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(Human Immunodeficiency Virus)
This is a virus that attacks your immune system, which means that you might not be able to fight infections.
It lives in the blood of an infected person and is passed on through exchange of body fluids i.e. blood, semen, vaginal fluids and breast milk.
Some people with the virus develop certain illness and diseases caused by the body’s natural defences being too weak to fight them off.
When this happens, you are said to have AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).
How do you catch it?
Unprotected (i.e. not using a condom) sex with someone who is infected.
Sharing contaminated injecting works (needles, syringes, filters etc...).
From infected mother to baby.
Blood to blood contact with an infected person.
What to look for…
No specific symptoms – you may not know you have the virus!
Did you know…?
Worldwide, HIV is most common in the 15-24 age group.
There is no vaccine for the virus.
There are at least 40 million people in the world today who have HIV/AIDS.
Anyone can catch HIV. It doesn’t matter if you are gay, straight or bi-sexual.
More straight people than gay people have the virus.
Using a condom during sex is the best way to protect you from the virus.
You cannot tell, just by looking, who is infected and who is not.
It could take up to six months after you are infected for the antibodies in your blood to show up in a test.
In other words, if you have unprotected sex with an infected person it will be 3-6 months before you find out if you have caught the virus!
Around the world, at least 12 thousand people become infected every day.
Remember…
HIV is a virus which attacks your immune system.
AIDS relates to illnesses and diseases which your body cannot fight off because your natural defences have been so damaged by the virus.
There is no vaccine for the virus.
There is effective treatment and support to help you stay well, if you do become infected.
Contacts
Reading Family Planning Clinic
(also available at Connexions, Friar Street on Friday afternoons between 2 and 4 o’clock)
tel: 0118 322 7201
The Zone
(Young Person’s Clinic –19s and under)
tel: 0118 987 7202
Your own GP
Brook
(Young People Sexual Health Advisory Service)
freephone 0800 0185 023
Terrence Higgins Trust
0845 122 1200
Websites
www.ruthinking.co.uk
visit site
www.playingsafely.co.uk
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www.tht.org.uk (Terrence Higgins Trust)
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