How Is HIV Transmitted?

How Is HIV Transmitted?

HOW IS HIV
TRANSMITTED?


As PLHIV, we may be concerned about transmitting HIV to others. This becomes less likely if we adhere to medication and become undetectable. However, it is still useful that we remain informed so that we can be safe.

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Modes Through Which HIV Is Transmitted

Unprotected sexual contact with infected partner(s):

  • Anal sex and vaginal sex are high risk for HIV transmission

  • Oral sex is lower risk

From a mother to her baby:

  • HIV can be transmitted while the baby is in utero, during delivery, or through breast-feeding

  • It is important to note that with ARV medications and supplemental (formula) feeding, the chance of transmission is significantly reduced.

Sharing of Contaminated Needles for Injection Drug Use (IDU):

  • Persons who inject drugs may sometimes share injection equipment with other drug users. Because needles penetrate skin, sharing needles results in body fluid exchange which can lead to HIV infection.

Occupational Exposure:

  • Health workers handle bodily fluids during sample collection, clean up and disposal operations. Health workers may also be at risk of needle stick injuries if materials are not disposed of properly. As such, there is a small risk of transmission if HIV-infected bodily fluids enter the body of the health worker through a needle stick or other exposure.

  • Universal precautions, such as gloves, masks, and safe needle disposal, reduce the risk of exposure to blood and body fluids in the healthcare setting

Modes Through Which HIV Is NOT Transmitted

HIV cannot be spread through kissing, holding hands, coughing/sneezing, or living in the same space as a person with HIV. HIV also cannot be passed through sharing food, drinks, dishes or utensils.

See Myths and Misconceptions

Let’s recap!

HIV cells are present in:

  • Blood

  • Breastmilk

  • Semen

  • Vaginal fluids

So, HIV can only be spread if these fluids enter another person’s body. This can happen by sexual intercourse, when breastfeeding your baby, during childbirth, and/or sharing needles with infected persons.

To prevent the spread of the virus we should:

  • Have protected sex with a condom.

  • NOT share needles, even if it's with a partner or family.

  • Take your HIV medications every day.

  • Test your Viral Load and CD4 count regularly.

Myths and Misconceptions About HIV

Myths and Misconceptions About HIV

MISCONCEPTIONS &
MYTHS


What are some of the stories you have heard about HIV? There are so many incorrect narratives out there. For example, you may have heard that touching a person living with HIV can transmit the virus, or that all people who are diagnosed will die.

These Simply Aren’t True.

THE FACTS ABOUT HIV MISCONCEPTIONS & Myths

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MYTH 1

MYTH: Only same sex loving persons contract HIV. HIV is a gay disease.
FACT: Anyone can get HIV, whether it be heterosexual couples or same sex loving partners.

MYTH 2

MYTH: You can get HIV by being around someone who has the virus.
FACT: HIV is only transmitted through blood, breastmilk, vaginal fluids and semen.

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MYTH 3

MYTH: Having HIV is a death sentence.
FACT: A person with HIV can live with it and have a healthy and fulfilling life. You must, however, take your medication as advised.

Some additional myths about HIV that are never true:

  • You can tell if a person has HIV infection by looking at him or her.

  • A person can get HIV infection from deep kissing or tongue kissing.

  • HIV can be transmitted through shaking hands and sharing eating and cooking utensils.

  • You can get HIV infection from a mosquito if it has bitten an HIV-positive person.

  • Having sex with a virgin can get rid of HIV.

  • A woman who is HIV-infected should not get pregnant .

  • HIV is punishment for immoral behaviour.

For even more Myths and Misconceptions surrounding HIV, check out the video below:

 

Overview - What U May Get Wrong

Overview - What U May Get Wrong

WHAT U MAY
GET WRONG


Not everything that you’ve heard before is true about the spread of HIV and AIDS.

Before you were introduced to the virus officially, whether through a personal diagnosis or someone trusting you with their status, you may have heard things that make HIV sound very scary.

However, some of these ‘facts’ that you’ve heard are incorrect. People often misunderstand how HIV is transmitted, and some people even believe that HIV and AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) mean the same thing.

OVERVIEW

SOME MISCONCEPTIONS

In this section, we aim to dispel some of the myths, misconceptions and misunderstandings that people have of HIV, so you can better understand the difference between HIV and AIDS, explain how HIV is transmitted and much more.

Please choose from one of the following topics of interest:

  1. Myths and Misconceptions About HIV
  2. How Is HIV Transmitted?










 

 

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Opportunistic Infections

Opportunistic Infections

OPPORTUNISTIC
INFECTIONS


One risk associated with HIV is that the body is at a higher risk of developing other infections. If you remain on medication and work to maintain a healthy lifestyle, you can live a normal life with HIV. However, for some people who are unmedicated or experiencing treatment failure, the immune system may become weak and leave PLHIV at risk of developing other infections.

