HIV - AIDS the facts

At the moment in the UK approximately 33,500 people are living with HIV

At the moment in the UK approximately 33,500 people are living with HIV, about 30% of whom are undiagnosed.
When the tests for antibody to HIV became widely available in the mid 1980s, three main risk groups of HIV were identified as men who have sex with men, injecting drug users and people who have received treatment with blood products. Many of these people came forward for testing in the mid 1980s, after which there was a decline in the annual number of HIV diagnoses. This was reversed towards the end of the decade since there have been more than 2,500 diagnoses per year since the beginning of 1990's. This trend has continued and during 2001, 4,163 people were infected with HIV in the UK.

WHAT ARE HIV/AIDS

HIV stands for ‘Human Immunodeficiency Virus,’ a virus which has the ability to attack the immune system and make the body more vulnerable to infections.
AIDS stands for ‘Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome,’ which is a name given to cover what happens when the body becomes more vulnerable to infection.

You have to catch the HIV first before you can develop AIDS. It can take months or years between catching the virus and developing the symptoms of AIDS. People who develop AIDS become ill from a variety of illnesses which they cannot fight off and from which they eventually die.

HOW DO YOU CATCH HIV
Since the virus is found in bodily fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal secretions, urine, saliva, and breast milk the virus may be contracted from a person with HIV in a number of ways:

• Through high risk sexual practices – unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse (homosexual or heterosexual)
• Through sharing hypodermic needles and drug equipment (as intravenous drug abusers do)
• Through an infected mother to her child (either from breast milk, infection, through the womb or contact with mothers blood during delivery)

Note that in the UK all blood for donation has been screened for the virus sine 1985 and because of testing there is virtually no risk of contamination through donated tissue or organs.
It is quite difficult to catch HIV other than through the recognised risk behaviors. Normal day to day contact with a person carrying HIV is safe and it is safe to use the same plates, cups and cutlery if washed properly between use. However toothbrushes and razors which come into contact with bodily secretions may not be safe.

HOW CAN YOU TELL IF YOU HAVE HIV
If you have taken part in any of the high risk behaviors. with someone who could be infected then you should consider an HIV test. This can be arranged either by your GP or better still the local Genito-urinary Medicine Clinic (GUM clinic).

The GUM clinic will be able to give you the best counseling advice about the implications of an HIV test and offer screening for other Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD's) – remember high risk sexual behaviors. are high risk for all STD's not just HIV). Their service is highly confidential and anonymous – a separate computer system to other hospital departments is used, your notes are numbered rather than named and your GP will not be routinely notified unless absolutely necessary and with your knowledge.

Your local GUM clinic is located in the Darlington Memorial Hospital, through The Main Outpatients Department (first left after entrance) Appointments can be made by phone only and there are no restricted times for HIV testing. Their telephone no. is 01325 743203 and their Clinic Times are shown below;
M = Male, F = Female

IS THERE A CURE
Although there are drugs now which slow the progression of AIDS there is no known cure.

PREVENTION IS THE ONLY CURE
Avoiding any of the risk taking behaviors. is the best way of not catching HIV. It is medically proven that using condoms can prevent the spread of HIV and other STD's They may also help to protect against cervical cancer and re-infection by thrush.
Condoms are available from pharmacies, supermarkets vending machines and a limited number can be distributed free at Family Planning Clinics. A young persons Family Planning Clinic is held at Park Place Health Centre (tel 480038) between 5.00 and 6.30 on a Friday or you can contact your surgery for the most convenient clinic.
Sharing needles is extremely risky and as well as AIDS can transmit other infections including hepatitis B and C. Counseling on drug addiction and a needle exchange program can be found at the Elmfield Centre Corporation Road (tel 555920).

WHAT IS THE SCALE OF THE PROBLEM
Worldwide the scale of the problem is quite frightening especially in South Africa where 5.6% of children have HIV. Worldwide 36 million people live with HIV and in Western Europe there are 540,000. There is no cause for complacency here in the UK where the number of people with HIV is increasing by 105 per year.

By Dr. Richard Stevens
Orchard court practice
Darlington