HIV AND AIDS

WHAT IS IT? AIDS is a chronic, life-threatening condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). By damaging your immune system, HIV interferes with your body's ability to fight off infection. The virus and the infection itself are known as HIV. "Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)" is the name given to the later stages of an HIV infection.

Anyone of any age, race, sex or sexual orientation can be infected with HIV, but you're at greatest risk of HIV/AIDS if you:

Have unprotected sex with multiple partners. You're at risk whether you're heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual. Unprotected sex means having sex without using a new latex or polyurethane condom every time.

Have another sexually transmitted disease, such as syphilis, herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea or bacterial vaginosis.

Share needles during intravenous drug use.

Have fewer copies of a gene called CCL3L1 that helps fight HIV infection. (Bubonic Plague)???

The symptoms of HIV and AIDS vary, depending on the phase of infection.

When first infected with HIV, you may have no signs or symptoms at all, although it's more common to develop a brief flu-like illness two to four weeks after becoming infected.

The virus multiplies in your lymph nodes and slowly begins to destroy your helper T cells (CD4 lymphocytes) — the white blood cells that coordinate your entire immune system.

You may remain symptom-free for eight or nine years or more.

During the last phase of HIV — which occurs approximately 10 or more years after the initial infection — more serious symptoms may begin to appear.

In 1993, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) redefined AIDS to mean the presence of HIV infection as shown by a positive HIV- antibody test plus at least one of the following:

The development of an opportunistic infection — an infection that occurs when your immune system is impaired — such as Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) A CD4 lymphocyte count of 200 or less — a normal count ranges from 800 to 1,200

TESTING FOR HIV/AIDS Testing your blood or oral mucus for the presence of antibodies to the virus Rapid tests-give highly accurate information within as little as 20 minutes, it looks for antibodies to the virus using a sample of your blood or fluids collected on a treated pad that's rubbed on your upper and lower gums Home Access HIV-1 Test

TAKE NOTE HIV tests aren't accurate immediately after infection because it takes time for the body to develop the antibodies — usually about 12 weeks. In rare cases, it can take up to six months for an HIV test to become positive.

STATISTICS FOR HIV/AIDS 2050 Apr According to the Population Reference Bureau, these will be the ten largest countries based on population in India - 1,628,000,000 (1.628 billion) 2. China - 1,437,000,000 (1.437 billion) 3. United States - 420,000,000 (420 million) 4. Nigeria - 299,000, Pakistan - 295,000, Indonesia - 285,000, Brazil - 260,000, Bangladesh - 231,000, Democratic Republic of Congo - 183,000, Ethiopia - 145,000,000

THINK ABOUT THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT COME WITH HAVING SEX