Pathogen and transmission
HIV is the acronym for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which belongs to the retroviruses. The HI virus is transmitted by unprotected sex as well as by sharing syringes and needles used for consuming drugs. It can also be transmitted during pregnancy from the mother to the child and later by breastfeeding. The risk of transmission during blood transfusions is also increased in countries, in which the technical standards of medical care are lower than in the high income countries.
Clinical picture
Shortly after infection the virus proliferates very strongly. This often results in mild, flu-like symptoms that generally disappear after a few weeks. As a defense reaction, the body produces antibodies that can normally be detected in blood at the latest three months following infection. Then a symptom-free phase follows that can last for months or years in which the virus continues to proliferate and damage the immune system. With further progression, non-specific symptoms of disease emerge such as colds, fever, coughs, or swellings of the lymph nodes, until finally characteristic severe infections and tumours appear. This last stage of HIV infection is termed AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) if the criteria of the AIDS definition are met.
Thanks to medical therapies, ideally in the early stages of the disease, there is now a real chance that immune deficiency regresses or is prevented from developing. However, an HIV infection is still life-threatening if the therapies are not consistently adhered to for the rest of a patient's life.
Frequency and distribution
There are 37 million people with HIV infection or AIDS worldwide. According to recent estimates, around 16'600 HIV-infected people live in Switzerland.
Prevention
To protect yourself against infection, you must practise safer sex and avoid sharing syringes and infected needles.
If you have changing or multiple sexual partners during the same time period, talk to your doctor or another specialist about HIV and other sexually transmitted infections and get advice on whether you may need to be tested.
And for everyone having sex:
Take your Safer Sex Check at www.lovelife.ch
If you’re pregnant, be sure to have regular check-ups with your gynaecologist, too. Pregnant women are tested for HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and more to help protect the unborn child.