HIV

HIV

What is HIV?

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the virus that
leads to AIDS. HIV belongs to a subset of retroviruses
called lentiviruses (or slow viruses), which means that there
is an interval, sometimes years, between the initial infection
and the onset of symptoms. Upon entering the bloodstream,
through mucous membranes or blood-to-blood contact, HIV
infects the CD4+T cells and begins to replicate rapidly.

Scientists believe that when the virus enters the body, HIV
begins to disable the body's immune system by using the
body's aggressive immune responses to the virus to infect,
replicate and kill immune system cells. Gradual deterioration
of immune function and eventual destruction of lymphoid and
immunologic organs is central to triggering the
immunosuppression that leads to AIDS.

What are the symptoms of AIDS?

It is not possible to reliably diagnose HIV infection or AIDS
based on symptoms alone.

People living with HIV may feel and look completely well but
their immune systems may nevertheless be damaged. It is
important to remember that once someone is infected they
can pass on HIV right away, even if they feel healthy.

The only way to know for sure whether a person is infected
with HIV is for them to have an HIV test.

As time passes without effective treatment, HIV weakens an
infected person's immune system, making them much more
vulnerable to opportunistic infections. These infections are
caused by germs that are around us all the time but which
can normally be fought off by a healthy immune system.

Once HIV has broken down the body's defences, such
infections can take hold and produce any of a wide range of
symptoms - some of them very severe. Certain cancers also
become more common when the immune system is
weakened.

Such symptoms are, however, not caused directly by HIV,
and they can't by themselves be interpreted as definite signs
of HIV infection or AIDS. A diagnosis of AIDS requires signs
of severe immune deficiency, which cannot be explained by
any factor except HIV. This generally requires an HIV test.

How is it treated?

Antiretroviral drugs are the main type of treatment for HIV or
AIDS. It is not a cure, but it can stop people from becoming
ill for many years. The treatment consists of drugs that have
to be taken every day for the rest of a person’s life.

The aim of antiretroviral treatment is to keep the amount of
HIV in the body at a low level. This stops any weakening of
the immune system and allows it to recover from any
damage that HIV might have caused already.

The drugs are often referred to as:

• antiretrovirals
• anti-HIV or anti-AIDS drugs
• HIV antiviral drugs
• ARVs

Further help and advice

For information and guidance on everyday advice for HIV
sufferers and their carers the Department of Health provides
the following information:

Keep safe: practical, everyday advice for HIV-infected
people and their carers.

For the cleaning up and disinfecting of infected bodily fluids
on hard surfaces, the Tristel products will rapidly and safely
destroy the HIV virus without the need for dilution.