You’ve probably heard that HIV/AIDS is a sexually transmitted disease and that it has no cure. But what is it really?
HIV – Human immunodeficiency virus is a virus that kills the body’s T-Helper cells. T-helper cells are part of the body’s immune response, and are used to fight off diseases and infections.
AIDS-Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome is a disease you get when HIV has destroyed your body’s immune system, characterized by opportunistic infections. This usually happens when HIV is left untreated.
Anyone can get HIV. Transmission occurs by direct contact with blood or bodily fluids of a person infected with HIV. You can get HIV the following ways:
· Unprotected Sex – From blood, semen, or vaginal secretions. Fluids enter the body through tiny cuts in the skin or in the lining of the vagina, penis, rectum, or mouth.
· Sharing needles or syringes to inject drugs or sharing equipment used to prepare injectable drugs
· Blood Transfusion prior to 1985 – since then blood has been tested for HIV, and it is highly unlikely to have HIV now.
· Babies born to women with HIV through pregnancy, birth, or breast feeding
You cannot get HIV by:
· Working with, going to school with, or being near an infected person.
· Touching a person, sweat, spit, tears, clothes, water fountains, toilet seats, telephones, or sharing meals
· Insect bites
· Donating blood
· Closed-mouth kissing. (There is a small chance that HIV/AIDS could transmit through open mouth kissing)
How to Protect Yourself:
· Don’t share needles or syringes for injecting drugs or for tattooing or body piercing
· Abstain from sexual intercourse or be in a monogamous long-term relationship with a person who has tested negative, or correctly & consistently use latex condoms when having sex.
· Condom use is not 100% effective, but when used properly every time you have sex, they greatly reduce the risk or contracting HIV/AIDS.
· Don’t share razors or toothbrushes
How can I tell if I have it?
The ONLY way to know for sure if you have HIV/AIDS is to be tested.
We offer anonymous testing where your name is not recorded. You are given a number at the time of your test, and when you return for your results you give that number to the health educator.
While many new medications and options for treatment of HIV/AIDS exist, there still isn’t a cure. If you find you do have it, it is important to get treatment right away to help keep you healthy.
For further information on HIV/AIDs, call the CDC National AIDS hotline at 800-342-2437 or call AIDSinfo at 800-448-0440 (aidsinfo.nih.gov).
Reference Material: CDC National Center for HIV, STD & TB Prevention – Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention; AIDSinfo a service of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
