Download HIV and AIDS

HIV and AIDS
HIV, or Human Immunodeficiency Virus, is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). HIV attacks the body’s immune system and destroys CD4 positive (CD4+) T cells. These are a type of white blood cell that is vital in fighting infections. The destruction of T cells in people infected with HIV leaves them more likely to get other infections, diseases, and complications.
Diagnosis
Transmission
HIV cannot survive for very long outside of the body. It can only be transmitted from person to person. HIV cannot be spread through routine activities such as shaking hands, kissing, or sharing food, eating utensils or toilet seats. It is not spread through insect bites or through animals.
HIV is spread (transmitted) through blood, semen, genital fluids, or breast milk of a HIV infection is diagnosed with a blood test called HIV Antibody test. It may take person infected with HIV.
weeks to months for this test to reveal HIV Having sex without using a condom or infection after a person has been exposed. sharing needles and syringes with a person In some cases, a blood test that reveals HIV infection much sooner may be done.
at risk for or infected with HIV are the AIDS is the most advanced stage of HIV infection. It is diagnosed when a person with HIV has:


One or more infections, such as pneumonia or tuberculosis. These are most common ways that HIV is spread. The chance of HIV being spread is increased when one or both sexual partners have another STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease).
called opportunistic infections because Women infected with HIV can transmit the virus to their babies during pregnancy or they occur due to a person’s lowered immunity.
through breast milk. A dangerously low number of CD4+ T People who have HIV that are being cells (less than 200 cells per cubic millimeter of blood). A healthy level of these T cells is about 800 to 1200 per cubic millimeter of blood.
childbirth. The virus can also be passed treated with antiretroviral medication can still infect others through unprotected sex and needle sharing.
1
Symptoms

Red, brown, pink or purple blotches on Early Symptoms
or under the skin or inside the mouth, In the first stages of HIV infection, most nose or eyelids
people have very few, if any, symptoms.

Memory loss, depression or other nervous system symptoms
If you think you may have been exposed to HIV, it is very important to see your Treatment
doctor to be tested. Treatment needs to be HIV is in a class of viruses named started whether or not symptoms are present.
retrovirus and is treated with antiretroviral drugs. There is no cure for HIV infection, Within 1 to 2 months after infection, flu-
like symptoms may occur that include fever, tiredness, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, rash or swollen lymph nodes. but the progress of the disease can be greatly slowed with these medicines and people may live for years with HIV. Antiretroviral medicines:

Help reduce the amount of HIV virus in the body
These symptoms usually go away within a week to a month. They are often mistaken 
Preserve CD4+ T cells
for another virus such as the flu. During this time, people are very infectious 
Slow the destruction of the immune system
because HIV is present in large amounts in the blood and genital fluids. There are several types of these drugs that work in different ways to protect the body. Some people with HIV may have more severe symptoms at first or have symptoms that last a long time. Others may not have any symptoms for 12 years or more.
To prevent strains of the virus from becoming resistant to a type of drug, people with HIV need to take a combination of different types of antiretroviral drugs. Later Symptoms
During the late stages of HIV when the It is very important to have regular immune system is very weak, people may medical care when you have HIV. Even though you may not have symptoms, you have:
need regular blood tests and exams to 
Rapid weight loss

Recurring fever or severe night sweats

Unexplained and extreme tiredness
It is important to take all of your medicines 
Swollen lymph nodes 
Sores in the mouth, anus, or genitals
as prescribed by your doctor. It may seem hard to take several medicines at a time 
Diarrhea that lasts more than a week

Pneumonia
check the progress of the infection.
and side effects such as nausea may occur. But when people with HIV fail to take their medicines, the virus can change and become resistant to medicines.
2
Prevention
To learn more, contact:
When someone is infected with HIV, Centers for Disease Control and preventing the spread to others is vital. Prevention
Everyone should take precautions to prevent getting HIV. www.cdc.gov/hiv
1-800-232-4636
To prevent the spread of HIV:
AIDS-info Health Information Specialist 
Use a condom every time you have sex.
1-800-448-0440

Don’t share items that may have blood on them such as razors, tooth brushes, http://aidsinfo.nih.gov
and needles or syringes.
Division of Acquired Immunodeficiency If you are a mother infected with HIV, do not breast feed your baby.
Syndrome National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
If you have HIV, take your all of your www.niaid.nih.gov


medicines according to your doctor’s instructions.
World Health Organization
www.who.int/hiv/en
Resources
It may be helpful to check your local health department for HIV/AIDS programs. Information and support are often offered.
Research on HIV/AIDS continues to be done to improve the prevention and treatment of the infection. Dev. 1/14
W:\NZ\Netit patienteducation\Patient Education Materials\Diseases and Conditions\Infections, Viruses and Infestations\HIV and AIDS.doc
©Mount Carmel 2014
3