HIV/AIDS

1. HIV/AIDS HIV is an STD but you can get it in a non-sexual way

2. History • 1st reported in the U.S. in 1981 • Worldwide pandemic • Pandemic: infectious disease that is spreading through human populations worldwide • estimated that there are 33.3 million people worldwide infected • 2.6 million new HIV infections per year • 1.8 million annual deaths due to AIDS 76% of those deaths occurred in sub-Saharan Africa. • attacks everyone everywhere no matter age, race, socio-economic group (rich/poor)

3. Information • HIV- human immunodeficiency virus • virus that causes AIDS • Attacks the body’s immune system • specifically the T-Cells • AIDS- acquired immunodeficiency syndrome • Acquired means you get it from someone • final stage of HIV infection • May take years for a person even without treatment, to reach this stage • 1 or more specific infections/low # of T-cells/certain cancers-they are considered to have AIDS

4. Know you are HIV positive? • knowingly spread it to your partner during sex without telling them beforehand • you can and will stand trial for murder or attempted murder

5. HIV can not live outside the body for very long • primarily found in • blood • semen • vaginal fluid • less then .06% of the time in breast milk • can be transmitted thru infected blood but since 1985 all donated blood is tested for HIV

6. Not Transmitted • sitting next to someone who is HIV positive • donating blood • a toilet seat • drinking fountain • Doorknob • Dishes • drinking glasses • Food • Pets • mosquitoes

7. Risk Factors • increase your risk for infection if: • injected IV drugs/steroids into veins with equipment that was shared with others • unprotected vaginal/anal/oral sex • multiple/anonymous partners • exchanged sex for drugs/money • been diagnosed or treated for Hepatitis/STD • blood transfusion between 1978-1985 • unprotected sex with anyone who has the above listed risk factors • Tattoos/piercings with unsterilized equipment

8. Prevention • abstinence until you are in a relationship with only one person and are having sex with only each other • talk about HIV/STD’s with your partner before you have sex • use a latex condom every time you have sex • get tested if you have another STD • do not inject illegal drugs • A- Abstinence • B- BeFaithful • C- Condoms

9. Diagnosis • only way to know if you have been infected is to be tested • have to be tested when applying for a marriage license-only way to keep track • can not rely on symptoms because some people do not have symptoms for many years • takes 3 weeks to 2 months before your body shows antibodies for HIV-some people can take even longer

10. Symptoms • 3 Stages (Early/Middle/Late) • Early Stage • fever • Headache • Flu-like symptoms • tiredness • enlarged lymph nodes (about a month after exposure)-then they disappear

11. Later Stages (up to 10 years after infection) • lack of energy • weight loss • frequent fever and sweats • frequent yeast infections • skin rashes • flaky skin • PID in females • short term memory loss

12. Testing • Home test kits • EIA/ELISA tests are blood tests- 99.5% accurate • positive test is followed with a second test called the Western Blot Test to confirm • When all test are done there is a 99.9 % accuracy • Most HIV tests look for antibodies in the blood

13. Why hasn’t a vaccine been developed? • An HIV vaccine continues to elude researchers

14. Opportunistic Diseases • most common ones: • PCP (Pneumocystis) Pneumonia- a severe lung infection • KS (Kaposi’s Sarcoma)- a skin cancer • CMV- an infection of the eyes • Candida- a fungal infection that can cause thrush (a white film in the mouth) • throat and vaginal infections • serious weight loss “Wasting Syndrome” • brain tumors

15. Treatment • no cure for AIDS • antiretroviral drugs such as AZT slow down the virus/slow down the damage HIV does to your immune system • side effects such as nausea and vomiting • VERY EXPENSIVE • health insurance does not want to pay the costs