HEALTH EDUCATION

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)

What it is
There is no known cure for HIV and the virus can be deadly. HIV is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system until the body is unable to fight off life-threatening infections and illnesses like pneumonia, chronic diarrhea, and some forms of cancer.

This deadly breakdown of the immune system is known as AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome).

Symptoms of HIV are varied and may take more than 10 years to appear.

Testing is the only way to know for sure if you’ve been infected with HIV. Infected people test positive for the virus and are HIV-positive (HIV+). Uninfected people test negative and are therefore HIV-negative (HIV-).

First symptoms of HIV are usually:

• Swollen glands in the throat, armpit, or groin

• Persistent low fever

• Fatigue

• Headaches and body ache

These symptoms usually last only a few weeks, then there may be no symptoms for years. Later symptoms may include:

• Thrush, a yeast infection that causes a whitish coating of the tongue or mouth

• Severe recurrent vaginal yeast infections

• Rapid weight loss not due diet or exercise

• Persistent diarrhea

• Recurring fevers

• Night sweats

• Severe numbness or pain in the hands or feet

• Loss of muscle control or muscular strength

• Unusual recurring skin rashes

• Swollen or hardened glands in the throat, armpit, or
groin

• Discolored or purplish growths on the skin or inside the
mouth

• Dementia

How it’s spread
HIV is NOT transmitted by casual or household contact like kissing, hugging, touching, or sharing utensils or glassware.

HIV is transmitted through blood, semen, and vaginal fluids. It is most commonly spread by:

• Unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse with an infected person

• Sharing needles or syringes with an infected person

• Skin puncture by a contaminated needle or surgical instrument

• Exposing open wounds or sores to infected blood, semen, or vaginal secretions

An infected mother can pass HIV to her fetus during pregnancy and birth. Mothers can also pass HIV to their newborn through breast feeding.

How it’s treated
There is no cure for HIV, but new treatments are helping many people live longer with HIV, with a better quality of life.

There are a variety of these treatments which all involve combinations of medications ("cocktails"). While they can be very effective in some people, these medications may only work for limited periods of time, are highly toxic, can cause severe side effects and can be very expensive.

How it’s prevented
HIV is most often preventable. The best way to avoid getting infected is to abstain from sex or to limit sex to partners who have been tested and who you KNOW to be HIV negative.

Other ways to avoid infection are:

• Practicing safer sex, using only latex (not lambskin) condoms or dental dams EACH AND EVERY TIME YOU HAVE SEX.

• If you are a health care worker, always follow safety precautions and handle needles and other sharp instruments carefully.

What it does
Over time, HIV weakens the immune system so that the body can no longer fight off life-threatening infections, leading to full-blown AIDS. There were approximately 44 million deaths from AIDS worldwide in 2004.

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