Lifestylez: HIV/AIDS

What is HIV?
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system cells and uses them to reproduce. If left untreated, HIV slowly damages the body’s immune system. Without a strong, healthy immune system, a person can get many infections and illnesses. People who have HIV are sometimes called people living with HIV or simply HIV positive. Doctors may refer to it as HIV disease. Also, many people refer to HIV as the AIDS virus.

Human – Meaning only humans can contract this strain of the virus.
Immunodeficiency – Affecting the immune system and causing it to weaken.
Virus – A microorganism that replicates inside a host organism’s cell.

What is AIDS?
AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is the life-threatening stage of HIV disease. AIDS is a diagnosis given by a doctor only when an HIV-positive person has a really weak immune system AND becomes sick with a serious illness, called an opportunistic infection.

Acquired – It happens in people who already have been infected with HIV
Immune – Affecting the immune system
Deficiency – Weakening
Syndrome – A collection of symptoms that indicate a disease.

What’s the Difference between HIV and AIDS?
HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. Not everyone with HIV has AIDS. But everyone diagnosed with AIDS has HIV. Because of the confusion and because there is so much stigma associated with the word AIDS, it may be easier to think of AIDS as advanced HIV disease. Also remember that AIDS is a diagnosis given by a doctor for someone who already has HIV, so it is incorrect to say AIDS test. The test to determine if someone has been exposed to the virus is called the HIV test.

How could I get HIV?
HIV may be passed from one person to another when one of only 5 body fluids from an HIV-infected person comes in contact with an uninfected person’s broken skin or mucous membrane. A mucous membrane is wet, thin tissue found in certain openings to the human body. These can include the mouth, eyes, nose, vagina, rectum, and opening of the penis. The 5 body fluids are:
-Blood
-Semen (cum from a man’s penis)
-Vaginal fluids (juices from a woman’s vagina)
-Breast milk
-Pre-ejaculate fluid (clear pre-cum from a man’s penis)

You can get HIV from a person who is infected with HIV through:
-Unprotected Sex: having anal, vaginal or oral sex without a condom
-Sharing Needles: sharing unclean needles and syringes to inject drugs, steroids or vitamins or sharing needles for body piercing, tattoos or becoming "blood brothers"
-Mother to Child: through pregnancy, birth or breast feeding

Before 1985 donated blood was not tested for HIV so it used to be possible for people to get HIV from contaminated blood products. Today all donated blood and blood products are tested for HIV.

HIV Is Not Transmitted Through Casual Contact. You CANNOT get HIV by:
-Hugging
-Kissing
-Sharing food or drink
-Touching or being around someone who is sneezing or coughing

There is no need for concern about day to day contact in the workplace, at school, from cooks, waiters or from family and friends who have HIV. There is no evidence that shows HIV can be transmitted by saliva, tears or sweat. Urine and feces do not transmit HIV if there is no blood in them.
Health workers such as doctors, dentists, nurses and others who provide medical care wear latex gloves and masks to protect themselves and their patients from HIV and other infections. Also, they clean and sterilize instruments or use disposable ones for your protection.

REMEMBER: If infected blood, semen, vaginal fluids, pre-ejaculate fluid or breast milk do not get into your bloodstream, there is no risk of HIV infection.

What are the symptoms of HIV/AIDS?
Some people who become infected with HIV have few or no symptoms. However, some suffer from a brief flu-like illness within a few weeks of becoming infected, or develop a rash or swollen glands. These symptoms do not indicate the development of AIDS, and they usually disappear within a few days or weeks. People living with HIV may feel and look completely well but their immune systems may nevertheless be damaged. It is important to remember that once someone is infected they can pass on HIV right away, even if they feel healthy.

How would I know if I have HIV?
The only way to know for sure whether a person is infected with HIV is for them to have an HIV test. If you feel you may have taken part in activities that have put you at risk, you may want to consider taking the HIV test. The test should be taken 3 to 6 months after the last time you may have been at risk. Since you can be infected with HIV and look well and feel healthy for years, the only way to know for sure if you are infected is by taking the HIV antibody test.

Click here to locate a testing site near you. If you have been exposed to HIV, it is very important to get tested. The sooner you find out you have HIV the better. Seeing a doctor and monitoring your health is extremely important. You can also learn all you can about HIV disease and how to protect yourself and others. Because there are many new drugs and treatments available, people are living longer and healthier lives with HIV/AIDS.

How does the HIV test work?
The HIV antibody test does not test for HIV itself. Instead, it tests for the antibodies to HIV. Antibodies are created by the human immune system to find and destroy germs like bacteria and viruses. Unfortunately, the antibodies created by the human body to find and destroy the HIV virus cannot kill it.
The HIV antibody test was developed in 1985. Blood testing is the most common form of HIV antibody testing with results available in 1 to 2 weeks. A medical professional will draw a sample of blood from a person’s arm and send the test tube sample to a lab.

