HIV AIDS HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus About 0

HIV & AIDS

HIV • Human Immunodeficiency Virus • About 0. 00000047 inches in length • Millions of these viruses could fit on the period at the end of this sentence.

Centers for Disease Control has identified 3 Stages of HIV • 1. Acute Infection- within 2 weeks of infection you may experience and acute illness, which is often referred to as “the worst flu ever” May not test positive with HIV for 6 months • 2 - Asymptomatic HIV infection- has been infected with the virus but show no signs, may last 8 years or longer • 3 - HIV Related Diseases – – – Swollen Lymph nodes Extreme fever Night sweats Unexplained weight loss Cervical cancer • AIDS

AIDS • Acquired indicates that the disease is not inherited • Immune refers to the Immune System • Deficiency indicates that something is missing. People with the disease have a weakened immune system that cannot fight off disease and infection • Syndrome refers to a specific group of infections and health conditions related to the disease

How is it passed from one person to another? • Sexual Contact – Semen – Vaginal secretions • Blood – IV drug-use using contaminated needles • Tattoos • Piercing • acupuncture • Mother to child – Blood – Breast milk

HIV Can not be spread by: • • • Saliva Tears Sweat Urine Toilet seats • • • Sinks Bathtub Doorknobs Swimming pools Telephones mosquitoes

Opportunistic Infections- would not normally harm someone with a healthy immune system, but takes advantage of someone with a weakened one • • Tuberculosis Lung Disease Pneumonia Kaposi’s Sarcoma Dementia Wasting Syndrome Cancers

Testing • Confidential • Anonymous Why HIV Testing Is Important for Adolescents engage in behaviors that put them at risk for HIV infection. • Among U. S. high school students surveyed in 2009— • 46% have had sexual intercourse at least once. • 39% of currently sexually active students did not use a condom the last time they had sex. • 14% have had four or more sex partners. • 6% had sexual intercourse for the first time before age 13. • 2% have injected illegal drugs at least once.

Prevention ABSTINENCE!!! BE IN A MONOGOMOUS RELATIONSHIP!!! COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS AND PARTNER!! KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!!!