HIV-AIDS A QUICK REVIEW
HIV/AIDS -- VIRAL SYMPTOMS: POSSIBLE FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS ABOUT 2 WEEKS AFTER INFECTION USUALLY NONE FOR YEARS DANGERS: FATAL TREATMENT: ANTIRETROVIRAL DRUGS (TRIPLE COCKTAIL) THAT ATTACK THE VIRUS IN DIFFERENT STAGES OF REPLICATION PROCESS.
AIDS – ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME STARTS WITH HIV – HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS PEOPLE CAN LIVE WITH HIV ON AVERAGE YEARS BEFORE SEROCONVERSION THERE ARE DRUGS (AIDS TRIPLE COCKTAIL) THAT DELAY THE ONSET OF FULL-BLOWN AIDS
THE A BCDS OF HIV A = AIDS: A LIFE-THREATENING DISEASE, BUT A HARD ONE TO CATCH. YOU MUST BE EXPOSED TO INFECTED BODY FLUIDS. (IT IS 100X EASIER, FOR EXAMPLE, TO CATCH HEPATITIS B. QUIZ QUESTION: HIV CAN BE TRANSMITTED THROUGH WHAT FOUR BODY FLUIDS? ANSWER: BLOOD, SEMEN, VAGINAL SECRETIONS AND BREAST MILK (NOT ALL BODY FLUIDS TRANSMIT. URINE, SWEAT AND SALIVA DO NOT.)
THE A B CDS OF HIV B = BEHAVIORS THAT PUT A PERSON AT RISK. QUIZ QUESTION: WHAT ARE THE TWO MAIN BEHAVIORS THAT PUT PEOPLE AT RISK? ANSWER: UNPROTECTED SEX & IV DRUG USE (REMEMBER ANY DRUG USE IMPAIRS JUDGMENT.)
AB C DS OF HIV C = CHOICES. IT’S UP TO YOU. QUIZ QUESTION: WHAT THREE CHOICES COULD YOU MAKE TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM HIV? ANSWER: CHOOSE ABSTINENCE USE A CONDOM IF YOU DECIDE TO BE SEXUALLY ACTIVE DON’T USE DRUGS
THE ABC D S OF HIV D = DON’T WORRY ABOUT: CASUAL CONTACT SHARING FOOD SWIMMING POOLS PUBLIC PLACES HUGGING SHAKING HANDS BEING NEAR SOMEONE WITH HIV AN INSECT BITE CONTACT WITH A TOILET SEAT KISSING GIVING BLOOD D = DO WORRY ABOUT: UNPROTECTED SEX OF ANY TYPE (ORAL, ANAL, VAGINAL) DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE IV DRUGS CLEANING BLOOD BLOOD BROTHER/SISTER RITUALS TATTOOING/PIERCING WITH UNSTERILIZED EQUIPMENT SHARING RAZORS
REMINDERS SHARING NEEDLES OR HAVING UNPROTECTED SEX INCREASES THE CHANCES OF GETTING OTHER STDS, WHICH CAN INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF GETTING HIV. BEING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ANY DRUG CAN IMPAIR JUDGMENT AND INCREASE RISKY BEHAVIOR. HIV CARRIERS MAY SHOW NO SIGNS OF BEING SICK WITH AIDS FOR YEARS. IT CAN TAKE 6 MONTHS FOR SOMEONE TO TEST POSITIVE, BUT THEY CAN STILL SPREAD THE DISEASE. ABSTINENCE IS 100% SAFE. PROPER USE OF LATEX CONDOMS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES, BUT DOES NOT ELIMINATE, THE CHANCE OF HIV INFECTION.
REMINDERS CONTINUED…. PREGNANT WOMEN CAN PASS HIV TO THEIR CHILDREN DURING PREGNANCY, DELIVERY OR BREAST- FEEDING. THE TWO WAYS TO DIAGNOSE FULL-BLOWN AIDS ARE: A T-CELL COUNT OF BELOW 200 OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTIONS (DISEASES THAT WE ARE EXPOSED TO REGULARLY THAT DON’T HURT US, BUT COULD BE LIFE-THREATENING TO SOMEONE WITH A COMPROMISED IMMUNE SYSTEM.