HIV/AIDS

HIV or Human Immunodeficiency Virus is the virus that causes AIDS. The HIV infection will gradually
destroy the body's immune system, making it vulnerable to a whole range of infections and cancers. AIDS
stands for 'Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome". It is a collection of symptoms, signs. Infection and
cancer resulting from the damage to immune system caused by the HIV. AIDS is the final stage and most
severe form of HIV infection. Based on UNAIDS estimates, the number of people living with living with
HIV/AIDS worldwide in 2007 is estimated to be 33.2 million, with 2.5 million newly infected and 2.1 million
deaths.
HIV is only infectious in body fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal secretion, breast milk. There are few
ways HIV can be transmitted from any infected persons to others, such as through: Unprotected sexual
intercourse, sharing infected needles & syringes, through transfusion with contaminated blood, blood
products or organ transplants, and by transmission from infected mother to her baby during pregnancy, at
birth or breast-feeding
Most people who are infected with HIV do not know that they have become infected. However, some
people may develop fever, sore throat, rash, joint pain, fatigue and enlarged lymph nodes, for a brief period,
usually one to six weeks after being infected with HIV.
Following that stage, an infected person may look healthy and normal although they have HIV in his/her
blood. Even though they have no symptoms and signs of HIV-related illness or AIDS for many years, they
are able to transmit the virus to others. Probability of HIV test (to detected antibody to the virus) to be
positive at this stage is high.
At present, there is no medication to cure HIV/AIDS completely. However, progression of the disease can
be slowed down by the use of anti - retrovial (ARV) drugs, which will prolong and improve the quality of life.
Preventive measures among high risk groups and general public are very important because there is no
cure for AIDS and no vaccine to protect a person from HIV infection. Common measures to prevent HIV
infection are: use new disposable needles and syringes and avoid sharing injecting equipment, delivery by
caesarian section technique for delivery and avoid breastfeeding to newborn child, health-care workers must
always practice standard precautions and prevent injuries caused by needles and other sharp instruments,
those who think they have been exposed to HIV, should go for voluntary HIV testing and take precautions to
prevent spread of HIV to others, healthy lifestyle guided by religious and moral values. Sexual transmission
of HIV can be prevented through ABC approach : abstinence or no sex (A), monogamous relations between
uninfected partners or being faithful (B), practice safe sex, including use of condoms (C).
Children infected or affected by HIV may get help from the Malaysian AIDS Foundation Paediatric AIDS
Scheme (ask your doctor for information). More information or counseling can be obtained from: Malaysian
AIDS Council
If you are below 16 years old, having sex is illegal unless you are married. The Malaysian law states that
consensual sex with girls below 16 years old will lead to the male being charged with statutory rape.
REMEMBER !
If you have a concomitant Sexually transmitted infection (STIs) you are at higher risk of getting HIV
infection during unprotected sexual activity.