What is the difference between HIV and AIDS? Answer.
What does HIV stand for? Answer.
What does AIDS stand for? Answer.
How is HIV transmitted? Answer.
What are the symptoms of HIV? Answer.
How long after a possible exposure should I be tested for HIV? Answer.
What do the test results mean? Answer.
If I test Positive, does that mean that I will die? Answer.
Is there anything I can do to stay healthy? Answer.
Do the new drugs I hear about cure you? Answer.
What is the difference between HIV and AIDS?
HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. AIDS is a condition that results from HIV infection. By the time people with HIV develop AIDS, the virus has damaged their immune systems. Thus, they are vulnerable to diseases that most healthy people usually resist or control.
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What do 'HIV' and 'AIDS' stand for?
| H | | Human: because this virus can only infect human beings. |
| I | | Immuno-deficiency: because the effect of the virus is to create a deficiency, a failure to work properly, within the body's immune system. |
| V | | Virus: because this organism is a virus, which means one of its characteristics is that it is incapable of reproducing by itself. It reproduces by taking over the machinery of the human cell. |
| | |
| A | | Acquired: because it's a condition one must acquire or get infected with; not something transmitted through the genes. |
| I | | Immune: because it affects the body's immune system, the part of the body which usually works to fight off germs such as bacteria and viruses. |
| D | | Deficiency: because it makes the immune system deficient (makes it not work properly). |
| S | | Syndrome: because someone with AIDS may experience a wide range of different diseases and opportunistic infections. |
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How is HIV transmitted?
HIV can be transmitted from an infected person to another through:
- Blood
- Semen
- Presemen
- Vaginal secretions
- Breast milk
The following "bodily fluids" are NOT infectious:
- Saliva
- Vomit
- Tears
- Sweat
- Feces
- Urine
Activities That Allow HIV Transmission:
Sexual intercourse (vaginal and anal): In the genitals and the rectum, HIV may infect the mucous membranes directly or enter through cuts and sores caused during intercourse (many of which would be unnoticed). Vaginal and anal intercourse is a high-risk practice. The mouth is an inhospitable environment for HIV (in semen, vaginal fluid or blood), meaning the risk of HIV transmission through the throat, gums, and oral membranes is lower than through vaginal or anal membranes. There are however, documented cases where HIV was transmitted orally, so we can't say that getting HIV-infected semen, vaginal fluid or blood in the mouth is without risk. However, oral sex is considered a low risk practice.
Sharing injection needles: An injection needle can pass blood directly from one person's bloodstream to another. It is a very efficient way to transmit a blood-borne virus. Sharing needles is considered a high-risk practice.
Mother to Child: It is possible for an HIV-infected mother to pass the virus directly before or during birth, or through breast milk. Breast milk contains HIV, and while small amounts of breast milk do not pose significant threat of infection to adults, it is a viable means of transmission to infants.
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What are the symptoms of HIV?
- Diarrhea- Runny bowel movements several times a day that occur repeatedly for weeks.
- Cough- A dry cough lasting several days or longer, in the absence of an illness, such as a cold.
- Fatigue- Chronic tiredness during regular daily activities, despite plenty of sleep.
- Persistent fever- Prolonged temperature of 99-101 degrees in the absence of an illness, such as the flu.
- Swollen glands- Enlarged lymph glands in the neck, groin, or armpit. May be sore or tender.
- Night sweats- Sweats that soak the bed sheets, with or without a fever.
- Skin rash- Itchy bumps or ulcers appearing anywhere on the body; they often spread.
- Weight loss- Loss of 10 pounds or more without dieting or change in regular intake of food.
- Oral problems- Sores or white patches (thrush) on the gums, tongue or palate.
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How long after a possible exposure should I be tested for HIV?
The time it takes for a person who has been infected with HIV to test positive (seroconvert) for HIV antibodies is commonly called the 'window period'. When a person is infected with the HIV virus, statistics show that 95-97% (perhaps higher) of all infected individuals develop antibodies within 12 weeks (3-months).
The National CDC has said that in some rare cases, it may take up to six months for one to seroconvert (test positive). At this point the results would be 99.9% accurate.
What does this mean for you?
The three-month window period is normal for approximately 95% of the population. If you feel any anxiety about relying on the 3-month result, by all means you should have another test at 6 months.
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What do the test results mean?
A positive result means:
- You are HIV-positive (carrying the virus that causes AIDS).
- You can infect others and should try to implement precautions to prevent doing so.
A negative result means:
- No antibodies were found in your blood at this time.
A negative result does NOT mean:
- You are not infected with HIV (if you are still in the window period).
- You are immune to AIDS.
- You have a resistance to infection.
- You will never get AIDS.
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If I test Positive, does that mean that I will die?
Testing positive for HIV means that you now carry the virus that causes AIDS. It does not mean that you have AIDS, nor does it mean that you will die. Although there is no cure for AIDS, many opportunistic infections that make people sick can be controlled, prevented or eliminated. This has substantially increased the longevity and quality of life for people living with AIDS.
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Is there anything I can do to stay healthy?
The short answer is yes. There are things that you can do to stay healthy.
Emotional support may be very important for HIV-positive people because it breaks the isolation and provides a safe way of sharing both feelings and practical information.
Medical Care: Once you find a doctor or clinic, your main objective is to get an evaluation of your general health and immune function.
Healthy lifestyle: Don't underestimate the need for good nutrition and exercise. Also don't practice unhealthy behaviors like drug use, and limit alcohol consumption; it contributes to high-risk behavior and lack of judgment about not staying safe.
Many doctors do the following:
- Administer lab tests to evaluate your immune system.
- Determine if you have other diseases that might become problematic in the future, including syphilis, TB, hepatitis-B, and toxoplasmosis.
If you are already infected with one or more of these other illnesses, there may be treatments or prophylaxis available to prevent it from becoming more serious or recurring in the future. If you're not already infected, doctors may be able to prevent future infection by:
- Administering vaccines. Many HIV positive people get a hepatitis-B vaccine and bacterial pneumonia vaccines, since contracting these diseases could be dangerous for immune suppressed people.
- Prescribing antiviral treatments and protease inhibitors when tests show immune system impairment.
- Scheduling regular checkups. Checkups may be scheduled every three to six months. Some people need more frequent check-ups, particularly when they are starting new antiviral drugs.
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Do the new drugs I hear about cure you?
There is NO cure for AIDS, but these drugs are helping to prolong the lives of many people with AIDS and delaying the onset of AIDS in many people with HIV. You should consult your own health care provider surrounding treatment issues. There is no standard treatment for everyone. Your health care provider will discuss your individual options.
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