HIV
HIV is a sexually transmitted infection, which stands for “Human Immunodeficiency Virus.”
HIV wear down your immune system to the point that you can develop more serious infections if it isn’t treated.
Many people who are HIV-positive take strong medicines (antiretrovirals or ARVs) to fight the virus and can live normal lives even though there is not yet a cure for HIV
SO, WHAT IS AIDS THEN?
AIDS stands for “Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.”
AIDS is the most advanced stage of HIV infection that you can get.
BUT, WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIV AND AIDS?
You can be infected with HIV for many years and still show no signs of illness, or only a few symptoms.
It is very difficult to get AIDS if you start taking antiretrovirals once you discover that you are HIV-positive
HOW DO YOU GET HIV?
HIV is spread through only a few body fluids:
- Blood (including blood from a girl’s period)
- Semen, also known as “cum” and “pre-cum”, which is the fluid that comes out of the penis even before you climax
- Vaginal fluids
- Breast milk
You can’t get HIV from any of these body fluids:
- Sweat
- Tears
- Saliva (spit)
- Urine (pee)
- Faeces (poo)
YOU CAN AVOID HIV IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS:
Avoiding contact with sexual fluids by always practising safer sex (using condoms or other barrier methods)
Don’t have sex unless you know for sure that you and your partner are both HIV-negative. Remember that many people don’t even know that they are HIV-positive. You can’t tell if someone has HIV just by looking at them.
It’s important for you to know that it is very safe for you to be friends with people who are HIV-positive. You can’t get HIV from being friends with someone.
It is safe to hug and kiss, someone who is HIV-positive if you don’t come into contact with any blood or sexual fluids you are safe. You can share food with someone who is HIV-positive, you can use the same shower and toilet as him or her, and you can certainly love, respect and care about someone who is HIV-positive.
