2. H I V A I DS A I DS is one of the most serious, DEADLY diseases in human history.
3. H I V A I DS More than 20 years ago, doctors in the United States identified the first cases of A I DS in San Francisco and New York. Now there are an estimated 42 million people living with H I V or A I DS worldwide, and more than 3 million die every year from A I DS-related illnesses.
4. H I V A I DS WHAT IS IT? STD HIV AIDS ( S exually T ransmitted D isease) ( H uman I mmunodeficiency V irus ) ( A cquired I mmunodeficiency S yndrome)
5. H I V A I DS A I DS is caused by the h uman i mmunodeficiency v irus ( H I V ) . H I V destroys a type of defense cell in the body called a CD4 helper T lymphocyte. These lymphocytes are part of the body's immune system, the defense system that fights infectious diseases. But as H I V destroys these lymphocytes, people with the virus begin to get serious infections that they normally wouldn't — that is, they become immune deficient. The name for this condition is acquired immunodeficiency syndrome ( A I DS ) .
6. H I V A I DS As the medical community learns more about how H I V works, they've been able to develop drugs, antiviral medications to inhibit it (meaning they interfere with its growth). These drugs have been successful in slowing the progress of the disease, and people with the disease now live much longer. But there is still NO CURE for H I V and A I DS. People who have A I DS tend to keep getting sicker, especially if they are not taking antiviral medications properly.
7. H I V A I DS HOW IS H I V TRANSMITTED? H I V is transmitted from an infected person to another person through blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk. unprotected oral, vaginal, or anal sexual intercourse ( "unprotected" means not using a condom ) sharing needles , such as needles used to inject drugs (including needles used for injecting steroids and those used for tattooing). Because of blood testing, it's now extremely rare for someone in developed countries to get H I V through a blood transfusion.
8. H I V A I DS People who have another sexually transmitted disease, such as syphilis, genital herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea are at greater risk for getting H I V during sex with infected partners If a woman with H I V is pregnant, her newborn baby can catch the virus from her before birth, during the birthing process, or from breastfeeding. If doctors know an expectant mother has H I V, they can usually prevent the spread of the virus from mother to baby. All pregnant teens and women should be tested for H I V so they can begin treatment if necessary.
9. H I V A I DS MYTHS YOU CAN GET HIV IF YOU HUG SOMEONE WHO IS INFECTED MOSQUITOS CAN GIVE YOU HIV YOU CAN GET HIV FROM KISSING SOMEONE WHO IS INFECTED It is not possible to become infected with HIV from everyday casual contact such as sharing food, shaking hands or touching the same objects. Insects cannot transmit HIV. When taking blood from someone mosquitoes do not inject blood from any previous person. The only thing that a mosquito injects is saliva, which is used as a lubricant and enables it to feed more efficiently. Saliva does contain HIV, but the virus is only present in very small quantities and as such cannot cause HIV infection. Unless both partners have large open sores in their mouths, or severely bleeding gums, there is no transmission risk from mouth-to-mouth kissing.
10. H I V A I DS Once a person's blood lacks the number of CD4 cells required to fight infections, or the person has signs of specific illnesses or diseases that occur in people with H I V infection, doctors make a diagnosis of A I DS. Severe symptoms of H I V infection and A I DS may not appear for 10 years. The amount of time it takes for symptoms of A I DS to appear varies from person to person. Some people may feel and look healthy for years while they are infected with H I V. It is still possible to infect others with H I V , even if the person with the virus has absolutely no symptoms. You CANNOT tell simply by looking at someone whether he or she is infected.
11. H I V A I DS When a person's immune system is overwhelmed by A I DS, the symptoms can include: trouble remembering things extreme weakness or fatigue rapid weight loss frequent fevers that last for several weeks with no explanation heavy sweating at night swollen lymph glands minor infections that cause skin rashes and mouth, genital, and anal sores white spots in the mouth or throat chronic diarrhea a cough that won't go away
12. H I V A I DS If you think that you may have H I V or A I DS or if you have had a partner who may have H I V or A I DS, see your family doctor, adolescent doctor, or gynecologitst. He or she will talk with you and perform tests. KNOW YOUR STATUS , GET TESTED! Most A I DS testing centers will ask you to follow up for counseling to get your results, whether the test is negative or positive . The doctor may do a blood test or a swab of the inside of your cheek . Depending on what type of test is done, results may take from a few hours to several days. Let the doctor know the best way to reach you confidentially with any test results. http://kidshealth.org