Uncontrolled HIV weakens the body’s ability to fight off diseases. Opportunistic Infections are illnesses that occur more frequently or more severely in people with late-stage HIV.

FACTS ABOUT OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTIONS & More

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What Are Opportunistic Infections (OIs)?

These are infections that are more likely to affect people whose immune systems have been compromised. In PLHIV, these infections can happen more frequently or they can be more severe - especially when someone is not on Antiretroviral Therapy. They can affect many parts of the body such as the digestive tract, skin, lungs and brain. In some cases, symptoms of OIs can be confused with side effects of ART.

Why Should We Pay Close Attention To This?

We should take heed of OIs because:

  • They may be the first indicator of HIV infection for many people.

  • They can cause illness or death in PLHIV

How Do We Prevent And Treat OIs?

The best prevention for opportunistic infections is to keep the immune system strong by taking ARV medications every day, in the right way, at the right time. For some PLHIV, a doctor will prescribe an additional preventive antibiotic to prevent the development of OIs. (This is known as OI prophylaxis, and usually involves taking the antibiotic cotrimoxazole.)

Please remember not to self-diagnose with any of these, as the resulting stress can hinder your journey to being a healthier U. If you are concerned about having any of these infections, speak to your doctor about any symptoms you may be experiencing.

If you are experiencing symptoms, or wish to speak with someone on the National HIV Helpline call 800-4HIV or 800-4448. (This is a toll-free number)

You are not alone. #youarenotalonett

For more information on some of the Opportunistic Infections that PLHIV may be affected by, please check the following links:

CDC. AIDS and Opportunistic Infections

Office of AIDS Research, National Institute of Health. What is an Opportunistic Infection?

Please remember that not all PLHIV are affected by Opportunistic Infections. It is important that you continue to take your medication as advised by your doctor in order to reduce the likelihood of an infection.

What Is Your Viral Load and CD4 Count?

FACTS ABOUT VIRAL LOAD, CD4 COUNT & More

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What Is Your Viral Load?

When your blood is drawn at a Treatment Site, your health care provider is checking your viral load to assess how well your medication is working to lower the amount of HIV cells in your body. Viral load refers to the number of HIV cells detected in any given blood sample. Health care providers use this measurement to understand how much HIV is replicating in your body.

Typically, a high viral load is noted to be approximately 100, 000 copies of the virus per ml, while a low viral load is below 10,000 copies per ml of the virus. The aim of treatment is for you to arrive at a viral load that is less than 20 copies per ml of blood. In this case, you will be undetectable.

What Is Your CD4 Count?

When the virus enters your body, it takes over your CD4 cells or T cells, the white blood cells that fight infection in your body. Over time, HIV destroys the CD4 cells, which reduces the number left to defend your body against infections and diseases.

Your CD4 count is the number of CD4 cells found in any given blood sample. Health care providers use your CD4 count to determine how well your immune system is working. Your Antiretroviral treatment (ART) works to not only strengthen the T cells left, but also to help your body to make more and stronger defender cells to fight the virus.

A normal CD4 count falls in the range of 500 to 1,400 cells per cubic millimeter of blood. You are more likely to contract opportunistic infections at levels below 200 cells per cubic millimeter.

Stages Of HIV Infection

Without any treatment, HIV will cause a decrease in CD4 cells and an increase in viral load over time. The diagram below shows the stages of HIV infection over several years as HIV destroys CD4 cells.

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HIV Life Cycle

HIV Life Cycle

HIV Life Cycle

HIV
LIFE-CYCLE


After HIV enters your body, it begins to reproduce itself. This is known as the HIV life cycle. HIV searches for a type of white blood cell known as a T-Cell (also known as a CD4 cell). These cells are an important part of the immune system - they activate to fight diseases in the body.

When HIV finds one of these T-cells, it attaches and then injects its own genetic material into the cell. Inside the T-Cell, the virus makes copies of itself. These copies then exit the cell and go on to repeat the process in other T-Cells in the body. These T-cells are like security guards. When they are strong, they can fight off infection - but when HIV enters the cell, it causes damage and will eventually kill the cell. As HIV infection grows in the body over time, it eventually will overpower the T-cells and the immune system is no longer able to fight off infections. At this stage, PLHIV without treatment will start to get ill.

VIDEO

HOW HIV WORKS

The good news is that this whole takeover can be stopped with your Antiretroviral Therapy, and we can get to the Goal of Undetectable!

