HIV and AIDS How can you protect yourself from HIV infection? Making responsible decisions about personal behaviors is the most valuable tool you can use for protection against HIV infection.

Lesson Objectives In this lesson, you’ll learn to: Explain how HIV affects and destroys the immune system. Identify behaviors known to transmit HIV. Analyze the relationship between unsafe behaviors, refusal skills, and the risk of HIV.

Teens at Risk HIV Infection Among Teens Teens have one of the fastest growing rates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Many young adults who are currently dying from acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) were infected in their teens. Teens who choose abstinence from sexual activity and from injecting drugs greatly reduce their risk of HIV infection.

HIV and the Human Body How HIV Infects the Human Body When HIV enters the blood, it invades certain cells of the immune system, including T cells, which help other lymphocytes identify and destroy pathogens. The viruses take over the cells, cause them to produce new copies of themselves, and the newly produced viruses break out of the cell, destroying them. The new viruses infect other cells, and then the process repeats itself.

HIV and the Human Body How HIV Attacks Cells

HIV and the Human Body HIV Infection and AIDS HIV infection is progressive; that is, it destroys the cells of the immune system over many months or years. As the number of viruses increases, the body becomes susceptible to common infections and to opportunistic infections. Being infected with HIV does not necessarily mean that an individual has AIDS. AIDS is the advanced stage of HIV infection.

How HIV Is Transmitted Nature of the HIV Virus The HIV organism lives inside cells and body fluids. It doesn’t survive well in the air or on surfaces such as toilet seats or telephones. It cannot be transmitted through food. HIV can be transmitted from an infected person to an uninfected person only through blood, semen, vaginal secretions, and breast milk.

How HIV Is Transmitted Transmitting HIV Through Sexual Intercourse HIV can be transmitted during any form of sexual intercourse. During intercourse, secretions containing HIV can enter a partner’s blood through tiny cuts in the body. The risks of HIV infection increase with the number of people with whom a person is or has been sexually active. Having an STD that causes sores, including chlamydia, genital herpes, gonorrhea, or syphilis, increases the risk of HIV.

How HIV Is Transmitted Transmitting HIV by Sharing Needles If a person who is infected with HIV injects drugs, the needle or syringe can become contaminated with that person’s blood. Anyone who uses that same needle or syringe can inject HIV directly into his or her bloodstream. Injections under the skin or in the muscle also can spread HIV.

How HIV Is Transmitted Transmitting HIV from Mother to Baby A pregnant female who is infected with HIV can pass the virus to her baby. HIV in the mother’s blood can be transmitted through the umbilical cord and during delivery. Because breast milk can contain HIV, a baby can receive HIV while nursing.

Q. Describe the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the teen population. Quick Review Provide a short answer to the question given below. Q. Describe the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the teen population. Click Next to view the answer.

Quick Review - Answer A. The rate of HIV infection is increasing because of high-risk behaviors such as injecting drugs and engaging in unprotected sexual activity. Click Next to attempt another question.

Q. How does HIV attack the immune system? Quick Review Provide a short answer to the question given below. Q. How does HIV attack the immune system? Click Next to view the answer.

Quick Review - Answer A. HIV enters cells of the immune system, where it makes more viruses that break away and attack other cells. Click Next to attempt another question.

Q. How is HIV transmitted? Quick Review Provide a short answer to the question given below. Q. How is HIV transmitted? Click Next to view the answer.

Quick Review - Answer A. HIV is transmitted through sexual intercourse, sharing contaminated needles, and from mother to baby. Click Next to attempt another question.

Quick Review Provide a suitable analysis. Analyze the relationship between unsafe behaviors, refusal skills, and the risk of HIV.

Teens at Risk HIV Infection Among Teens Teens have one of the fastest growing rates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Many young adults who are currently dying from acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) were infected in their teens. Teens who choose abstinence from sexual activity and from injecting drugs greatly reduce their risk of HIV infection. Acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or AIDS, is a disease in which the immune system of the patient is weakened.

Teens at Risk HIV Infection Among Teens Teens have one of the fastest growing rates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Many young adults who are currently dying from acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) were infected in their teens. Teens who choose abstinence from sexual activity and from injecting drugs greatly reduce their risk of HIV infection. Human immunodeficiency, or HIV virus, is a virus that attacks the immune system.

HIV and the Human Body HIV Infection and AIDS An infection that occurs in individuals who do not have healthy immune systems is called an opportunistic infection. HIV infection is progressive; that is, it destroys the cells of the immune system over many months or years. As the number of viruses increases, the body becomes susceptible to common infections and to opportunistic infections. Being infected with HIV does not necessarily mean that an individual has AIDS. AIDS is the advanced stage of HIV infection.