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Question and Answer on HIV/AIDS: What are HIV and AIDS? AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. AIDS is caused by HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). HIV attacks the body's immune system, mostly white blood cells (T-cells). Your immune system is what fights against infections to keep your body healthy. White blood cells play a key role in keeping a person protected from disease. If your immune system is under attack, it can't protect your body against infections and you can easily get sick. Your body is likely to get many illnesses, so almost any symptom can occur when you have HIV. When people with HIV get serious diseases, they are said to have AIDS. Not all people with HIV get AIDS. AIDS is the last stage of HIV infection. People with AIDS can die from an infection or cancer, and need to take medication to improve their immune system. Their body's immune system is too weak to fight off diseases, and they get sick with diseases that do not really affect other people. One of these diseases is Kaposi Sarcoma (KS), a rare type of skin cancer. Another is a type of pneumonia called Pneumcystis Carinii Pneumonia (PCP). Who gets HIV/AIDS? Everyone is at risk for HIV/AIDS, but people who have sex and/or share needles and syringes with an infected person are more likely to get the HIV virus. Babies can be born with the virus if their mother is infected. People can get infected from an infected blood transfusion, but the risk for this is very, very low since all donated blood is tested for the HIV virus. How is HIV spread? HIV is spread from an infected person to another person through vaginal, oral, and anal sex. It is can also be spread through using IV drugs and sharing needles or syringes with an infected person. HIV can also be passed from an infected pregnant woman to her baby before or during birth and during breast-feeding. The HIV virus is found in and can be passed on by semen, vaginal fluids, blood, and breast milk. Very small amounts of the HIV virus are found in saliva, tears, and urine. But there is only a very, very low risk that the HIV virus can be passed on by these 3, since the amount of HIV virus in them is so low. There are only 3 main ways that HIV can be spread: • From infected sexual fluids • From infected blood or blood products • From infected mother to her baby during pregnancy and birth HIV is not spread through touching, hugging, or shaking hands with an infected person. It is not spread by coughing, sneezing, dry kissing, sharing glasses and dishes, touching toilets or doorknobs. Pets and biting insects, like mosquitoes, do not spread the virus. Donating blood does not spread HIV either. This is because a new needle is used for each donor, so you never come in contact with another person's blood. What are the symptoms of HIV/AIDS? Some people get an illness within 6 weeks of HIV infection with the following symptoms: • Fever • Headache • Swollen glands • Tiredness • Aching joints and muscles • Sore throat However, most people with HIV do not get symptoms for years. When people with HIV get a serious disease, they are said to have AIDS. People with AIDS can have any of the following: • Fever that lasts longer than one month • Weight loss • Extreme tiredness • Diarrhea for longer than 1 month • Swollen lymph glands • Unclear thinking • No sense of balance What should I do if I think I have HIV or AIDS? If you think you may have gotten HIV/AIDS, or if you have symptoms, see your health care provider right away. The earlier you get tested and treated the better. Getting treatment can slow down the progress of the HIV infection and may even prevent you from getting AIDS. How is HIV diagnosed? You can get a simple blood test, called the HIV antibody test, to tell if you are infected with HIV. Your body reacts to the HIV virus by making antibodies within 2-8 weeks after exposure. The test shows if you have these antibodies in your blood. If you do, then you have the HIV virus. It is possible that you can still get a negative result but still have the HIV virus. HIV antibodies can take 12 weeks or longer to show up. So if you get a negative test, you will need to go back for a follow-up test to be sure you don't have HIV. What about sex partners? If you have been exposed to HIV, then you need to tell all sex partners or anyone you have shared needles or syringes with that they may have been exposed. Try to get them to get tested and treated if needed. If you feel that you can't tell these people, then talk to your health care provider. They have ways to let people know they may have been exposed. How is HIV/AIDS treated? Right now, there is no cure for HIV infection or AIDS. The virus stays in your body for the rest of your life. Researchers are trying to find a drug to cure HIV/AIDS. There are many drugs that have been created which help treat HIV/AIDS, but do not cure it. Your health care provider may also suggest other treatments to slow the progress of HIV, such as a healthy diet, exercise, and stress reduction. How long does it take for HIV to develop into AIDS? People with HIV can usually remain very healthy for many years after they have been infected. The virus slowly attacks the immune system, and at a certain point can develop into AIDS. However, avoiding infections, treating infections early, getting enough exercise, eating a healthy diet, and living a healthy lifestyle all lower the chances of HIV developing into AIDS. 30% of people with HIV develop AIDS within 5 years. This means that they get a serious disease, such as cancer or pneumonia, within 5 years. Some people just develop mild symptoms, such as swollen glands, diarrhea, fever, and weight loss within these 5 years. About 50% of people with HIV develop AIDS within 10 years of getting HIV. How can I avoid getting HIV? The best way to avoid getting HIV is to not have sex. If you do decide to have sex, you should practice safer sex. Only have sex with one partner who only has sex with you and who does not have a STD. Make sure you use a condom correctly every time you have vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Also, don't use anything that pierces your skin unless you are sure it has been fully sterilized. You shouldn't share personal items such as razors and toothbrushes with an infected person, since they could have blood on them.