Information on HIV & AIDS

What is HIV?

HIV, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, is the virus that causes AIDS.  The HIV virus attacks white blood cells and destroys them.  The human immune system requires healthy white blood cells to fight diseases.  In a person with HIV, the immune system is attacked and the he or she is left vulnerable to other infections referred to as “opportunistic infections.”

What is AIDS?

AIDS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, is the final stage of HIV.  When a person infected with HIV receives an “AIDS” diagnosis, their immune system has become so weak they are no longer able to fight off disease.  When a person with HIV has a low number of white blood cells (known as T-Cells, or CD4’s), and has one or more infections, they are then diagnosed with AIDS.

See the link below for a more detailed description of AIDS.  The link will take you to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website.

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/qa/qa2.htm

How is a person infected with the HIV virus?

HIV is transmitted from a person infected with the HIV virus to another person through contact with blood, semen, vaginal fluid, and breast milk.  There are three main ways a person can become infected with HIV: 
         
          1. Sexual Intercourse, including:  vaginal, anal and oral.  As well as contact with seminal & vaginal fluids, and blood.

          2. Sharing needles with a person infected with HIV.
         
          3. An infant exposed to HIV through childbirth (before or during), or through ingesting his/her mother’s breast milk.

Is there a cure for HIV?

No, at this time there is not a cure.  Scientists are continually learning about the HIV virus and are working toward a cure.  Until then, medications have been developed to help the immune system fight or “hold back” the virus.  The use of doctor prescribed medication has been successful in increasing life expectancy and giving those infected with HIV a relatively normal life.

Where can I go for more information?

Click on the links below for more information:

Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/hivinf.htm

How can I protect myself from getting the HIV virus?

1.  First of all, you need to know the ways you do not get HIV. You cannot get HIV through: hugging, holding hands, closed-mouth kissing, sharing eating utensils or food/drinks, toilet seats, air, water, or insect bites. 

2.  Educate yourself on how HIV is transmitted, and avoid those risky behaviors that could put you at risk. 

3.  Use universal precautions (see the link below) when in contact with blood or other body fluids.  http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/bp_universal_precautions.html

4.  The CDC reports, “The surest way to avoid transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s) is to abstain from sexual intercourse, or to be in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and you know is uninfected.”

http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/od/condoms.pdf

5.  You can also avoid transmission by using unused & clean needles if you choose to inject drugs.

6.  The use of condoms reduces the risk of HIV transmission, but is not 100 percent effective due to misuse, using condoms past their expiration date, and unexpected flaws or tears in the latex.