2. AIDS  Leading cause of death in young people aged 24-44  Group of symptoms caused by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)  HIV attacks lymphocytes (white blood cells/T-cells)  Lymphocytes control cell growth, transport nutrients to cells, and produce antibodies that protect the body against infection

3. What it doesWhat it does  When T-cells sense presence of a disease, they send messages to other white cells to resist the infection  HIV penetrates T-cells and forces them to make copies of the virus, then the cells gradually die  Over a period of years, when enough lymphocytes are destroyed, symptoms of AIDS appear

4. What happensWhat happens  Victims suffer an impaired immune system, poor cell growth and poor cell nutrition  A weakened immune system reduces the body’s ability to defend against diseases produced by common bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi  A person suffers infection after infection, is susceptible to unusual cancers, and higher risk of tuberculosis.

5. Symptoms  HIV- flulike or no symptoms up to 12 years before immune system is suppressed enough to cause problems  Weakened immune system= chronic fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, unexplained weight loss, fevers and night sweats  Many people who have HIV do not know they have it

6. How it’s SpreadHow it’s Spread  Transmitted in body fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal fluid, and breast milk  Impossible to get from donating blood  Spread through sexual contact or from infected mothers to their infants  Cannot survive long outside the human body  Small amounts of the virus are present in saliva and if there is an open wound in the mouth, it can be transferred. Kissing on the cheek has no risk  No vaccine and no cure

7. Rumors PosterRumors Poster  What decisions could Amy and Patrick have made to prevent this problem from occurring?  If you were Amy’s friend, what would you do?  What symptoms will Amy have if she “got” HIV/AIDS?  Does Mills have a gossiping problem?  What role, if any, do you play in the spreading of rumors?

8. Waiting PosterWaiting Poster  What emotions or feeling is each character experiencing?  Where would you go or tell a friend to go to be checked for an STD?  It may be tough to visit a doctor. What might stop a person from getting tested?  What symptoms may this person be experiencing?