AIDS - Spotlight on AIDS
AIDS is a condition caused by a virus called human immunodeficiency virus or HIV. Most people who become infected with HIV will eventually develop AIDS. AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. “Acquired” means that the disease is spread through contact with a virus, in this case, HIV. “Immunodeficiency” means that the disease attacks the immune system. The immune system is what protects the body from disease. “Syndrome” refers to the group of symptoms that are common to the disease.
It usually takes many years for someone with HIV to develop AIDS. When someone first becomes infected with HIV, he or she might not feel sick at all. Over time, HIV weakens the immune system of the infected person. Eventually, the body has trouble fighting certain infections and the person can come down with pneumonia, weight loss, and other complications known as “opportunistic infections”. Many of the illnesses that the person has with AIDS are from infections that the body fought off before but now cannot.
HIV is spread through contact with bodily fluids, such as blood or semen. The most common way of sharing these bodily fluids is through sexual contact with someone who has HIV.
HIV can also be spread by sharing needles with someone who has HIV. If you cannot or will not stop using drugs, you should use a new needle every time. If new needles aren’t available, old needles should be boiled or cleaned with bleach before reuse. In addition, you should find out about needle exchange programs in your community that make clean, reliable needles available to users. For more information please visit, http://www.preventionpointphilly.org/services/services-syringe.html
Having another sexually transmitted disease (STD), such as syphilis, gonorrhea, Chlamydia, or herpes, can also increase someone’s chances of becoming infected with HIV. These diseases can cause sores or skin irritations in the genital area that make transmission of HIV easier.
In addition, infected mothers can pass the virus to their children during pregnancy, childbirth itself or through breast milk. In rare cases, infected blood given in a blood transfusion can also spread HIV. With modern screening techniques it is almost impossible to get HIV from a blood transfusion.
Despite the rumors you might hear, you cannot be infected in any of the following ways:
Coming into contact with the sweat, tears, sneezes, or coughs of someone infected with HIV or living with AIDS.
Sharing food, a telephone, a water fountain, or a toilet seat with someone who has the virus.
Being bitten by a mosquito.
Kissing someone who is HIV-positive or who has AIDS. Although HIV is sometimes found in saliva, it is too small an amount to cause infection.
Donating blood.
Currently, forty million people are living with HIV worldwide, including over one million Americans. Twenty five percent of these people don’t know they’re infected. That’s frightening because there is no cure for or vaccine against HIV infection.
New medicines may allow patients with HIV to live longer, better lives, but in most cases HIV/AIDS will eventually end in the death of its victims. The best hope for preventing infection is education. Here’s what you can do to protect yourself:
Choose not to have sex until you know whether or not your partner is free from HIV.
Use a latex or plastic condom every time you have sex if you don’t know whether your partner is HIV positive. When used properly, condoms are very effective at preventing the transmission of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
If you use IV drugs, get help or make sure you use a clean needle every time.
If you are sexually active, get tested regularly. New tests can give results in as little as twenty minutes. Testing is the only sure way to know if you are infected.
To find more HIV/AIDS resources, including Delaware Valley organizations and non-English materials, visit Philly Health Info’s AIDS page.
Edited by Ellen M. Tedaldi, MD, Professor of Medicine, Temple University School of Medicine; Director, Temple Comprehensive HIV Program; Fellow, College of Physicians of Philadelphia