What is HIV and AIDS?
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that attacks the immune system
(the body's defense against infection). HIV uses healthy white blood cells to
replicate itself, breaking down the immune system and leaving the body more
susceptible to illness. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.
AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is the condition that results from HIV infection. An HIV positive person is diagnosed with AIDS when their immune system is so weakened that it is no longer able to fight off illness. People with immune deficiency are much more vulnerable to infections such as pneumonia and various forms of cancer. These diseases are called opportunistic infections because they take advantage of the weakened immune system. Ultimately, people do not die from AIDS itself, they die from one or more of these opportunistic infections.
Currently, THERE IS NO CURE FOR AIDS. While anti-viral medications and healthy behavior can improve the quality and length of life for some people living with AIDS, these treatments do not work for everyone and may cause harmful side effects.
It can take several years before HIV breaks down a person's immune system and causes AIDS, and people may show few symptoms for several years after they are infected. People who appear perfectly healthy may not know they have the virus and can pass it on to others. The only way to know if you have HIV is to GET TESTED.
AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is the condition that results from HIV infection. An HIV positive person is diagnosed with AIDS when their immune system is so weakened that it is no longer able to fight off illness. People with immune deficiency are much more vulnerable to infections such as pneumonia and various forms of cancer. These diseases are called opportunistic infections because they take advantage of the weakened immune system. Ultimately, people do not die from AIDS itself, they die from one or more of these opportunistic infections.
Currently, THERE IS NO CURE FOR AIDS. While anti-viral medications and healthy behavior can improve the quality and length of life for some people living with AIDS, these treatments do not work for everyone and may cause harmful side effects.
It can take several years before HIV breaks down a person's immune system and causes AIDS, and people may show few symptoms for several years after they are infected. People who appear perfectly healthy may not know they have the virus and can pass it on to others. The only way to know if you have HIV is to GET TESTED.
How is HIV Transmitted?
HIV is transmitted from person to person through the exchange of bodily fluids. While
the HIV virus can be found in all bodily fluids of an infected person only these fluids contain
a high enough concentration of HIV to transmit the virus:
*HIV is NOT transmitted through casual contact including: hugging, kissing, using public toilets, sharing eating utensils, pools or coughing.
- Blood
- Semen ( including pre-cum )
- Vaginal Secretions
- Breast Milk
- Sexual - unprotected anal, vaginal or oral sex
- Sharing needles - IV drug use, tattooing, piercing
- Maternal/Child - before, during & after birth, including breast-feeding
- Blood transfusion before 1985
- Donor Products
- Job Injury
- Sharing of Sex Toys
*HIV is NOT transmitted through casual contact including: hugging, kissing, using public toilets, sharing eating utensils, pools or coughing.
What actions put me at
risk for contracting HIV?
risk for contracting HIV?
The most common ways that people put themselves at risk for HIV infection are engaging in unprotected oral, anal, or vaginal sex, or sharing unclean needles such as intravenous drug syringes (works) or needles used for tattoos and body piercing with a person who is HIV positive or unaware of their HIV status.
The use of drugs and/or alcohol can also put you at risk by making it harder for you to practice safe behavior.
How do I prevent myself from
contracting or transmitting HIV?
contracting or transmitting HIV?
- Abstinence: Simply choose not to have sex. For more information about abstinence
- Latex and Polyurethane Barrier Methods: Use safe sex materials such as male and female condoms, dental dams, and finger cots when engaging in sexual activity
- Needle Exchange/Clean Your Works: Always use new, unused needles or clean your works by flushing the needle and plunger with water and bleach each time you use an intravenous drug syringe. There are needle exchange programs available in your area where you can exchange used needles for new ones.
- Tattoos and Piercing: When you get a tattoo or body piercing, use a professional tattooist or pierce professional who sterilizes all equipment, uses a new disposable needle (a new package should be opened in front of you) and new ink in a disposable container for each customer. Do not use a piercing gun because it cannot be properly sterilized. Keep any tattoo or piercing on your body clean and free from infection.
