Since it first reared its ugly head HIV Aids has somewhat declined in notoriety and the fear factor that it used to inject into everyones hearts and minds. That is largely because HIV is now a treatable condition and most people living with the virus can remain fit and well when on treatment.

Over 80,000 people were living with HIV in the UK at the end of 2008. Around three in every 10 people didn't know that they had an infection because they hadn't been tested. You might be surprised to know, as I was that the majority of infections are in heterosexuals; these are usually in people who have come to live in the UK from countries where HIV is widespread and have been diagnosed since living in the UK. Infections are also common among men who have sex with men which is more commonly perceived and where we understood that the whole thing started, remember patient X and all that?

Interestingly AIDS is no longer a common term used by medical professionals, who now use the descriptions of advanced or late-stage HIV infection.

Considering the doom and gloom that accompanied the early years of HIV discovery and treatment a think medical science has some a long way with this. Well done them!

The first few months after a person become infected with HIV is called primary HIV infection, or acute HIV infection. It might also be called seroconversion. Symptoms of HIV infection might be present but you may not pay attention to them, because they are often a lot like other infections such as flu. Early symptoms usually start about four weeks after the infection and can last for up to four weeks.
Symptoms of primary HIV can include:
fever, swollen glands, sore throat, a rash on your body or face, painful muscles or joints, headache, feeling generally unwell, mouth ulcers, night sweats, brain infections such as meningitis (although this is rare)
During this time, an infected person will be very infectious because the amount of the virus in the blood is high. This means that the risk of passing the infection on to someone else is high, for example, through unprotected sex.
After these early symptoms, HIV may remain hidden for many years. Many people don't progress into advanced HIV infection, and deaths are now uncommon in people taking anti-HIV medicines. If an infected person is unaware of their HIV infection, the body's ability to fight infection becomes badly affected. When this happens, the immune system will become weak and won't be able to work properly. Eventually, you could be at risk of life-threatening illnesses. When this happens it's called advanced HIV infection (or AIDS).

Once a immune system has been seriously damaged, a sufferer may start to develop illnesses that usually require complex treatments in hospital. Illnesses associated with advanced HIV infection include tuberculosis, pneumonia, certain cancers such as lymphoma These illnesses are uncommon in people who have been taking anti-HIV medicines.

Most people with HIV are infected during unprotected vaginal or anal sex. Not everyone who is exposed to HIV becomes infected with the virus, although you're more likely to become infected if you have repeated sexual contact with someone who is infected. There is a small chance of infection through unprotected oral sex. It's estimated that around six in every 100 people with HIV get it through unprotected oral sex with someone who has HIV. HIV can also be passed on through direct contact with infected blood. For example, by using infected needles for injections, or from injury with a needle containing infected blood. The virus can be passed from a mother to a baby if she has HIV during pregnancy, childbirth or when breastfeeding.
In the past, people were infected with HIV through blood or organ donations. All donations in the UK , however, are now screened for HIV, so the chances of this happening are extremely low.

People used to think th\t you could get HIV from kissing but HIV isn't found at high enough levels in the other fluids in the body, such as saliva, sweat, urine or on the skin, to cause an infection from this kind of contact. It is also a myth that HIV can be passed on through normal day-to-day activities, such as sharing cutlery, sitting on toilet seats or by shaking hands. Also, HIV can't be passed on through a mosquito bite or bites from other animals or insects.

It's important to have an HIV test if you think you have been at risk of having caught an HIV infection.

There are very effective treatments available that effectively slow the growth of the virus. Being diagnosed soon after you are infected can help you get the best out of the treatments. The test for HIV is a blood test, a finger prick test which is checked in a clinic within a few minutes, or blood taken from your arm that is sent to a laboratory. Your blood sample will be tested for HIV antibodies; these are produced by your body in response to infection. It can take up to three months for HIV infection to show in your blood, so tests done before this time may not be accurate.

You can get a test at a sexual health clinic, where sexually transmitted infections are diagnosed and treated. You can also ask your doctor for a test or go to a private clinic. Some clinics offer same day HIV testing. This is a big deal and counselling can be arranged if you have particular anxieties
about your results. You can also talk about the test results with your doctor or any other health care professional.

There is not a cure for HIV infection but treatment with anti-HIV medicines can reduce the amount of the virus in your body and this will slow down the effects of the virus and reduce the chances of developing a later, life-threatening infection. Taken correctly, anti-HIV medicines can help a sufferer to stay well and live a full life.

HIV treatment is usually managed at specialist out-patient clinics and it's important to attend all appointments. Health professional can check how well your immune system is working and ask you about your general health at these appointments.
Usually, once the number of CD4 white blood cells has fallen to a low level, or if a woman become pregnant, doctors will recommend starting treatment with medicines. Treatment may also be started if a patient develops a serious infection or a condition linked to advanced HIV infection.