BY: Harinder, Tajveer, Anny and Jasvir HIV/AIDS BY: Harinder, Tajveer, Anny and Jasvir

What Is HIV? HIV is a Human Immunodeficiency Virus, a Retrovirus that causes AIDS.HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system, resulting in a long lasting, progressive sickness that leaves people helpless to infections and cancers. Someone infected with the virus can live with HIV or be HIV positive for many years without becoming sick or showing symptoms. During this time HIV remains in the body harming the immune system and the person remains infectious; able to spread the virus to others if a few simple defences are not followed.

What are Aids? Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is one of the most serious disease in human history. How could it be prevented? -Not having oral, vaginal or anal sex (abstinence) -never sharing needles. -always using latex condoms for all types of sexual intercourse. How can you protect yourself and others? Don’t have sexual intercourse with strangers -don’t share personal items that may have blood on them. -if you choose to have sex, to reduce the risk of exchanging blood, semen or vaginal fluids with your sex partner(s) Causes of HIV/AIDS This virus could be found in the blood, semen, vaginal fluid and breast feeding of infected people. HIV is the virus which attacks the T-Cells in the immune system. Signs and symptoms of early HIV infection

What are Aids? (continued) -Fever -chills -joint pain -muscle ache -sore throat -sweats (particularly at night) - red rashes -tiredness -weakness -weight loss Signs and symptoms of early HIV infection -blurred vision -diarrhea -dry cough -night sweats -permanent tiredness -shortness of breath -white spots on tongue or mouth

HIV/Aids Overview Data Shows that about 40 million people in the world have HIV/AIDS and about 25 billion have died from it. 85% of HIV is spread through heterosexual intercourse. There is good news on one front. New HIV infections in U.S. children have fallen intensely. This is largely a result of testing and treating infected mothers. AIDS stands for the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. It is caused by HIV and happens when the virus has destroyed so much of the body's defenses that immune-cell counts fall to serious levels or certain life-threatening infections or cancers develops.

HIV Transmission HIV has been spread when organs from an infected person are removed into an uninfected receiver. Most commonly, HIV infection is spread by having sex with an infected partner. The virus can enter the body through the lining of the vagina, vulva, penis, rectum, or mouth during sex. Women can pass on HIV to their babies during pregnancy or birth, when infected motherly cells enter the baby's circulation, or through breastfeeding. HIV virus does not spread through casual contact such as cooking food, sharing towels and bedcovers, or via swimming pools, telephones, or toilet seats. The virus is also unlikely to be spread by contact with saliva, unless it is contaminated with blood.

HIV Symptoms And Signs AIDS is the later stage of HIV infection, when the body begins losing its capability to fight infections. The growth of disease differs widely among individuals. This state may last from a few months to more than 10 years. During this period, the virus continues to multiply aggressively and infects and kills the cells of the immune system. The virus destroys the cells that are the primary infection fighters, a type of white blood cell called CD4 cells.

How is HIV transmitted through body fluids? During sexual contact: When you have anal, oral or vaginal sex with a partner you will usually have contact with your partner’s body fluids. If your partner has HIV, those body fluids can deliver the virus into your bloodstream During pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding: Babies have contact with their mother’s body fluids (including amniotic fluid and blood-throughout pregnancy and childbirth) After birth, infants can get HIV from drinking infected breast milk. Injection drug use: Injecting drugs puts you in contact with blood - your own and others, if you share needles you can get HIV also. Needles or drugs that are contaminated with HIV-infected blood can deliver the virus directly into your body.

More Info Occupational exposure: Healthcare workers have the most risk for this type of HIV transmission. If you work in a healthcare site, you can come into contact with infected blood or other fluids through needle sticks or cuts Treatment of HIV: There's no cure for HIV/AIDS, but a variety of drugs can be used in mixture to control the virus. Where did HIV come from? Scientists believe HIV came from a chimpanzee in Western Africa. Humans probably came in contact with HIV when they hunted and ate infected animals. Recent studies indicate that HIV may have come from monkeys to humans as far back as the late 1800s.

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