How does a person get it?
HIV is found in all fluids in the body of an infected person. Only some of
these fluids contain sufficient amounts of the virus to be transmitted
to someone else.
- semen
- vaginal secretions/fluid
- blood
- breast milk
This means that a person can only be infected through having
unprotected sex with someone who is already infected, through
blood transmission or through breast-feeding. Body fluids that do
not contain sufficient amounts of the virus for transmission include
saliva, sweat, tears and urine.
Explaining incubation period
This virus does not go away and can make a person sick, but most often people feel very well at the beginning, and it usually takes a
number of years after getting infected before they start getting sick.
How is HIV diagnosed?
An HIV test does not look for HIV in a person's body, but actually the "antibodies" that the body makes to fight the virus.
The body only makes these fighting cells if one is infected, but it can take a few months for the body to produce enough of these cells
to be detected in an HIV test. This is called the "window period". This means that someone can get a negative HIV result, even if he
or she is infected, and should go back for another test after three months to make sure.
Now we can use another test that looks for the virus itself. This is called the PCR test and is the one that is used for new-born babies.
This test turns positive when there is enough virus to measure and will become positive in about two to six weeks after someone gets
infected. This is why it is done when babies are about six weeks old, to make sure they didn't become infected when they were born.
Why is it good to know one's status?
It is very good for people to know their HIV status, because there are things people can do to help them stay healthy, and medicines
to keep people healthy when they begin getting sick. It is also important for a person to know, so that they do not transmit the virus
to someone else. People with HIV must also be careful of re-infection, and knowing one's status is the first step to preventing this.
Re-infection occurs when someone who is already HIV+ is exposed to the virus again. This could be through sex with a HIV+ partner.
Re-infection can increase the amount of virus in the body, and this makes the virus stronger. For this reason, a person who has HIV
should always use a condom not only to protect others, but also themselves.
HIV
Intervention Programme for the ENHANCEMENT OF CHILDREN'S RESILIENCE
19