World AIDS Day 2021: what is the difference between AIDS and HIV, symptoms explained, and is there a vaccine

Today, Wednesday 1 December, marks World AIDS Day 2021 - a day designed to raise awareness and support for those living with HIV, and to remember those who have died from an AIDS-related illness.

This is everything you need to know about World AIDS Day, the difference between AIDS and HIV, and how you can show your support in the fight against AIDS.

What is World AIDS Day?

World AIDS Day is an annual event where people around the globe come together in the fight against HIV, support those living with HIV, and to remember those who have died from an AIDS-related illness.

The day was founded in 1988, and it was the first ever global health day.

In the UK, there are over 105,200 people living with HIV - and around the world, there are an estimated 38 million who have the virus. In the UK, over four thousand people are diagnosed with HIV each year.

The World AIDS Day organisation says: “World AIDS Day is important because it reminds the public and government that HIV has not gone away - there is still a vital need to raise money, increase awareness, fight prejudice and improve education.”

What’s the difference between HIV and AIDS?

While it’s common to hear HIV and AIDS used in tandem with one another, it’s important to know the difference between the two.

HIV, which stands for human immunodeficiency virus, is a virus which damages the cells in your immune system, and weakens your body’s ability to fight everyday infections and disease. If left untreated, HIV will develop into AIDS.

AIDS, which stands for acquired immune deficiency syndrome, is an umbrella term used to describe HIV that has been left untreated and the number of potentially life-threatening infections and illnesses that can happen when your immune system has been severely damaged by the HIV virus.

AIDS cannot be transmitted from one person to another, but the HIV virus can.

According to the NHS, the most common way that HIV is spread in the UK “is through having anal or vaginal sex without a condom”.

Other ways of contracting HIV include sharing needles, syringes or other injecting equipment, or transmission from mother to baby during pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding.

HIV cannot be transmitted via sweat, urine or saliva.

“The chance of getting HIV through oral sex is very low and will be dependent on many things, such as whether you receive or give oral sex and the oral hygiene of the person giving the oral sex,” the NHS says.

What are the symptoms?

When infected with HIV, most people will experience a short, flu-like illness that occurs between two and six weeks after the initial infection.

Common symptoms experienced during this period include a fever, sore throat, body rash, tiredness, muscle pain and swollen glands.

After this, HIV may not present with any symptoms for several years, however the virus is still active and will cause progressive damage to your immune system.

Once the immune system has been severely weakened, symptoms can include:

• Weight loss
• Chronic diarrhoea
• Night sweats
• Skin problems 
• Recurrent infections
• Serious life-threatening illnesses

An early diagnosis and treatment of HIV can prevent these problems.

If you have several of the flu-like symptoms and think you’ve been at risk of HIV infection in the past few weeks, it’s important that you get an HIV test.

How do I get tested for HIV?

In the UK, HIV testing is available to anyone, free of charge, and there’s a few different ways you can access a test, including:

• Sexual health or genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics
• Clinics run by charities like the Terrence Higgins Trust
• Some GP surgeries 
• Some contraception and young people’s clinics
• Local drug dependency services
• An antenatal clinic, if you’re pregnant
• A private clinic, where you will have to pay

You can find HIV testing services near you in England by using the NHS site, the NHS inform site if you’re in Scotland, the NHS 111 site if you’re in Wales, or the Sexual Health NI site if you’re in Northern Ireland.

There are four main types of HIV test:

• A blood test, where a sample of blood will be taken in a clinic and sent for testing in a laboratory. Results are usually available the same day, or within the next few days
• Point of care test, where a sample of saliva from your mouth or a small spot of blood from your first is taken in a clinic. This sample does not need to be sent to a lab for testing and instead the result is available within a few minutes
• Home sampling kit, where you collect your own saliva or blood at home and then send it away in the post for testing. You’ll be contacted with your results in the next few days
• Home testing kit, where you’ll collect your own saliva or blood sample at home and then also test it at home. The result is available within minutes. The NHS warns that “it’s important to check that any test you buy has a CE quality assurance mark and is licensed for sale in the UK, as HIV self-tests available from overseas can be poor quality”

The most accurate test is the blood test, and a blood test should be carried out to confirm the results of other tests if they come back positive.

Is there a vaccine?

Currently, there is no vaccine or cure for HIV - however there are effective treatments that can allow a person with the virus to live a long and healthy life.

If you think you’ve been exposed to the virus, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) medicine might stop you from becoming infected. PEP must be started within 72 hours of coming into contact with the virus for it to be effective.

PEP involves taking HIV treatment every day for one month, and it can be accessed through sexual health or GUM clinics, or hospitals, usually through A&E departments.

If you are diagnosed with HIV, you’ll have to undergo regular blood tests to monitor the progress of the infection before you begin treatment.

HIV is treated with something called antiretroviral medicines, which work by stopping the virus from replicating in the body. This allows your immune system to repair itself and prevent further damage.

A combination of HIV drugs are used as the virus can quickly adapt and become resistant.

The amount of HIV virus in your blood, known as the viral load, is measured to see how well you are responding to treatment. Once HIV can no longer be measured in the viral load, it’s known as undetectable. Most people taking daily HIV treatment reach an undetectable viral load within six months of starting treatment.

Where can I buy a red ribbon?

The red ribbon is the universal symbol of awareness and support for people living with HIV.

The idea came around in 1991, a decade after the emergence of HIV, when 12 artists gathered to discuss a new project for Visual AIDS, a New York HIV-awareness arts organisation.

The red ribbon was conceived as a visual expression of compassion for those living with HIV as, at the time, HIV was highly stigmatised and the suffering of communities living with HIV remained largely hidden.

You’ll be able to find red ribbons in shops across the UK for a suggested donation of £1, including in all MAC Cosmetics stores as they are partnered with World AIDS Day.

Alternatively, you can buy fabric ribbons (individually or in packs) and red ribbon brooches from the National AIDS Trust shop website.

Single fabric red ribbons cost £1.50 and a pack of 100 is £12. Alternatively, you could opt for a glittery red ribbon brooch for £15.99, a limited edition Lulu Guinness Brooch for £15.99 or a small red ribbon bead brooch for £2.

You can also always donate money to World AIDS Day via the website, on either a one-off or recurring basis.

World AIDS Day has also created a virtual red ribbon as well, which you can add to your Twitter or Facebook profile. To donate you can text REDRIBBON to 70085 for £1.

To donate more you should include the amount, for example, REDRIBBON5 to 70085 will donate £5, REDRIBBON10 will donate £10, and so on up to a maximum of £20.

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