As they listened patiently, all they could really hear was the racing pace of their heartbeat. The doctor's long sentences slowly registered in short bursts: “I'm sorry to say, it seems you have tested positive to HIV.”

The last three letters seemed the loudest of the doctor's seemingly long speech They wondered if these letters werespoken louder than the other words, but the letters 'H I V' were just the most striking.

Then various thoughts and questions followed; “It cannot be true,” “We didn't know about it,” “How could it have happened”? “Where do we go from here”?

WHAT IS HIV?

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) attacks the body's immune system.  HIV is a special type of virus known as a retrovirus. The retrovirus reproduces inside the cell and releases copies of itself into the blood. It can be challenging to treat as the virus can rapidly mutate (alter) into new strains of virus, it infects particular cells, called CD4 cells, that are found in the blood. These cells are responsible for fighting infection.  After they become infected; the CD4 cells are destroyed by HIV. Although the body will attempt to produce more CD4 cells, their numbers will eventually decline and the immune system will stop working.

HIV is spread through the exchange of bodily fluids and can be transmitted in three main ways:

• Sexual transmission.
• Transmission through blood (people who inject illegal drugs and share needles).
• Mother-to-child transmission (A baby can become infected by his or her mother during pregnancy, labour, delivery, or through breastfeeding).

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a term that is used to describe the late stages of HIV. This is when the immune system has stopped working and the person develops a life-threatening condition, such as pneumonia (infection of the lungs). The term AIDS was first used by doctors when the exact nature of HIV was not fully understood. However, the term is no longer widely used because it is too general to describe the various conditions that can affect people with HIV.

How common is HIV? At the end of 2008, an estimated 83,000 adults aged over 15 were living with HIV in the UK. Of these, 22,400 (27%) did not know they were infected. The number of people living with HIV is rising each year. This is because more cases are being diagnosed and people are living longer due to more effective medication. In 2009, there were 6,630 new diagnoses of HIV, contributing to a cumulative total of 111,922 cases reported by the end of June 2010. As of June 2010, there have been 26,262 diagnoses of AIDS in the UK, and 19,457 people diagnosed with HIV have died.

The only way to tell if you have HIV is to take an HIV test (usually an HIV antibody test). You cannot tell if someone has HIV or AIDS just by looking at them, and HIV cannot be diagnosed through symptoms alone. AIDS and HIV symptoms are not specific, and may be indicative of many other illnesses, which is why an HIV test is the only way to receive a definitive diagnosis. HIV has a window period. A window period is the time between exposure and when antibodies to the virus begin to appear. It is the antibodies that we test. The window period for HIV can be anywhere between 2 weeks after exposure to 6 months after exposure. This means that if you test during this period, it is typically recommended that you test again within 3 months, especially in cases where the person tests negative. You want to make sure that you are truly negative and that it is not a false negative.

Currently there is no cure for HIV or vaccine to stop the infection. However, since the 1990s, treatments have been developed that enable most people with HIV to stay well and live relatively normal lives. Without treatment, HIV will cause progressive damage to your immune system. It may eventually become so overwhelmed that you develop AIDS, which can be fatal. Research suggests that beginning treatment early in the course of infection may help reduce damage to the immune system. Your doctor can advise you on the best time to begin treatment. Combination therapy, also called highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), slows the progression of the condition and can prolong life.

Many different types of ARV medicines can be used as part of therapy. Combinations of medicines are very specific to the individual so what may suit one person may not besuitable for another, so the medicine is tailored tailored to each individual.

There are five main types of ARVs:

• Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) or nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NtRTIs).
• Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs).
• Protease inhibitors (PIs).
• Fusion and entry inhibitors.
• Integrase inhibitors (INIs).

These medicines work in different ways, but they all stop the virus reproducing inside your cells, they slow down its spread and protect your immune system. Most people with HIV are initially recommended to take two types of NRTI/NtRTI medication, plus another type of medicine. The two NRTI/NtRTIs are often combined in a single tablet. The purpose of treatment is to find the best combination of medicines, which reduces the viral load to undetectable levels while minimising any side effects. Advanced research and development in medical science means more people are living longer and healthier lives, however Prevention is always better than cure, and ignorance is definitely not bliss. Live a sexually safe lifestyle and be aware of HIV and Aids.