Download Facts About HIV/AIDS

Facts About HIV/AIDS
What Is HIV?
•Human Immunodeficiency Virus
•HIV infects human cells and uses the
energy and nutrients provided by those
cells to grow and reproduce.
•HIV causes AIDS
HIV Infection and Aids Terms
• Pathogen – germ that causes disease
• Lymphocytes – white blood cells (wbc) fight
pathogens – wbc multiply when pathogens enter
the body
• B Cells – wbc that produce antibodies (special
protein that helps fight infection)
• Helper T cells – tell B cells to produce antibodies
HIV Transmission
through exposed blood vessels in small cuts or cracks in mucous membranes
• Having sex with
infected person
• Multiple sexual
partners
• Sex with prostitute
• Having other STD’s
• Sharing needles
(drugs, tattoos, and
piercing)
• Contact with blood,
body fluids, mucous
membranes or broken
skin of infected
person (sharing
toothbrush or razor)
HIV Transmission
through exposed blood vessels in small cuts or cracks in mucous membranes
• Blood Transfusion
• Tissue transplant (organ donation)
• Born to a mother infected with HIV
Ways HIV Is Not Transmitted
• Closed mouth kissing
• Hugging
• Holding or Shaking
Hands
• Coughing/Sneezing
• Sharing food/utensils
• Sharing towels/combs
• Sharing toilets/water
fountains
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Sharing pencils/pens
Being bitten by insects
Donating blood
Eating food prepared by
infected person
Attending school
Using phone/computer
Swimming in a pool
Using sports/pe
equipment
Reducing the Risk of HIV Infection
• Abstain from Sex
• Avoid open mouth
kissing with infected
person
• Have a monogamous
relationship
• Do not share needles
• Follow Universal
Precautions – treat all
human blood and
bodily fluids as if they
are contaminated.
• Make sure your
dentist/doctor sterilize
equipment between
patients.
Window Period of HIV
• When to get tested for HIV
– 3 months after possible exposure
– If negative after 3 months, safe to assume you
do not have the virus.
HIV TESTS
• ELISA and Western Blot Test
• Home Access HIV Test is approved by the
FDA. The test kit can be found at most
drug stores at a cost of $45-70.
HIV TESTS
• ELISA – Enzyme Immunoassay – screens for
presence of HIV antibodies in the blood.
• If present, the test is repeated. If positive, a
Western Blot Test is run
• Western Blot Test – detects HIV antibodies and
confirms the results of the EIA
HIV TESTS
• Positive Western Blot Test –
– RNA Test – (viral load test) – shows how
many copies of the virus are circulating in the
blood
– CD4 Test – looks at the number of white blood
cells in a sample of blood
Home HIV TEST
• Drug Stores, Internet, newspaper, and
magazines
• FDA Approved
– Requires spot of dried blood
– Mailed to an approved lab
– 99% accurate – results in about 2 weeks
AIDS
 Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Weakens the Immune System
- Opportunistic Infections
- Once infected with HIV (7 – 10 years) until
it becomes AIDS
Opportunistic Infection
• Kaposi's sarcoma
cancerous tumor of the connective tissue
Thrush –fungal infection of mucous
Membranes of the tongue and mouth
HIV Statistics
• AIDS is the deadliest disease in Human
history
• More than 25 million people worldwide
have died / 500,000+ Americans
• 40 million worldwide currently have
HIV/AIDS
HIV STATISTICS
• Approximately 12 million cases of
HIV/AIDS are 15 – 24 year olds
• Half of new cases are young people
• 7,000 new cases reported every day
Center for Disease Control and
Prevention
• Estimates:
– 25% of people infected in the US do not know
they are infected
HIV STATISTICS
HIV – African American
• 1 in 16 black men will be diagnosed with HIV
infection
• 1 in 30 black women will be diagnosed with HIV
• leading cause of death in black women ages
25-34 in the U.S.,
• AIDS is the 3rd and 4th leading causes of death
in black women ages 35-44 and 45-54 years old
• 2007 - African Americans accounted for almost
half (46%) of people living with a diagnosis of
HIV infection
HIV - Hispanic/Latino
• 1 in 36 Hispanic/Latino men will be
diagnosed with HIV
• 1 in 106 Hispanic/Latina women.
• 2008 - Hispanics/Latinos accounted for
more than 19% of the 42,439 new
diagnoses of HIV infection
Pregnancy and HIV
• Mother with HIV: transmitted during pregnancy, during
labor and delivery (most common), or during breast
feeding.
• less of a chance of passing HIV to your baby - cesarean
delivery (a C-section)
• Mothers who have HIV and who are not treated and who
do not breastfeed have about a 25% chance of passing
HIV onto their babies.
• antiretroviral drugs can reduce this chance to 2% or less.
Pregnancy and HIV
• During pregnancy, the mother's antibodies are
passed on to her baby.
• Babies will test positive for HIV antibodies at
first. This doesn't mean the baby is infected
• Babies keep the mother's antibodies until they
can make their own, which happens between 6
and 18 months of age.
Pregnancy and HIV
• Not infected baby - will lose the mother's
antibodies and start to test negative for HIV
sometime between 6 and 18 months of age.
Infected with HIV, lose the mother's antibodies,
but will start to make antibodies to HIV. The baby
will test positive and continue to test positive for
HIV.
Treatment of HIV
• No Cure
• Drugs help slow the growth of HIV
• Treat some symptoms of opportunistic
infections (pneumonia and types of
cancers)
• Combo of drugs- Highly Active
Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART)
• 2006 FDA approved a once daily single
dose pill treament.