Understanding HIV and AIDS

What is HIV and AIDS?

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. The immune system is our body’s natural defence against disease. If the immune system becomes severely damaged by HIV, a person may develop Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). When someone has AIDS, their immune system is weak and less able to fight off infections and disease.

How many Australians have HIV or AIDS?

According to the Australian Federation of Aids Organisation, in 2017 there were an estimated 27,545 people with HIV in Australia. Ninety five per cent of these people were accessing care.

Anyone can get HIV, and while 63% of new HIV diagnoses were attributed to male to male sex in 2017, the rate is decreasing. Yet rates of transmission from heterosexual sex is increasing. In 2016, 21% of new diagnoses were attributed to heterosexual sex and in 2017 it climbed to 25%.  

How can you get HIV?

You can get HIV from coming into contact with the blood, semen, vaginal fluid, rectal fluid or breast milk of an infected person.

If you engage in unprotected anal or vaginal sex, you’re putting yourself at risk. Unprotected means you’re not using a condom.

You can also put yourself at risk of contracting the infection if you share needles when taking drugs or get tattoos or piercing with unsterile needles.

What are the symptoms of HIV?

Many people will have no symptoms at all when they become infected with HIV. Others may experience symptoms similar to a mild flu including:

• tiredness
• headaches
• sore throat
• sore muscles and joints
• fever
• swollen lymph glands in the neck, underarm or groin areas
• rash

These mild flu symptoms usually happen around 10 to 14 days after infection.

How can you get tested?

You can see your GP to get tested for HIV or find out about other options for testing at the Australian Federation of Aids Organisations.

How can you prevent HIV?

While there’s no vaccine against HIV, there are things that you can do to reduce your likelihood becoming infected.

The best ways to prevent HIV infection are to:

use condoms and a water-based lubricant for anal and vaginal sex

never share needles, syringes and other injecting equipment

make sure all tattooing, piercing and other procedures use sterilised equipment

Preventing infection through medication

There are medications that can help to prevent the likelihood of infection before and after exposure.

Before exposure, you can take HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) which is highly effective at limiting the spread of HIV.

After exposure, you can take Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP). It’s best to start taking these medications within 72 hours of exposure.

What is World AIDS Day?

World AIDS Day is on the 1^st of December each year. It helps to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS around the world. It also helps to reduce stigma and discrimination that people with HIV and AIDS may experience.

More information

Find out more about HIV at the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations.

Sources

https://kirby.unsw.edu.au/sites/default/files/kirby/report/supplHIV2018_content_20180920r.pdf

https://www.afao.org.au/about-hiv/hiv-prevention/

https://www.afao.org.au/our-work/world-aids-day/

https://www.afao.org.au/about-hiv/hiv-prevention/prep/

https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/hiv-infection-and-aids

http://www.worldaidsday.org.au/internet/wad/Publishing.nsf/content/home

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-24/australian-hiv-rates-declining/10297546

All information contained in this article is intended for general information purposes only. The information provided should not be relied upon as medical advice and does not supersede or replace a consultation with a suitably qualified healthcare professional.