Epidemiology

• Worldwide
• UK spread

87% of all cases (diagnosed & undiagnosed) are virally suppressed

Aetiology and pathophysiology

Transmission

HIV can’t spread through normal day to day activities including kissing. It is spread through:

• Unprotected anal, vaginal or oral sexual activity.
• Mother to child at any stage of pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding. This is referred to as vertical transmission.
• Mucous membrane, blood or open wound exposure to infected blood or bodily fluids such as through sharing needles, needle-stick injuries or blood splashed in an eye.

PC

Primary HIV: Non-specific “seroconversion” illness after 2-8 weeks, presents like glandular fever:

• fatigue.
• fever.
• a sore throat.
• a headache.
• body aches.