HIV & AIDS
HIV & AIDS - What is HIV?
HIV & AIDS is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Human means that the virus affects human rather than other forms of life. Immunodeficiency means that the immune system is not functioning as it should. A Virus is a submicroscopic parasite that can grow and reproduce only in living cells.
Once a person has the HIV in their bloodstream, they are known to be HIV positive. They may look healthy and not even know they are infected. But they can infect you! There is NO way to kill the HIV. No antibiotic or drug has been found to completely kill this virus once it is in your body. Treatments are only able to sometimes slow the growth of the virus.
HIV virus buds from the surface of a white blood cell.
credits: National Geographic
People can be HIV positive for many years before the virus destroys their immune system and symptoms begin to appear. At that point, the person is considered to have AIDS. AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that approximately 39.5 million people are living with HIV/AIDS worldwide, and 50% of these are women. 25 million people have died so far. There were more than a million people—an estimated 1,106,400 adults and adolescents—living with HIV infection in the United States at the end of 2006, and gay and bisexual men of all races, African Americans, and Hispanics/Latinos were most heavily affected.
The top ten states/territories in the US are: New York, California, Florida, Texas, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Maryland. The CDC estimates that at least half of all new HIV cases diagnosed in the United States are in individuals under age 25 and HIV is the 9th leading cause of death in people 15-24 years old.
How is HIV spread from one person to another?
This STD is spread during vaginal, anal, and oral sex with someone who has HIV in their blood and body fluids. They will not look or feel sick. They will not have any sores or rashes on their sex organs. The HIV is a silent and deadly killer!
HIV can also be spread by piercings, tattoos, and other body art that is done with needles or sharp objects that are shared between people without proper cleaning. More Info about Body Art...You will NOT get HIV from the following:
There is no evidence that HIV is spread through casual contact, by air, or in food.- Giving blood
- Hugging or touching someone with HIV or AIDS
- Being coughed or sneezed on by someone who is infected
- Using toilet seats
- Sharing food or utensils
- Being bitten by animals or insects such as mosquitoes
- Swimming in a pool
- Eating in a restaurant
What should I watch for?
Symptoms show up several months or even years after you've had contact with the virus. The most frequent symptoms include:
What does it look like?
VERY GRAPHIC!
- Unexplained weight loss or tiredness.
- Swollen lymph glands.
- Night sweats
- Flu-like symptoms that do not go away.
- Diarrhea that does not go away.
- White spots in your mouth.
- Infections that are hard to treat and come back over and over such as pneumonia caused by the Pneumocystis carinii bacteria.
- Reddish-purple areas that develop on your upper body, face, and in your mouth which are painful and itch. These are known as Kaposi's Sarcoma.
What happens if I don't get treated?
There is NO cure. Most people with the HIV will begin to develop symptoms within 5 - 10 years. The only treatments available at present work toward reducing the symptoms and prolonging your life. Once diagnosed with AIDS, most people die within a few years.
You can give your partner HIV & AIDS.
A mother with HIV or AIDS can give it to her baby during pregnancy. Babies who are infected with HIV generally live less than 3 years.
How can I prevent it?
Abstinence, or avoiding sexual contact, is your best and only 100% certain way of preventing STDs.
Use a new latex condom (rubber) with a water-based lubricant every time you have sex.
Avoid all contact with the body fluids of others. These fluids include urine (pee), semen, vaginal secretions, & blood. Carefully clean up any body fluid spills with household bleach.
Cover all sores and rashes and do not touch them. Do not touch sores and rashes on others.
If you decide that you want body art (carvings, scaring, branding, piercings, tattoos), make sure that you go to an established studio with qualified artists.
Read below for more ways you can protect yourself...
ANSWER:
Abstinence, or avoiding sexual contact, is your best and only 100% certain way of preventing STDs. There is really no way to have a sexual relationship with another person that does not put you at risk for STDs. Ideally you should wait to have sex until you are ready for a permanent relationship with just one person and when they are equally committed to this relationship and to only having sex with you. Even in this situation, there is a risk of STDs if you or your partner has had other sexual relationships prior to this relationship.
If you are having sex now using a latex condom is your first line of defense. Use a new condom every time you have sex. Many teens are embarrassed to buy condoms, but if you are old enough to have sex, you are old enough to act responsibly. Don't let embarrassment prevent you from taking care of yourself and your partner.
Think ahead and always be prepared!
More Ways to Protect Yourself if You are Having Sex Now:
- Have sex only with one partner who is not infected and is only having sex with you.
- Talk with your partner about past sex partners and about any needle drug use.
- Don't have sex with someone who you think might have a STD.
- Before you have sex, look closely at your partner for any signs of STD. If you see anything you are worried about, don't have sex!
- Use a latex condom (rubber) for oral and anal sex. Use an unlubricated condom for oral sex. Males and females should both carry protection.
- In addition to condoms, use birth control foam, cream, or jelly. These kill many STD germs.
- Urinate immediately after sex - this may help remove harmful germs from the urinary tract.
- Avoid using alcohol or drugs that can impair your judgment, making you more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors.
- Get checked for STDs every time you have a health exam if you have had sex. Remember not all STDs have symptoms!
- Know the symptoms of STDs. If you notice a symptom, go see a doctor.
- If you have a STD, your partner must get treated. Don't have sex until your treatment is complete.
The Teen Health Program website is funded through the Georgia Department of Public Health - Adolescent Health and Youth Development Program.