Welcome to GoodToKnow

Other sites in our network: What's on TV, Now, Pick Me Up, Puzzles and Prizes
Branding_print FAQ & Help

HIV and AIDS

HIV and AIDS

goodtoknow says: HIV is no longer a death sentence. New drugs and treatments mean that many people who are diagnosed with it can live relatively normal lives for many years. HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is basically a virus which attacks the immune system. It's mainly spread by sex, needle sharing or contaminated blood transfusions. You cannot get HIV from kissing, sneezing, or sharing toilets. AIDS only develops once the virus has broken down the immune system but the outlook for people with AIDS and HIV in the UK has never been better.

For a full medical explanation of the causes, symptoms and treatments of HIV and AIDS from patient.co.uk, read on.

HIV is a virus which is most commonly passed on by sexual contact. HIV attacks cells of the immune system. Over time (usually several years) the immune system 'weakens' so that you cannot defend the body against various bacteria, viruses and other germs. This is when AIDS develops (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). Many infections and conditions can develop if you have AIDS. Since 1995 the outlook has greatly improved for people who have access to drugs that have been developed which suppress HIV.

If you want to comment on this article, leave a tip or a story, please fill in the box below.

2 months

sara

I guess sophie you are wrong by saying''i carnt believe how many people die of it each day!!!!'' I won't stop the way you feel, but...people are dying for they own ignorance! and indenial, until the desease itself comes to a pick of un treatable,it takes a matter of seconds to walk in hospital for tests just like the way you and me we do when it comes to paps smear! lots of medicine have been introduced for HIV so far,its not like in the 80's or early 90's when people where dying like chickens,sorry to speak,check out what up dates of HIV medics are on medical journals, the only illness you have to worry about is 'CANCER'

6 months

Kimberley

sophie it is a serious disease !! but as the article says it is no longer a death sentence as more people are being treated for this, all over the world even more less developed countries in medical research are even being treated!! many people still die but hopefully day by day less people will die of Aids And Hiv ! x

7 months

sophie

i think hiv is a serious desese. i carnt believe how many people die of it each day!!!!

Add Your Comments

Please enter the characters in the image:

Elsewhere on goodtoknow


Today's Top Competition

Win! Reggae CD

Win! Reggae CD

Enter our comp to be in with a chance to win this party CD

Enter Previous winners



Story of the Day

Living with insomnia

Living with insomnia

Read Jane Barnes' experience of living with insomnia for 18 years...

Read more Living with insomnis

Today's Tip:
Relieving back pain

goodtoknow poll

A baby without the breast cancer gene has been conceived so it's guaranteed not to develop the disease. Do you agree with this?


  • Yes, breast cancer is a horrible disease 12%
  • No, genetically modifying embryos is wrong whatever the reason 26%
  • Yes, it's fine to genetically modify embryos if it's for health reasons 62%


To visit other sites in our network click here:


To visit one of our associated sites click here: