WHAT IS HIV/AIDS?
HIV- Human Immnuodeficiency Virus
This is the virus that causes Aids. Hiv attacks the immune system which gives our bodies the ability to fight infections. Hiv finds and destroys white blood cells (T cells or CD4 cells) that the immune system must have to fight disease.
Aids- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
Aids is the final stage of Hiv disease. It can take years for a person infected with Hiv, even without treatement, to reach this stage. Having Aids means that the virus has almost destroyed your immune system to the point at which the body has a difficult time fighting off infections. When someone has one or more infections and a low number of T cells (200) she or he has Aids.
Where did HIV come from?
In 1999 an international team of researchers reported that they had discovered the origin of Hiv-1, the predominant strain of Hiv in the developed world. A subspecies of Chimpanzees, native to west equatorial Africa, had been indentified as the original source of the virus. The researchers believe that Hiv-1 was introduced into the human population when hunters became exposed to the infected blood of these Chimpanzees.
This information can be found on the cdc website at www.cdc.gov
How is HIV transmitted?
Hiv is transmitted through vaginal, anal, and oral unprotected sex. It can be transmitted by sharing needles and syringes or from a mother passing on the virus to her unborn child and by breast milk.
FYI.......... You can not get HIV by casual contact such as hugging, shaking hands, dry kissing drinking/eating after someone, sharing a toilet seat, or telephones.
Symptoms of HIV
Rapid Weight Loss
Dry cough
Fever, night sweats
Fatigue
Swollen lymph glands (neck, underarm, and groin area)
Diarrhea and decreases appetite
White Spots -blemishes on tongue, mouth, and throat
Pneumnia
Red, brown ,pink, or purplish blotches on or under the skin, inside the mouth, nose, or eyelids
Reoccuring yeast infections (hard to treat)
How to protect yourself
Have safe sex by being in a mutually monogamous relationahip. If having casual sex use a latex condom (during vaginal or anal sex) and dental dam should be used for oral sex. Do not share needles or syringes, do not have sex while high on drugs or alcohol.
* Remember THERE IS NO CURE FOR HIV/AIDS.
"Get Tested, Know Your Status"