Download (HIV)?

HIV
&
AIDS
What is the Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)?
• HIV is the virus (retrovirus
family) that causes AIDS
(acquired immune
deficiency syndrome)
• A person can be infected
with HIV and not know it
• Knowing if you have HIV can
save your life!
HIV versus AIDS
• HIV is the virus that
causes AIDS.
• A person can look and
feel healthy even if they
have HIV.
• A person with HIV can
pass the virus to
others.
• HIV weakens the body’s
ability to fight infection,
making a person very
sick. This is called AIDS.
• It can take years for a
person infected with HIV
to develop AIDS
• A person with AIDS can
still pass HIV to others.
How does the HIV Virus attack?
The HIV virus selectively
targets CD4 “Helper” Tlymphocytes.
As the CD4 count drops
(below 200), the patient
becomes more
susceptible to
opportunistic infections.
AIDS Opportunistic Infections
• Pneumocystis
pneumonia
• Candida esophagitis
• Cryptococcal meningitis
• Toxoplasmosis
• Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
• Tuberculosis
• CNS lymphoma
• Kaposi’s sarcoma
AIDS Opportunistic Infections
Toxoplasmosis
Tuberculosis
Why should we find
out if we have HIV?
• There are special medications that
can help a person stay healthy for
a long time.
• We can learn other ways to stay
healthy
• We can protect our partners.
How is HIV transmitted?
 Unprotected oral, vaginal or
anal sex. Anal sex is the
riskiest.
 Sharing needles for drugs,
tattoos or body piercing.
 Pregnancy, childbirth or
breast feeding.
HIV is passed through the
following BODY FLUIDS:
• SEMEN
• BLOOD
• VAGINAL FLUID
• BREAST MILK
How do we pass body fluids?
BLOOD
• Sharing Needles
• Pregnancy &
Childbirth
• Sex - If there are
open cuts or blood in
the vagina, mouth,
penis, or rectum
VAGINAL FLUIDS &
SEMEN
• Unprotected vaginal,
oral or anal sex
BREAST-MILK
Breast-Feeding
HIV is not
like a cold…
You can’t just
“catch it”
HIV can not be
passed through
“casual” contact:
• Hugging, kissing, holding hands,
or sharing utensils is not risky
• Fluids like saliva, urine, or tears
do not transmit HIV
HIV and PREGNANCY
If a woman is HIV+,
she can take medicine
& other treatment to
dramatically reduce
the risk of having a
baby born with HIV.
Did you know…
• All babies are tested for
HIV before they go home
from the hospital…
• A woman can begin HIV treatment
during pregnancy. This can help both
the woman and the baby.
• It is recommended that all pregnant
women get tested for HIV!
REDUCING RISK
• Without treatment, 1
baby out of 4 (25%)
born to women with
HIV will have HIV.
• With treatment, this
risk can be reduced
to as little as 1 in 50
(about 2%)
HIV TESTING
• The test for HIV is not a
routine blood test
• Before getting tested, a
person must receive
counseling & sign a
special HIV consent form
HIV TESTING:
An important choice
• No one can be forced
to get tested for HIV.
• The test for HIV is
voluntary and
confidential…
This is the law.
TYPES of HIV TESTS

Rapid Blood Test
–screening (ELISA test)

Standard Blood Test
-confirming test (Western Blot)
Rapid HIV Blood Test
• Tests for HIV infection
• Results are available the same day
• A sample of cells are taken from the
mouth, testing oral fluid, not blood
or….
• A blood test is done with a finger
stick or vein
• If the test is positive, it needs to be
confirmed with another blood test
Standard HIV Test
• Tests for HIV infection
• Results are available in 1 to
2 weeks
• A sample of blood is taken
from a vein
• If the test is positive, it does
not need to be confirmed
with another test
Test results…
What does a NEGATIVE test
result mean?
• No HIV infection was found at the time of
the test
• The person is either not infected or it is too
early to tell (window period)
• The person should continue to practice
safe sex
• Re-testing is recommended in 3 months if
there has been risky behavior
• A negative result means the same thing
with both rapid and standard testing
What do you think?
A woman had
unprotected sex last
night with a guy who
was HIV positive…
If she gets tested for HIV today, could
she have a positive result from her
exposure the previous night?
What do you think?
NO… the infection will not show up
today. It is too early to tell
She should get tested in 3 months.
However, if she were infected the
night before, she could have HIV and
could pass it to others. She should
practice safer sex.
HIV CAN BE
PREVENTED!
PREVENT HIV…
 Be aware of your personal risk
 Think about what you can do
to reduce your risk
 Talk with your partner(s) about
ways to be safe.
 Learn your HIV status
ABCs of HIV prevention
Abstinence from sex and needle use.
This is the only 100% safe way to prevent HIV.
Best to have only one partner.
Condom use if you have sex.
Stay Healthy!
 Use condoms every time you
have vaginal, oral or anal sex.
 Limit the number of sexual
partners you have.
 Avoid drugs.
 Never share needles or
equipment if you do use drugs.
A final thought…
• People used to be afraid to be
tested for HIV…. now most
people are afraid to skip the
test.
• They know now that it can
save their lives… and, if they
are pregnant, the life of their
baby as well.