21.1 HIV & AIDS Today

Key Terms What is the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)? The virus that primarily infects cells of the immune system and that causes AIDS. What is Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)? The disease that is caused by an HIV infection, that weakens the immune system. What is a Pandemic? A disease, like AIDS, that spreads quickly through human populations all over the world.

How Has AIDS Affected The World? More than 20 Million have died from AIDS in 20 years. The 4 countries w/the greatest number of people living w/HIV/AIDS are Latin America, Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, & Sub-Saharan Africa

What Are The HIV/AIDS Statistics For The U.S.? Approximately 850,000 – 900,000 people in the U.S. are infected with HIV Approximately 300,000 of these are also living with AIDS

What Are The Facts? 1/4 new cases of HIV infection are in teens 900,000+ = Estimated number of Americans infected with HIV 22 Million = Number of people who have died from AIDS worldwide 40 Million = Estimated number of people who are HIV/AIDS infected worldwide In 25 – 44 year olds, AIDS is the leading cause of death in men & the 3rd leading cause of death in women

Why Are Teen HIV Rates Rising So Fast? Because many teens don’t take HIV and AIDS seriously. Some teens think you can tell by looking at a person if they are HIV positive HIV carriers are asymptomatic & spread the disease w/out knowing it Belief that HIV/AIDS affects only homosexuals & drug users Many do not know the facts

21.2 Understanding HIV & AIDS

What are Opportunistic Infections? What are Helper T Cells? White blood cells that activates the immune response, the primary target cell of HIV infection What are Opportunistic Infections? An organism that causes a disease in people w/weak immune systems like people w/AIDS What is the Asymptomatic Stage When an infection, such as HIV, is present but there are few or no symptoms

How Does HIV Infect The Body? HIV enters the blood stream HIV attaches to & enters T4 white blood cells (fighter cells, “army cells”) & multiplies HIV cells T4 cells are destroyed & the HIV cells that multiplied are released into the bloodstream The new viruses attach to other T4 cells & Process is repeated until the body can’t fight the infection any longer

What Are The HIV Phases & Symptoms? Phase 1: Asymptomatic & HIV positive HIV virus can go undetected for 10 years except through a blood test Phase 2: Signs & symptoms of illness Swollen lymph glands in neck & armpits, Extreme tiredness, Fever, Diarrhea, Severe weight loss, Night sweats, &/or White patches on the inside of the mouth

Phase 3: AIDS = Death When the T4 count in the body has gone below 200 cells per micro-liter Opportunistic diseases develop in patients w/AIDS such as: Pneumonia Kaposi’s Sarcoma (skin cancer) Pulmonary Tuberculosis, etc.

How Is HIV Transmitted or Spread? 1. During sexual activity, vaginal, oral & anal, through 4 fluids: Semen & pre-cum Vaginal secretions Breast milk Blood 2. Sharing needles Sharing tattoo ink &/or needles 3. Passed from mother to baby during birth or by breast-feeding

What Are The Facts About Teens & HIV? A third of the HIV population are teens. HIV is most common in young adults. Most teens who have it don’t know it. Most teens do not take the virus serious. Teens think they can tell if someone is infected by looking at them. If you are engaged in high risk behaviors GET TESTED!

21.3 – Protecting Yourself From HIV and AIDS

What are Universal Precautions? Procedures used to avoid contact w/body fluids & other diseases What is an HIV Antibody Test? A test that detects HIV antibodies to determine if a person has been infected with HIV When is a person HIV positive? When they test positive in 2 different HIV tests What is drug combination therapy? An AIDS treatment program where patients regularly take more than one prescription drug

How Does HIV Enter The Body? Through sores or tiny breaks (even if you can’t see them) in the mucous membrane or moist pink body tissues; Mouth Vagina Anus & Rectum The opening at the tip of the penis

How Do You Prevent HIV & AIDS? Get Educated Health Professionals Centers for Disease Control and Prevention aka: CDC provides reliable info on HIV and AIDS Eliminate Risks 1. Practice Abstinence Only 100% safe method in preventing HIV sexually 2. Be Monogamous (no cheating on your partner) It’s safer & healthier for a relationship 3. Don’t Share Needles or Anything that could come in contact with the bloodstream If you do use needles (legally), make sure it’s done by a pro (e.g: doctors, tattoo artists, etc.) 4. Test To Be SURE! Don’t be scared to suspect something. It’s your life, too! Practice Universal Precaution Protecting the health professional as well as the patient

How Do You Test For HIV? 1. HIV-Antibody Tests Checks for HIV antibodies If test is positive, a second test is done to confirm it. A second positive means the patient is now officially HIV positive 2. A retest for HIV is best It can take 6-12 months for the HIV antibodies to show in the bloodstream Take a second HIV test 6 months after the first test. If both tests are negative, a person is not infected with HIV (for the moment) 3. Lab tests for HIV-Infected people HIV patients are monitored They are given two tests One test measures number of T-cells. The other test measures the number of viruses in the system

How Do You Treat HIV & AIDS? 1. Start treatment immediately to - Maintain T-cells - Treat infections - Meds have serious side effects - Still not a cure for AIDS 2. Drug combination treatment - Stops HIV-antibodies from multiplying (two or more drugs) - AZT (azidothymidine) and protease inhibitors 3. Limits of HIV/AIDS drugs - Drugs can lose effectiveness over time - Cost a lot of $$$ - Very complicated treatment plan on a strict schedule - Lab tests require patients be motivated, committed, & involved in their treatment