HIV

 

 

Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It's the virus from which AIDS is contracted. Discovered in 1982, its origin is unknown. 

HIV is transmitted through human blood, sperm and pre-spermatic liquid, vaginal secretions, mother's milk. 

The infection occurs when the virus, carried by one of these liquids, passes from the bloodstream of an HIV-positive person into another person's bloodtream. 

The virus is not transmitted through other human fluids like saliva, sweat, tears, urine. 

You can't get infected by HIV breathing the same air, nor living together, nor using the same dishes and glasses, nor taking a bath in the same water, nor using the same toilet, nor touching, nor kissing with an HIV-positive person. 

HIV-positive persons can lead a completely normal life among others. 

They just have to take the necessary precautions during sexual intercourses, which means always using a condom. 

These precautions are essential both to protect the partner and to protect the HIV-positive person him/herself, because he/she is particularly helpless 
against other infections. 

Being HIV-positive does not mean being AIDS sick.
The disease can develop even many years after the infection.

 

THE HIV TEST

The presence of HIV is discovered by a simple specific blood test. 

Italian law guarantees you the right to have the HIV test done for free, in public medical centers and in a completely anonymous way.

You don't need a doctor's prescription, nor any kind of document.

Keep in mind that the virus can't be detected by the test before 6 months after its entry into the bloodstream.

The test, actually, detects  HIV antibodies, which take up  to 6 months to be produced by the immune system after the infection.

This is to say that if you or your partner had the HIV test today and it went negative, you must even be sure you haven't had risky sexual acts in the last six months: because if you were infected, for instance, yesterday or five months ago, today you would have had a negative test result. 

So, the HIV test has to be done at least six months after the last risky act or behavior.

 

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