1. HIV
&
AIDS

2. What is the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)?
HIV is the virus (retrovirus family) that causes AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome)
A person can be infected with HIV and not know it
Knowing if you have HIV can save your life!

3. HIV versus AIDS HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.
A person can look and feel healthy even if they have HIV.
A person with HIV can pass the virus to others.
HIV weakens the body’s ability to fight infection, making a person very sick. This is called AIDS.
It can take years for a person infected with HIV to develop AIDS
A person with AIDS can still pass HIV to others.

4. How does the HIV Virus attack?
The HIV virus selectively targets CD4 “Helper” T-lymphocytes.
As the CD4 count drops (below 200), the patient becomes more susceptible to opportunistic infections.

6. AIDS Opportunistic Infections
Pneumocystis pneumonia
Candida esophagitis
Cryptococcal meningitis
Toxoplasmosis
Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
Tuberculosis
CNS lymphoma
Kaposi’s sarcoma

7. AIDS Opportunistic Infections
Toxoplasmosis Tuberculosis

8. Why should we find out if we have HIV?
There are special medications that can help a person stay healthy for a long time.
We can learn other ways to stay healthy
We can protect our partners.

9. How is HIV transmitted?
Unprotected oral, vaginal or anal sex. Anal sex is the riskiest.
Sharing needles for drugs, tattoos or body piercing.
Pregnancy, childbirth or breast feeding.

10. HIV is passed through the following BODY FLUIDS:
SEMEN
BLOOD
VAGINAL FLUID
BREAST MILK

11. How do we pass body fluids?
BLOOD
Sharing Needles
Pregnancy & Childbirth
Sex - If there are open cuts or blood in the vagina, mouth, penis, or rectum
VAGINAL FLUIDS & SEMEN
Unprotected vaginal, oral or anal sex
BREAST-MILK
Breast-Feeding

12. HIV is not like a cold…
You can’t just “catch it”

13. HIV can not be passed through “casual” contact:
Hugging, kissing, holding hands, or sharing utensils is not risky
Fluids like saliva, urine, or tears do not transmit HIV

14. HIV and PREGNANCY
If a woman is HIV+, she can take medicine & other treatment to dramatically reduce the risk of having a baby born with HIV.

15. Did you know…
All babies are tested for HIV before they go home from the hospital…
A woman can begin HIV treatment during pregnancy. This can help both the woman and the baby.
It is recommended that all pregnant women get tested for HIV!

16. REDUCING RISK
Without treatment, 1 baby out of 4 (25%) born to women with HIV will have HIV.
With treatment, this risk can be reduced to as little as 1 in 50 (about 2%)

17. HIV TESTING The test for HIV is not a routine blood test
Before getting tested, a person must receive counseling & sign a special HIV consent form

18. HIV TESTING: An important choice
No one can be forced to get tested for HIV.
The test for HIV is voluntary and confidential…
This is the law.

19. TYPES of HIV TESTS Rapid Blood Test –screening (ELISA test)
Standard Blood Test confirming test (Western Blot)

20. Rapid HIV Blood Test Tests for HIV infection
Results are available the same day
A sample of cells are taken from the mouth, testing oral fluid, not blood or….
A blood test is done with a finger stick or vein
If the test is positive, it needs to be confirmed with another blood test

21. Standard HIV Test Tests for HIV infection
Results are available in 1 to 2 weeks
A sample of blood is taken from a vein
If the test is positive, it does not need to be confirmed with another test

22. Test results…

23. What does a NEGATIVE test result mean?
No HIV infection was found at the time of the test
The person is either not infected or it is too early to tell (window period)
The person should continue to practice safe sex
Re-testing is recommended in 3 months if there has been risky behavior
A negative result means the same thing with both rapid and standard testing

24. What do you think?
A woman had unprotected sex last night with a guy who was HIV positive…
If she gets tested for HIV today, could she have a positive result from her exposure the previous night?

25. What do you think?
NO… the infection will not show up today. It is too early to tell
She should get tested in 3 months.
However, if she were infected the night before, she could have HIV and could pass it to others. She should practice safer sex.

26. HIV CAN BE PREVENTED!

27. PREVENT HIV… Be aware of your personal risk
Think about what you can do to reduce your risk
Talk with your partner(s) about ways to be safe.
Learn your HIV status

28. ABCs of HIV prevention A B C Best to have only one partner.
Abstinence from sex and needle use. This is the only 100% safe way to prevent HIV.
Best to have only one partner.
Condom use if you have sex. B C

29. Stay Healthy!
Use condoms every time you have vaginal, oral or anal sex.
Limit the number of sexual partners you have.
Avoid drugs.
Never share needles or equipment if you do use drugs.

30. A final thought…
People used to be afraid to be tested for HIV…. now most people are afraid to skip the test.
They know now that it can save their lives… and, if they are pregnant, the life of their baby as well.