HIV it all starts with the virus Human Immunodeficiency Virus - Attacks Helper T Cells

What is HIV ? Retrovirus- changes every time it reproduces The virus attacks and takes over the Helper T cells (CD4 T cell) and May remain dormant for a long time depending on the infected person’s immune system Helper T Cell

Three Stages of HIV 1st stage HIV + Asymptomatic 2nd stage ARC or AIDS related complex 3rd stage “AIDS” or Full Blown AIDS

1st Stage Asymptomatic Carriers -No symptoms, but are HIV positive -Biggest concern is many of these people don’t know they are infected and are spreading it unknowingly

2nd Stage ARC AIDS Related Complex When the immune system starts to weaken due to a lower helper T cell count Count drops from a normal range of 800-1000 to 500-300 Symptoms include night sweats, chills,yeast infections of the mouth, chronic diarrhea, body rash and weight loss

3rd Stage “AIDS” Require Two main criteria A person is said to have AIDS if their T cell count drops below 200 or They have acquired one of the (23) OPPORTUNISTIC DISEASES associated with late term infections

Opportunistic Diseases PCP or pneumoncystis Carinii pneumonia Kaposis sarcoma a rare skin cancer Brain dementia Tuberculosis Yeast infections of mouth

Major problems in Underdeveloped Countries Education -knowledge is the key to slowing the disease Money / Treatment: Expensive and most don’t have access to Dr. or $$$ to pay for drugs Language barriers make it difficult Transmission – prostitution is high (or legal)

Transmission or How you get it Exchange of certain body fluids during sex Tiny rips in vagina, anus, mouth or on penis allow entry of virus More likely to spread 1. During anal sex 2. Males to females 3. Multiple partners 4. Prostitution

Sharing Contaminated Needles Intravenous drug use with another person Tattooing with infected instruments Piercing

From mother to baby Infected pregnant female or new mother Exchange of blood during gestation or at time of delivery Breast feeding About 20% of babies get infected if mother is infected (depending on her viral load)

Mother to Baby

High Risk Body Fluids Blood Semen (not the sperm) Vaginal Secretions Breast Milk

Low Risk Body Fluids Tears Sweat Saliva Urine

Prevention Education Abstinence Monogamy Condoms

Testing and Detection They Look for HIV Antibodies in Blood What do they look for ? They Look for HIV Antibodies in Blood It usually takes 2 to 6 months for the antibodies to show up in a test Two Test ELISA developed to screen blood supply 2. Western Blot Test -More expensive and accurate

Who should be tested? Mandatory testing Everybody ? 1. Active Military personnel & Applicants 2. prison inmates 3. life insurance Applicants (screen for) Everybody ? Not practical Incubation period, cost Most people don’t put themselves at risk Unconstitutional

-There is no cure or vaccine for HIV at the present time. Treatment -There is no cure or vaccine for HIV at the present time. -The only treatment right now is to STOP or SLOW the VIRUS from reproducing

Drugs Protease Inhibitors AZT developed in 1994, help clean up the blood supply Protease Inhibitors 1996 to present Combination of drugs that are taken to attack the virus at its different stages of development 20 different pills daily

Treatment Facts Has shown to increase someone's life Can reduce the virus to where it is undetectable Lowered peoples concern of getting the disease causing a false sense of security Virus mutates and becomes resistant to new drugs Very expensive $15,000/ year