Written by: Charlotte Bredael
Today (Tuesday 1st December) is World Aid’s Day which first began in 1988. Every year, organisations and individuals come together to end the stigma against HIV/AIDS, raise awareness and remember those that we have sadly lost to the syndrome.
There are approximately 38 million people living with HIV Globally but there is currently a 23% decline of all new infections. 1 in 7 people living with HIV are unaware of their status, highlighting the importance of getting tested and Black and Latinx communities continue to be affected by HIV, meaning that equal support for all living with HIV is as important as ever. The majority of positive cases who are able to seek proper treatment can become undetectable, allowing those affected to to live a healthy and normal life. Ending the stigma and educating yourself and others is the only way to combat the virus and stand in solidarity with those infected.
There is still a huge amount of stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS, lets debunk some common myths and address some frequently asked questions.
HIV Myth 1: You can get HIV from hugging, kissing or sharing food
Fact: HIV is spread through bodily fluids such as blood and semen but it isn’t transmitted through saliva and isn’t airborne.
HIV Myth 2: HIV is a “Gay Disease”
Fact: HIV doesn’t just affect one group of people
HIV Myth 3: HIV is a death sentence
Fact: With treatment, people living with HIV are expected to have a normal life span
HIV Myth 4: People living with HIV are “dirty” or “unclean”
Fact: People living with HIV are just like anybody else, and if they are diagnosed they have less chance of infecting others than someone who doesn’t know their status
HIV Myth 5: If I had HIV I would be able to tell!
Fact: Sometimes HIV is symptomless so it’s important to get check out regularly
Frequently asked questions about HIV
What is HIV?
HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It is a retrovirus that infects cells in the human immune system and destroys or damages their function. Infection results in the depletion of the immune system, leading to immunodeficiency.
What is AIDS?
AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and describes the collection of symptoms and infections associated with acquired deficiency of the immune system. Infection with HIV has been established as the underlying cause of AIDS. The level of immunodeficiency or the appearance of certain infections are used as indicators that HIV infection has progressed to AIDS.
What are the symptoms of HIV?
Most people infected with HIV do not know that they have become infected. Immediately after the infection, some people have a glandular fever-like illness (with fever, rash, joint pains and enlarged lymph nodes), which can occur at the time of seroconversion. Seroconversion refers to the development of antibodies to HIV and usually takes place between one and two months after an infection has occurred.
When does a person have AIDS?
The term AIDS applies to the most advanced stages of HIV infection. The majority of people infected with HIV, if not treated, develop signs of AIDS within eight to 10 years. AIDS is identified on the basis of certain infections. Stage 1 HIV disease is asymptomatic and not categorised as AIDS. Stage 2, 3 and 4 HIV disease are used as indicators of AIDS. Most of these conditions are opportunistic infections that can be treated easily in healthy people.
How quickly do people with HIV develop AIDS?
The length of time can vary widely between individuals. The time between infection with HIV and becoming ill with AIDS can be 10–15 years, sometimes longer, but sometimes shorter. Antiretroviral therapy can prevent progression to AIDS by decreasing viral load in an infected body.
When should I get tested?
Seek medical advice immediately if you think there’s a chance you could have HIV. The earlier it’s diagnosed, the earlier you can start treatment and avoid becoming seriously ill. Some HIV tests may need to be repeated 1-3 months after exposure to HIV infection, but you should not wait this long to seek help. A GP or a sexual health professional can talk to you about having a test and discuss whether you should take emergency HIV medicine. Anti-HIV medicine called post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) may stop you becoming infected if taken within 72 hours of being exposed to the virus.
What does testing for HIV involve?
There are 4 ways you can test for HIV:
blood test – where a sample of blood is taken in a clinic and sent for testing in a laboratory. Results are usually available on the same day or within a few days.
point of care test – where a sample of saliva from your mouth or a small spot of blood from your finger is taken in a clinic. This sample does not need to be sent to a laboratory and the result is available within a few minutes.
home sampling kit – where you collect a saliva sample or small spot of blood at home and send it off in the post for testing. You’ll be contacted by phone or text with your result in a few days. Visit the free HIV testing website to check if you’re eligible for a free test. If not, you can buy them online or from some pharmacies
If the test finds no sign of infection, your result is “negative”. If signs of infection are found, the result is “positive”. The blood test is the most accurate test and can normally give reliable results from 1 month after infection. The other tests tend to be less accurate and may not give a reliable result for a longer period after exposure to the infection. This is known as the window period. For all these tests, a blood test should be carried out to confirm the result if the first test is positive. If this test is also positive, you’ll be referred to a specialist HIV clinic for some more tests and a discussion about your treatment options.
Where can I get tested?
There are various places you can go to for an HIV test, including:
- sexual health or genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics
- clinics run by charities like the Terrence Higgins Trust
- some GP surgeries
- some contraception and young people’s clinics
- local drug dependency services
- an antenatal clinic, if you’re pregnant
- a private clinic, where you will have to pay
Find HIV testing services near you
There are also home sampling and home testing kits you can use if you do not want to visit any of these places.
How can I help the fight against HIV/AIDS on World Aids Day and beyond?
You can donate money to trusted organisation like worldaidsday.org or show your solidarity by wearing a red ribbon, joining an AIDS walk, sharing helpful resources on social media or having conversations to educate yourself and others.
Together we can end the stigma around HIV/AIDS.