This video from Gilead Sciences explains what HIV does after it enters your body and starts to grow.

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How Does HIV Get Into The Body?

How Does HIV Get Into The Body?

HOW DO YOU
GET HIV?


People can get HIV through contact with infected bodily fluids - usually through sexual activity, though sometimes through contact with blood (via drug use or occupational exposure). A baby can also acquire HIV from their mother during pregnancy, labor and delivery, or through breastfeeding.

 

BACKGROUND

HOW DOES HIV ENTER THE BODY?

HIV is transmitted only through blood, semen, vaginal fluid and breastmilk. That means that if one of these fluids enters your body, you can contract HIV. 

When HIV enters the body, it attacks the cells of the immune system. The immune system is a complex network of cells, organs and chemicals which defend the body from infections and viruses such as HIV. The organs of the immune system are distributed throughout the body. The immune system manages the distribution of white blood cells, known as lymphocytes, throughout the body to fight off infections.

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HIV Life Cycle

What Is HIV? What Is AIDS?

THE FACTS ABOUT HIV, AIDS & More

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What Is HIV?

HIV is an acronym that stands for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. HIV is the virus that can lead to AIDS. Viruses are submicroscopic particles that need other cells in order to reproduce and survive. HIV needs to enter other cells in order to replicate itself.

What Is AIDS?

AIDS is an acronym that stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. AIDS is the name for a group of illnesses or conditions that occur when a body has very high levels of HIV infection. Over time, these high levels of virus cause severe illness.

Let’s clarify a bit more about the differences between HIV and AIDS. These conditions are related but different.

  • HIV is the virus that causes immune deficiency

  • AIDS is the late-stage illness that is caused by increased HIV progression

  • Everyone with HIV does not have AIDS; however,

  • Everyone with AIDS does have HIV infection.

As antiretroviral therapy has become more available in Trinidad and Tobago, as well as around the world, fewer people progress from HIV to AIDS.

HIV vs. AIDS

The table below summarizes some key differences between HIV and AIDS.

HIV IS A VIRUSAIDS IS A DISEASE
A virus that attacks cells that help the body fight infection.The most advanced stage of HIV infection.
Weakens the immune system and causes inflammation and damage inside the body.Occurs when a person's immune system is badly damaged.
Makes it harder for the body to fight off diseases.Makes it easier for you to become extremely sick.
When left untreated, HIV can eventually lead to AIDS.Makes it difficult for the body to fight off some cancers and infections.

 

Overview - All About U and HIV

Overview - All About U and HIV

ALL ABOUT
U AND HIV


Understanding the virus and what is happening to your body during and after infection

With so many new things happening with your diagnosis, you may not fully understand what the virus does and how it can continue to affect your body. Let’s look into what is going on in your immune system.

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Sense Of Agency and Living With HIV

Sense Of Agency and Living With HIV

SENSE OF
AGENCY


Having a sense of agency means having a feeling of control over your actions and their consequences. Agency is a sense that you have the ability to influence your own thoughts and behaviour. It also means that you feel competent to handle various situations. People who have a sense of agency also may have high self esteem.

It can be difficult to sometimes feel agency in one’s life amidst everything going on around you. In fact, after being diagnosed with HIV, some people begin to feel a strong sense of powerlessness. That feeling is quite normal. In those moments, it is important that you take care of your mental health, and give yourself intense self-compassion. That’s the first step to becoming an AGENT for yourself. The other processes involved in being an AGENT are listed below.

LIVING WITH HIV

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Why is having a sense of agency so important to PLHIV? Being an agent for yourself means that you can preserve your physical wellbeing. Please remember that you have to interact with different personnel at the treatment sites. If you are strong-willed and know of your needs, you can then communicate your treatment needs with confidence, adhere to your treatment regimen and be well on your way to becoming Undetectable.

Remember It’s All About U.

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LEARN THE FACTS ABOUT AGENCY & More

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A - Ambition

You must know what you want for yourself. What are your dreams? What are your desires? What are your goals?

G - Growth

You must be committed to your growth and development. You can pursue many endeavors in various fields that can result in physical, emotional, social, and intellectual development.

E - Energy

This may sound strange, but you need to have energy to be an agent for yourself. YOU need to motivate yourself with the will and fervor to push yourself to attain what is important to you. If you are unable to motivate yourself, you can also reach out to your support system,as well as your social worker at the treatment sites.

N - Non-Judgmental Attitude

You must accept yourself as you are and not judge yourself. PLHIV are worthy of love and belonging just as much as anyone else.

T - Tenacity

To have tenacity means that you are willing to persevere. This is connected to our point about Energy above. You have to be able to “push through” various circumstances and not give up when obstacles arrive.

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