Causes and Symptoms
H.I.V. is a virus that affects the immune system and is contracted through unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sexual intercourse with an infected person.
It can also be passed through needles and injecting equipment used by an infected person or from a mother during pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding.
It is not caught through everyday contact with an infected person.
Symptoms may not appear for over 10 years after infection and can be mistaken for other illnesses such as flu.
Symptoms include:
- A rash
- Headaches and fever
- Sore throat
- Dry cough
- Swollen glands
- Aching joints
- Diarrhoea that lasts longer than a week.
Treatment
There is no cure for H.I.V, however, if you are diagnosed your doctor will discuss a treatment of a combination of daily antiviral drugs.