Nowadays there are also rapid HIV antibody tests with results available in 20 mintues. For these tests, a medical professional collects a small sample of blood by pricking a person’s finger or asks the person to collect a small sample of oral tissue by swabbing the inside of their mouth with an oral swab. The test kits used for rapid tests work much like home pregnancy tests and are just as accurate as the blood test.
HIV infection is confirmed only after two tests have been done, a screening test and a confirmatory test. The screening test, called ELISA or EIA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), is an inexpensive test and easy to run in a laboratory or by a rapid HIV antibody test kit. If the screening test comes back negative, then no further testing is done and that person is said to be HIV negative. If the screening or EIA test comes back positive, a confirmatory test called the Western blot is run. This test is more expensive but also more accurate and confirms that someone is HIV positive.

Click here to watch a video about HIV testing.

What is the "window" period?
One major drawback of antibody tests is the "window" period: the time it takes the body to produce antibodies after infection has begun. During the period before the antibodies are produced, a person can be infected with HIV and can infect others, but still test negative on the HIV antibody test. If someone has contracted HIV, the HIV antibody test will detect the antibodies within 3 months. Therefore, if you think you have been exposed to HIV, you could test now and then again in 3 months, just to be sure.

What is the difference between anonymous and confidential testing?
Anonymous testing means that no names are used on the paperwork. Instead only code numbers are used. People getting tested anonymously will be given a unique code and must use this code to get their test results. Confidential testing means that a person’s name is recorded on the paperwork. The person’s name is kept strictly confidential and is not given to anyone without the person’s consent.

Who should be tested for HIV?
HIV/AIDS does not discriminate. The virus does not single out any age, skin color, faith, sexual orientation or economic status. It is not who you are, but what you do that determines whether you can become infected with HIV. You are at risk for being infected with HIV if you have ever:

  - had unprotected sex of any kind
  - had sex with someone whose history of risk-taking behaviors is unknown to you
  - shared drug needles and syringes,
  - had a blood transfusion or clotting factor between 1978 and 1985

If you think you may be at risk, get tested and ask partners to do the same.

What if my HIV test results are negative?
If you were tested within the 3-month “window period” after possible exposure to HIV, you should be tested again in 3 months. If you result is negative, you must still protect yourself? If you are having sex, make sure you know how to use a condom correctly and that you use one every time. If you shoot up drugs, be sure to use sterilized needles and syringes each time, and don’t share your equipment.

What if my HIV test results are positive?
A positive test result means your body has been infected by HIV and that you are capable of transmitting it to others. There is no way to tell from this result who gave you the virus, how long you've had it, or when it will begin to affect your health.

The sooner you take steps to protect your health, the better. Medical treatment and a healthy lifestyle can help you stay well. Proper treatment may delay or prevent the onset of AIDS and prevent some life-threatening conditions. See a doctor, even if you don’t feel sick. If possible, see a doctor who has experience with treating HIV. You should also find a support system. The emotional and physical challenges ahead can be difficult. Having people around to help is important. Ask your doctor about counselors and support groups that can help you.

At this time, doctors don't know of any way to rid the body of HIV. There is no cure. Once you've been infected, you have it for life. You should always use condoms during sex to protect your partners. If you shoot up drugs, be sure to use sterilized needles and syringes each time, and don’t share your equipment with others.

What is the treatment for HIV/AIDS?
While there is no cure for HIV or AIDS, people are living long productive lives, thanks to HIV medicines and aggressive treatment programs. You and your doctor will determine what type of HIV medication is right for you. Because of medical research on HIV medications, some HIV-positive persons take only a few pills a day and have very few, if any, side effects.

How can I prevent HIV infection?
Speak openly with sex partners about safer sex techniques and HIV status. If you don't know your status, get an HIV test.

Get tested with your sex partner as a way of saying "I care and want both of us to stay healthy."
Use a latex condom with each oral, anal or vaginal sexual encounter. Those with latex allergies should use latex-free (polyurethane) condoms. Do not use expired condoms and store condoms in a cool, dry place. Condoms should not be stored in wallets or glove compartments of cars.

Use only water-based lubricants when using a latex condom during vaginal or anal sex. Do not use oil-based lubricants like Vaseline, baby oil or hand lotion since these break down latex.

You can also use a Reality female condom. This polyurethane condom is designed as a vaginally-inserted pouch and should not be used at the same time as a latex condom. It is possible to use the Reality condom for anal sex, but it has not been approved for this type of usage.

Do not share needles or syringes if you inject drugs. If you do inject drugs, seek professional help to kick your habit.

HIV infected pregnant women should get into regular prenatal care.
HIV infected women should not breast feed.

Now that you have the facts about HIV/AIDS, talk to others and share what you've learned. HIV disease can be prevented. It is up to each of us to stop the spread of this disease. If you know someone who has HIV disease or AIDS, the most important thing you can do is to be supportive and compassionate. There are many treatments and services that can help people live long and productive lives.