Hormones 2016

HIV
Why should I get treated?
Hepatitis C can be fatal.
Untreated hepatitis C can lead to scarring of the liver known as ’cirrhosis’.
A small number of people with cirrhosis will go on to get liver failure, the
only treatment for which is a liver transplant. A small proportion of people
with cirrhosis develop liver cancer (tht, 2015d).
What else can I do to stay healthy?
• avoid alcohol,
• liver disease can make you more vulnerable to infection - smoking is
best avoided as it can increase the seriousness of liver damage,
• recreational drugs should be avoided to allow your liver to get better,
• eat a healthy balanced diet (tht, 2015d).
HIV
HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system, and weakens your ability
to fight infections and disease. It’s most commonly caught by having sex
without a condom.
It can also be passed on by sharing infected needles and other injecting
equipment, and from an HIV-positive mother to her child during pregnancy,
birth and breastfeeding.
HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. The virus attacks the
immune system, and weakens your ability to fight infections and disease
(NHS, 2014f).
Once someone is infected with HIV the virus will remain in their body for
the rest of their life. There is currently no cure for HIV and no vaccine to
prevent people from becoming infected. However, treatment can help most
people with HIV to live much longer and feel well.
HIV can be transmitted in a number of ways. This information is mostly
about sexual transmission. It tells you about HIV, what you can do if you
are worried that you might have the infection and advice on how to protect
yourself.
If someone is tested and found to be infected with HIV, they are said to be
HIV positive.
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Version 2016.3576– – Document LATEXed – 1st May 2016
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