How do you get it? Opportunistic infections CD4-cells Viral load test HIV Medication Adherence Resistance PEP HIV/Aids & Pregnancy What is HIV/AIDS? - HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is the virus that can cause AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).
- The HIV virus damages your immune system. That means that your body is increasingly unable to fight off all kinds of illnesses. So you're more likely to get ill.
- HIV/AIDS is a major threat to the health and well-being of millions of people all over the world.
- Most people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS are in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America.
- In Western Europe, HIV/Aids is also present, but not at as high numbers as in other regions of the world.
- Someone who is infected with HIV is said to be 'HIV-positive' (HIV+), 'seropositive' or referred to as a 'person living with HIV' (PLWHIV).
- If you're HIV-positive, you are not necessarily ill. Some people are HIV-positive for eight to ten years and notice nothing at all. But in the meantime the HIV virus is active and damaging the immune system.
- Only once the virus has seriously damaged your immune system and your body is no longer able to fight off opportunistic infections or diseases are you likely to become ill. It is at this stage that one is said to have AIDS.
Do you have any symptoms? Or do you think you might have been exposed to unsafe sex? It is important to have yourself tested as soon as possible. For assistance, you can go to: your general practitioner (GP, huisarts in Dutch), the GGD or the AIDS STI Help Line (0900 20420440 (10 ct/min); Monday 10:00-22:00. Tuesday-Friday 14:00-22:00. Mail: infolijn@soaaids.nl) |
![Kaposi's Sarcoma [ a rare cancer usually developed in HIV positive people]](/upload/toevoeging_hiv.200.jpg "Kaposi's Sarcoma [a rare cancer usually developed in HIV positive people]")
