Learning about HIV

Learning Objectives Define what is HIV. Identify two ways HIV can be given to someone. Identify two ways HIV cannot be given to someone. Identify one way to prevent getting HIV.

Non-Communicable versus Communicable Diseases?

Which is it? Communicable or Non-Communicable? Sore Throat? Allergies? Broken Arm? Lice? Cavities? Questions?

HIV – Human Immunodeficiency Virus People disease Immuno Immune system – the one that helps us fight diseases Deficiency Something is lacking Virus Microscopic organism HIV: A microscopic organism that attacks the immune system and makes it weak so it’s harder for the body to stay healthy. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS (Autoimmune Deficiency Syndrome).

HIV and AIDS Vaccines typically protect us from infections Chicken pox, measles, flu There is not vaccine for HIV HIV treatments can: Make it harder to get HIV Slow the disease down, making it take longer to turn into AIDS Protect against illnesses HIV can cause Currently, there is no cure for HIV.

HIV is Hard to Get HIV is in SOME bodily fluids, like blood, but NOT in others such as sweat, tears, spit, or urine HIV CAN ONLY be passed through infected bodily fluids that include: blood, semen, and/or vaginal fluids *It can be passed through breastmilk if someone is breastfeeding HIV can ONLY be passed from a person who is living with HIV. If two people are NOT infected then neither one can give it to the other.

True or False? Working in pairs, raise the card that best fits with the statement.

You cannot get HIV be being in the same room with a person who is living with HIV.

You can tell by looking whether a person has HIV or not. False

So far, there is no vaccine to prevent HIV. True, researchers are working on one. There is an injection a person can take every day that can make it harder to contract HIV, but it is NOT a vaccine. Life expectancy for someone diagnosed with HIV is about 12-18 years less than someone without HIV, depending on a number of other factors. Meaning if the average male in the US lives to be 77 years old. The average male with HIV in the US lives to be 65 years old. Life expectancies of someone living with HIV (AFTER being diagnoised) have gone from 19 years in 1996 to 53 years in 2011.

HIV can be transmitted through specific bodily fluids. True

HIV can be transmitted by sneezing. False

HIV is a communicable (contagious) disease. True, but it is NOT easy to transmit

Saliva is one of the fluids that can transmit HIV. False

You cannot get HIV by sharing a drink. True

HIV affects the body’s immune system. True

HIV and AIDS are two different things. True. AIDS describes when a person with HIV gets sick because their immune system, can no longer fight off infections. It can take years, sometimes as much as 10 years for a person with HIV to develop AIDS.

Someone who uses the same needle to do drugs as someone who is living with HIV, can get HIV. True. Sharing needles for drug use with someone living with HIV is one of the easiest ways to get HIV.

If someone with HIV is bleeding, they can transmit HIV to someone else. True. HIV can be transmitted to someone else through blood. However, the other person would need to have an open cut on their own skin for the virus to get into the body.

Safe Activities Now that you know that HIV is NOT easy to give to someone, can anyone give me examples of things you can do with a friend or family member who is infected with HIV that are perfectly safe, meaning they cannot transmit HIV? HIV is a serious infection that is communicable but it is very difficult to catch. As long as we know how HIV is and is not transmitted, we can protect ourselves and be good friends, family members to people we know with HIV or AIDS.