you have been infected immediately after a possible risk, because HIV antibodies usually take between one and two months to appear in your blood. The time between infection and the development of antibodies is called the window period. In the window period, people infected with HIV have no antibodies in their blood, but may already have very high levels of HIV in their blood or semen.
In fact, people with HIV are most infectious during this window period. This means you could pass on HIV to another person even though an antibody test shows that you are HIV-negative. To be entirely sure that you are HIV negative, a repeat test after approximately 3 months is strongly advised. 18
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Is there a Vaccine or a Cure? Unfortunately, No. Although vaccines against HIV and AIDS have been and continue to be pursued by governments and inter-governmental agencies, the pharmaceutical industry and nongovernmental organisations globally, any vaccines are - at the very least - many years away.
However, HIV and AIDS can be very effectively managed with speciďŹ cally designed medications known as HAART (Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy). HAART is a combination of medicines slow down the progress of HIV within invading and destroying further immune work effectively these medications must 100% consistency
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that have been shown to the body, preventing it from cells. However, in order to be taken with close to
Whilst these treatments will keep you alive, they cannot totally remove HIV from the body.
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Where can I get more information/support?
Contacts:
Information, counselling and support can be obtained from any one of the New Zealand AIDS Foundation centres in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington or Christchurch. You can also find out about a NZAF approved counsellor near you by contacting an NZAF centre, or from one of the peer support groups for people living with HIV/AIDS. Contact details are contained on the last page of this booklet.
More information can also be obtained from your specialist, from your GP or your local sexual health service. In the event of a positive diagnosis these health professionals will work together with you in providing the best level of care possible.
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