HIV/AIDS

Objectives What will we learn? What the terms HIV and AIDS mean What is HIV What HIV does to the body What causes AIDS Who can get HIV How HIV is spread How HIV can be avoided

What does HIV stand for? Human: A person Immunodeficiency: Not enough protection from disease Virus: Infections disease

What does AIDS stand for? Acquired: Gotten Immune: Resistance to disease Deficiency: Shortage Syndrome: A combination of symptoms

What is a Virus? Viruses are very tiny germs that cause a variety of diseases. They are so small they can only be seen under a microscope. Most viruses use your red blood cells to create copies of themselves. About 200 different viruses can cause what we refer to as a “cold.” Many others cause the flu, chicken pox, polio, measles, mumps, and a variety of other diseases. There are no cures for viruses and most have to be fought off by your bodies immune system over time. For the most serious diseases, scientists have developed vaccines which prevent your body from getting the disease in the first place.

What is HIV? HIV is a virus that directly attacks your immune system. Rather than attacking your red blood cells it goes after your white blood cells. This slowly reduces your defenses against other disease. Unfortunately, there are no cures for HIV nor is there a vaccine that prevents you from catching it. Once enough of your white blood cells have been destroyed, you are reclassified as having AIDS.

How does HIV affect a person’s immune system? A health person is exposed to the virus HIV enters the blood stream The person remains healthy and may show no symptoms A person can be infected for 10 years or more without showing symptoms

How does HIV affect a person’s immune system? The person’s immune system begins to fight back. White blood cells attack the virus, but cannot kill it HIV continues to grow and multiply HIV begins to destroy white blood cells. The person’s immune system becomes severely damaged. The victim's body can no longer fight off other germs. Eventually another virus, such as pneumonia or the flu, enters the body The person becomes critically ill.

What is AIDS? AIDS is a condition where the body of a person with HIV is no longer immune to (safe from) attacking germs. Once HIV almost completely destroys the persons immune system, the doctor will say the patient now has AIDS. A person with AIDS is highly susceptible to other diseases and does not have a strong enough defense to fight off invading germs.

Who can get HIV? Any human is capable of contracting HIV. The greatest number of people with AIDS are from 30 to 39 years old. Since the virus can remain dormant for years many contract the disease in their 20’s or even teens.

How does HIV spread? HIV can spread any time you come into contact with other bodily fluids. The primary ways that the virus is spread are: Having intercourse with someone who has been infected with HIV By sharing needles used for drugs with someone who has been infected with HIV A mother can pass the virus on to her child during child birth A few rare cases were spread because of blood donations or transfusions.

HIV is NOT spread by…. Day-to-day contact with people who are infected Shaking hands or kissing a person who has the virus Being sneezed on by someone who has the virus Making contact with another person’s tears or sweat Handing food, clothing, erasers, pens, or other personal belongings used by a person who has the virus Being bitten by an insect HIV can never be spread through insects, furniture, air, and water; only from person to person

How can you avoid getting HIV? Avoid activities that would put you into contact with other peoples blood (such as drugs.) Never share anything that may have someone else’s blood on it such as pins or objects that can pierce ears, needles used in tattooing, knives, razor blades, or any other tool that could have blood on it from a cut or wound. Treat other people’s blood as hazardous.