DO YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE? DO YOU KNOW IF YOU ARE AT RISK?

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE? HIV = Human Immunodeficiency Virus AIDS =Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome HIV cripples a person’s immune system – by attacking the helper T cells As the immune system deteriorates complications can occur through “Opportunistic Infections” AIDS is the disease caused by HIV Someone can be HIV positive and have no signs or symptoms of the AIDS disease.

How is it spread? Needles: Sharing equipment for injecting drugs, tattooing, or body piercing Sex: vaginal, oral, and anal Moms to babies: delivery & breast milk

PREVENTION! If it is a body fluid, if it is wet, warm, and NOT yours, DON’T TOUCH IT! ABSTINENCE: No vaginal, oral or anal intercourse No using drugs and sharing needles Monogamous (infection free) Relationships CONDOMS ARE NOT 100%, - but they are safer than unprotected sex. (Consistent, correct condom use)

It is not spread by “Casual Contact” Examples of safe behaviors that will not spread HIV are... Living in the same home Sharing food, using the same utensils Shaking hands, holding hands or hugging Working or going to the same school

More “Casual Contact” Sharing a toilet or using a public toilet Using the same water fountain Swimming in the same pool OR ANY OTHER ORDINARY CASUAL CONTACT !

Basic Stats from the Center for Disease Control 80 million people infected with HIV worldwide. Approximately 40,000 new cases each year in the US and 5 million worldwide. More than 900,000 cases of AIDS have been reported since 1981 in the US. In US, 950,000 may be infected with HIV (more than one quarter do not know they are infected).

Youth and HIV Youth represented 13% of those diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in Two young people every hour become infected with HIV *The Alan Guttmacher Institute HIV is the fifth leading cause of death for people yrs old in the US.*NCHS, National Vital Statistics Report, vol 50 (16); 30