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The facts about HIV

Improve your understanding of HIV and how it is transmitted

What is HIV?

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

‘Immunodeficiency’ refers to the weakening of the immune system by the virus.

HIV was identified in the 1980s.

What is AIDS?

AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is a collection of illnesses (‘syndrome’) caused by a virus people pick up (‘acquire’) that makes their immune system weak (‘immune deficiency’).

You can’t get an AIDS diagnosis unless you’re already HIV positive.

HIV or AIDS?

Thanks to effective HIV treatment, progression to serious ill health and AIDS is now very rare in the UK.

When talking about people living with the virus the term ‘people living with HIV’ is preferred. You should not say someone ‘has AIDS’ if they are living well with HIV.

AIDS or late-stage HIV?

In the 1980s and early 90s, most people with HIV were eventually diagnosed with AIDS.

Now, thanks to modern antiretroviral treatment, very few people in the UK develop serious HIV-related illnesses.

The term AIDS isn’t used much by UK doctors. Instead they talk about late-stage or advanced HIV.

HIV Transmission

HIV can only pass on through these bodily fluids:

  • blood
  • semen
  • vaginal fluid
  • anal mucus
  • breast milk.

HIV cannot be passed on by the following bodily fluids or waste:

  • faeces (poo)
  • nasal secretions
  • saliva
  • gastric secretions
  • sputum (phlegm)
  • sweat
  • tears
  • urine
  • vomit.

You cannot get HIV from:

  • Spitting, sneezing or coughing.
  • Kissing, hugging, holding holds or casual contact.
  • Providing care to someone, such as washing, bathing them, or providing them with medical or clinical attention, such as medications including via injection.
  • Sharing household items, like cups, plates and cutlery, or by using the same facilities such as bathrooms or therapeutic rooms.
  • General social contact.
  • Bodily fluids coming into contact with the skin.

HIV can’t survive for very long once it’s outside the human body.

Undetectable viral load

Studies have shown that a person who’s on effective treatment who has an undetectable viral load can’t pass on HIV. 

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