HIV is increasingly recognized as an illness that affects couples and
families, and not just the individual. This is not only because the
virus can be passed on from one person to another, but also because for
every person infected with HIV, there is a family and community that are
also affected.
HIV is a blood-borne virus that can be spread through unprotected sex,
sharing drug-injecting equipment and to a child during or shortly after
birth from an infected mother. HIV cannot be cured, but can be managed
by a combination of medications. However, if left untreated, the
condition can progress until the person develops AIDS (acquired immune
deficiency syndrome). Immune systems that are compromised are unable to
effectively fight infection. People are then susceptible to a range of
infections and can die from these. Early diagnosis of HIV and the advances in treatment have meant that
people are able to live longer. HIV testing involves detecting
antibodies in the blood. When someone is first diagnosed HIV positive,
their physician will take more blood tests to assess how the immune
system is working (CD4 count) and how much active virus is present in
the blood (viral load). These will help the doctor and patient decide
when to start treatment.
