Did you know that 1 out of 5
people living with HIV in the United States are unaware of
their HIV status?!?! (Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, 2008)
WHAT IS HIV?
According to the CDC, HIV is the human immunodeficiency
virus that can lead to AIDS or acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome. The CDC that estimates that about 56,000
people in the United States contracted HIV in 2006.
The virus attacks blood cells in your body that are designed
to fight off other colds, viruses, or illness (T cells).
SYMPTOMS:
Within a few weeks of contracting HIV one may have flu-like
symptoms (aching, chills, fever, and stomach ache); however,
many people have no symptoms at all. People with HIV
may live for several years feeling healthy and active but
the HIV is still affecting their bodies.
AIDS:
AIDS is the late stage of HIV, when a person’s immune system
is so damaged that it has a hard time fighting off diseases
and cancers. People do not die from the HIV or AIDS
itself, they die from the illness they cannot fight off
due to the HIV or AIDS (Kaposi’s Sarcoma, Lymphoma,
Tuberculosis, Wasting Syndrome etc.)
TREATMENT:
While there is no cure for HIV/AIDS yet, there are many
medications that can help treat the virus. If you have
HIV/AIDS you can never get rid of it, you will have it
forever. Without the help of medications, the disease
could progress from HIV to AIDS in a matter of a few years.
However, if you get tested for HIV and receive medications
for it, you can prolong or put off the transfer of the virus
into AIDS. Many people live decades longer due to
testing and highly active medications (a combination of
powerful medications).
HOW IS HIV SPREAD?
Unprotected sex is the #1 way to contract HIV!
Not using a condom while having sex
puts you at risk, having unprotected anal sex puts you
at a higher risk, and unprotected anal sex among men who
have sex with men puts one at an even higher risk.
Having multiple sex partners can
increase ones risk.
Having other STI’s (sexually
transmitted infections: Herpes, Gonorrhea, Syphilis,
Chlamydia etc.) can increase ones risk. This is due to
open sores that make it easier for bodily fluids to pass
through
Also, unprotected oral sex can also
put you at risk, however, it is much lower than anal or
vaginal sex.
Sharing needles, syringes, rinse
water, or other equipment to prepare illicit drugs for
injection.
Mother to
child transmission
Just because you have HIV/AIDS does
not mean you will give birth to a baby who has it too.
There are medications a women can take while she is
pregnant that will decrease the risk of transmission.
This shows the importance of testing, because if you
know your HIV positive you can prevent it from spreading
to others. HIV can be passed from mother to child
during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding.
Being
stuck with a HIV contaminated needle or other sharp objects
This puts healthcare workers at a high
risk
Blood
transfusions, blood products, or other organ/tissue
transplants that are HIV positive.
There is a very low risk for this type
of transmission due to rigorous testing.
Contact between broken skin,
wounds, lesions, or mucous with someone who is HIV positive
Tattoo’s and piercings pose a
risk for transmission due to the use of needles.
MYTHS:
You cannot get HIV/AIDS from water
You cannot get HIV/AIDS from bug bites,
such as mosquitoes.
You cannot get HIV/AIDS from sweat,
tears, or spit
You cannot get HIV/AIDS from sharing
common spaces, showers (however, do not share razors cause
this does increase ones risk), drinking or eating from the
same plates or cups with someone who is infected with HIV.
You cannot get HIV/AIDS from kissing
(there is a very remote chance HIV can be transmitted from
deep “French-Kissing” if one has an open wound or bleeding
gums)
TESTING:
It may take some time for the antibodies to build in ones
system to detect HIV in the body. Most people will
have detectable antibodies about 2-8 weeks after exposure
with day 25 being most common. Unfortunately, if you
think you were exposed to HIV last night, there is no way to
tell today. However, it may take as long as 3-6 months
to find detectable antibodies so it is recommended to get
tested on multiple occasions. There are HIV test that
require blood work and may take a week or two before the
results are available and there are tests that may only take
20 minutes to get results (rapid test).
PREVENTION:
Know your status. ANYONE can get HIV
babies, kids, teenagers, adults, and the elderly! If
you are at a risk for HIV you should be tested once a
year
Abstain from sexual activity or be in
a long term monogamous (one person) relationship were
you practice safe sex methods.
Limit your # of sexual partners
Correct and consistent use of latex
condoms decrease ones risk significantly (if you or your
partner is allergic to latex there are other safe
options)
Get tested and treated for STI’s and
make sure your partner does too!!!
