HIV/AIDS I am positive Awareness Reflections

BARRIERS Physical Skin Hair Mucus

CHEMICAL Sweat Mucus membranes Mucus Saliva Tears Cilia Stomach acid

Are HIV and AIDS the same thing? Are They?

HIV “Human Immunodeficiency Virus” A specific type of virus (a retrovirus, 8 genes that can change) HIV invades the helper T cells to replicate itself. No Cure

AIDS HIV is the virus that causes AIDS Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome HIV is the virus that causes AIDS Disease limits the body’s ability to fight infection A person with AIDS has a very weak immune system Less than 200 t-cells No Cure

Four Stages of HIV

Stage 1 - Primary Short, flu-like illness - occurs one to six weeks after infection no symptoms at all Infected person can infect other people

Stage 2 - Asymptomatic Lasts for any number of years This stage is free from symptoms There may be swollen glands The level of HIV in the blood drops to very low levels HIV antibodies are detectable in the blood

Stage 3 - Symptomatic The symptoms are mild, similar to the flu The immune system deteriorates emergence of opportunistic infections and cancers

Stage 4 - HIV  AIDS The immune system weakens The illnesses become more severe leading to an AIDS diagnosis

Modes of HIV/AIDS Transmission + or -

Through Bodily Fluids Blood products Semen Vaginal fluids Breast Milk

Sharing Needles Through IV Drug Use Without sterilization Increases the chances of contracting HIV

Through Sex Vaginal Oral Anal Digital Sex

Mother-to-Baby Breastfeeding Before Birth During Birth Postpartum After the birth

Testing Options for HIV Positive

Should I get tested? Have you .. Had sex without knowing for sure if the person or persons you had sex with do not have HIV? Had sex with someone you know has HIV or AIDS? Had a disease passed on by sex,like genital herpes or syphilis? (Having these diseases make it easier to get HIV)

Had sex with many men or women or had sex with someone who has sex with many men or women ? *Had sex with someone who has used needles to take drugs? *Shared needles to take drugs? *Drank breast milk?

If you answered yes to any of those questions then you should GET TESTED

Anonymous Testing No name is used Unique identifying number Results issued only to test recipient 23659874515 Anonymous

Confidential Testing Person’s name is recorded along with HIV results Name and positive results are reported to the State Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Results issued only to test recipient

Administration Blood Urine Oral

Blood Detection Tests Western Blot Confirmatory test Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/Enzyme Immunoassay (ELISA/EIA) Radio Immunoprecipitation Assay/Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Assay (RIP/IFA) Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Western Blot Confirmatory test

Urine Testing Urine Western Blot As sensitive as testing blood Safe way to screen for HIV Can cause false positives in certain people at high risk for HIV

Oral Testing Orasure The only FDA approved HIV antibody. As accurate as blood testing Draws blood-derived fluids from the gum tissue. NOT A SALIVA TEST!

Home based HIV testing Don’t need prescription Can buy from any pharmacy Mail sample in of saliva from gums, then call toll free number with a code number=need to pay

WINDOW PERIOD As long as 6 months Can transmit HIV to others Body has not yet made enough antibodies to HIV, so tests may be “false negative”

If I test positive do I need to report it? If the CD4 <500 Health Care Providers will be in violation of the Public Health Law if not reported

COUNSELING Counseling

Pre-test Counseling Transmission Prevention Risk Factors Voluntary & Confidential Reportability of Positive Test Results

Post-test Counseling Clarifies test results Need for additional testing Promotion of safe behavior Release of results

Opportunistic Infections associated with AIDS Bacterial Tuberculosis (TB) Strep pneumonia Viral Kaposi Sarcoma-KS KS Herpes Influenza (flu)

Opportunistic Infections associated with AIDS Parasitic Pneumocystis carinii (leading cause of death of AIDS patients) PCP Fungal Candida-Thrush candida thrush Cryptococcus

Treatment Options

Antiretroviral Drugs AZT (Zidovudine) Protease inhibitors Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase inhibitors AZT (Zidovudine) Non-Nucleoside Transcriptase inhibitors Viramune (Nevirapine) Protease inhibitors Norvir (Ritonavir)

Opportunistic Infection Treatment Issued in an event where antiretroviral drugs are not available

Four ways to protect yourself? Abstinence Monogamous Relationship Protected Sex Sterile needles

Abstinence It is the only 100 % effective method of not acquiring HIV/AIDS. Refraining from sexual contact: oral, anal, or vaginal. Refraining from intravenous drug use

Monogamous relationship A mutually monogamous (only one sex partner) relationship with a person who is not infected with HIV HIV testing before intercourse is necessary to prove your partner is not infected

Protected Sex Use condoms (female or male) every time you have sex (vaginal or anal) Always use latex or polyurethane condom (not a natural skin condom) Always use a latex barrier during oral sex

Remember When Using A Condom To: Make sure the package is not expired Make sure to check the package for damages Do not open the package with your teeth for risk of tearing Never use the condom more than once Use water-based rather than oil-based condoms

Sterile Needles If a needle/syringe or cooker is shared, it must be disinfected

Needle Exchange Program Non-profit Organization, which provides sterile needles in exchange for contaminated ones Summary