HIV/AIDS

Human Immunodeficiency Virus  Virus attacks the immune system  Invades and destroys certain white blood cells  Takes time for the HIV to progress to AIDS, sometimes as long as years  If diagnosed before becoming AIDS, meds can slow or stop damage for a period of time  Contracted by contact with infected blood, semen, vaginal fluids, mother to baby during pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding.

Symptoms  Symptoms are often mistaken for flu because of similarities  Fever  Sore throat  Headache  Muscle aches, joint pain  Swollen glands- lymph nodes  Skin rash Appear for a few days to several weeks after infection  Early symptoms go away within 2-3 weeks and might stay away for years.

Immune system  During that time virus grows and attacks immune system  At a certain point symptoms reappear and remain:  Swollen lymph nodes  Extreme tiredness  Weight Loss  Fever  Night sweats

Diagnosis  Blood test that show antibodies trying to destroy virus  2 test are ELISA and Western blot (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay)  Can take as long as six months for antibodies to show up  If exposure is possible-protect self and retest in that six month period.

Treatment  Combination of medicines called highly active antiretroviral therapy-HAART  Slows rate of virus multiplication  Determination to start treatment is based on CD +4 Cell count and viral load

AIDS  ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME  Last stage of HIV infection  Low CD+4 Count  OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTION (most common)  PCP- Pneumocystis Pneumonia (lung infection)  KS- Kaposi’s sarcoma (skin cancer)  CMV- Cytomegalovirus (affects eyes)  CANDIDA- Fungal infection in throat or vagina  Other symptoms: Serious weight loss, brain tumors

Statistics  1.1 million persons are living with HIV in the US  Male to male sexual contact is still most prevalent followed by high risk heterosexual contact and then IV Drug Use.