- Pregnancy: If you are HIV positive and think you may be pregnant, you should contact your doctor immediately to discuss your options. There are medications that you can take during your pregnancy to reduce your baby's risk of being HIV positive.
Why should I be tested for HIV?
Anyone who is participating, or has participated in activities that involve the exchange of
HIV transmittable fluids should be tested for HIV. It is important to know your status. If
you test negative, you can find out how to keep from getting infected in the future. If you
test positive, you can take advantage of the advances in antiviral medications to maintain a
healthy lifestyle and learn how to prevent passing HIV to others.
What is involved in HIV testing?
Most HIV tests actually detect the presence of HIV antibodies, not the virus itself. Antibodies
are proteins that are produced in the blood to fight infection. It takes the immune system time
to identify the virus and begin producing antibodies. Most people will develop detectable
antibodies within two to eight weeks (the average is 25 days) of contracting the virus.
Ninety-seven percent will develop antibodies in the first three months following the time of
their infection. In very rare cases, it can take up to six months to develop antibodies to HIV.
The time between when a person is infected and when the body produces enough antibodies against
HIV to be detected is called the window period.
Even if someone tests negative for HIV antibodies, they can still transmit the virus. Once a person is tested for HIV, they have to be tested again 6 months after the last exposure to confirm that they are negative.
If the test is negative, the person should return for a follow up test 6 months after the initial test date. The person should abstain from any risky behavior during the 6 month window period to assure accurate results and to reduce the risk of transmission to someone else.
Even if someone tests negative for HIV antibodies, they can still transmit the virus. Once a person is tested for HIV, they have to be tested again 6 months after the last exposure to confirm that they are negative.
If the test is negative, the person should return for a follow up test 6 months after the initial test date. The person should abstain from any risky behavior during the 6 month window period to assure accurate results and to reduce the risk of transmission to someone else.
What types of tests are
available?
available?
- ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay): This is the initial HIV-antibody blood test. If a person gets a positive result, an additional ELISA test will be taken. If the initial test comes back negative, the person will return for a 6-month test after the window period. If this returns negative, no further testing will be done at this time. Results are available in approximately 10 days.
- Western Blot Test: If the second ELISA test comes back positive, the Western Blot test will be performed to learn more about the infection. The Western Blot is a more detailed HIV-antibody test. Results are available in approximately 10 days.
- OraSure: This HIV-antibody test involves collection of cells between the cheek and the gums. This is the least intrusive and does not require a blood sample. Results are available in approximately 10 days.
- OraQuick Rapid HIV-1 Antibody Test for blood: This test, administered by finger prick, gives results of HIV-1 antibody detection in about twenty minutes. The test is about 97% accurate but a confirmatory standard test, such as the Western Blot, must be administered prior to delivering an absolute positive result.
- OraQuick Advance Rapid HIV 1/2 Antibody Test for oral fluid: this test collects oral fluid through an oral swab and can give results in 20 minutes, and it is 99.3-99.8% accurate. As with the Rapid HIV-1 Antibody Test, a confirmatory blood test must be administered before giving a positive result. This test can detect both HIV-1 and HIV-2 (see Glossary). Though HIV-2 is rare in the Unites States, it is prevalent in parts of Africa.
- RNA Testing: RNA testing looks for the RNA of the virus itself, not antibodies to the virus. RNA testing is currently only available in North Carolina and San Francisco. Though results take about a week, this test can detect the RNA of HIV within ten days of infection. The cons of this test are that people may not return for their results, and it is a costly test. Ideally, testing sites would conduct a rapid HIV-antibody test as well as an RNA test, but due to funding limitations, this is not currently possible.
What other STDs should I be
concerned about?
concerned about?
HIV is not the only sexually transmitted disease you need to protect yourself against. Most
STDs show few symptoms, but all can be properly diagnosed through doctor's exams and tests.
STDs can increase the risk of HIV transmission through symptoms such as open sores. The most
common STIs are:
- HPV (Genital Warts)
- Chlamydia
- Genital Herpes
- Gonorrhea
- Hepatitis B
- Syphilis
