Download I Have AIDS* On My Mind - AYD XAVIER

I Have AIDS…
On My Mind
World AIDS Day - December 1
What is AIDS?
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Stands for Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome
Acquired – one becomes infected with this ailment
Immuno Deficiency– it weakens the body’s ability to fight off disease
Syndrome – a group of health problems that make up a disease
It is caused by a virus called HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus); if these
antibodies are found in your blood, the person is declared “HIV-Positive”
It is essentially the final and most extreme stage of the HIV infection in which the
immune system is extremely damaged
Where does it come from?
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Scientists have theorized that HIV originated from a species of chimpanzee in Western Africa and
humans were exposed to the virus when they hunted and ate infected animals.
HIV is found in specific human body fluids; which infect another person when the fluids enter your body
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Blood
Semen
Breast Milk
Vaginal Fluids
Rectal Mucous
It is not truly possible to “get” AIDS, but rather have AIDS develop if you are HIV-Positive
The infection can be transferred from anyone who is infected with HIV (regardless of whether or not
they appear sick or have tested positive)
It is possible to acquire HIV by having sexual intercourse with an infected person, sharing a (drug)
needle with an infected person, and even being born or drinking the milk of a woman who is infected
with the virus.
HIV
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HIV Symptoms Include:
Fever
Headache
Sore Muscles and Joints
Stomach Ache
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Swollen Lymph Glands
A Skin Rash for 1-2 Weeks
Night Sweats
Diarrhea
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HIV weakens your immune system by destroying the cells that fight disease and infection. The
virus reproduces itself by taking over a cell in the body of its host.
The HIV virus multiplies within the body over weeks and months before the immune system
responds. In this period, you will not test HIV-Positive, but can infect others with the virus
The damage to your immune system is measureable through the number of CD4 (“T-helper”) cells
you have in your body – initiate the body’s response to fight diseases
HIV causes the count of this cell to decrease
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Signs and Symptoms
AIDS
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HIV develops into AIDS when your immune system is greatly damaged ; specifically if you have
less than 200 CD4 cells or if your CD4 percentage is less than 14%
Having a weakened immune system due to AIDS makes one more vulnerable to an “opportunistic
infection” – an organism that does not usually cause disease but grows to be able to cause disease
when the immune system is impaired
Related diseases include serious weight loss, brain tumors, etc. which can lead to death if left
untreated
There is currently NO CURE for this disease, however drugs have been developed which slow down
the HIV virus and the damage it causes to your immune system
What does AIDS look like?
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33.4 million people around the world are currently living with
HIV/AIDS
AIDS has claimed the lives of over 25 million people since
reported cases began in 1981
An estimated 2.6 million people become newly infected with the
virus annually
Approximately 97% of those with the virus are living in lowmiddle income countries such as sub-Saharan Africa
It is estimated that 20-26% of the population between the ages
of 15 and 49 are living with AIDS in countries such as Namibia,
Zimbabwe , and Botswana
This epidemic does not only affect the health of individuals but
also impacts households, communities, and the development and
economy of a nation through other issues such as other
infectious diseases (ie: opportunistic diseases) and food
insecurity
The total number of children born with HIV has decreased by 24
% with the implementation of treatments in a broader sense of
the world
The Stigma
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Without a cure, HIV/AIDS is a deadly disease that many people fear
Many myths include being infected with the virus through casual contact such as sharing a drinking
glass or sharing a toilet seat
Some may even believe that the person with the disease is at fault and that they deserve the suffering
Those diagnosed with AIDS are often discriminated against
• They are denied medical care at hospitals or other facilities
• They are denied child custody, the right to adopt, or the right to be a foster parent
• They are asked unlawful questions or harassed by their employers when applying for a job
• They are evicted from a rental property
• Information about their condition is exposed at school/work/within a health care institution
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