1. HIV & AIDS

2. History When did you first hear about HIV/AIDS?
What were some of your thoughts about it?
What were/are some of the questions you had?

3. The first case of AIDS in the United States was documented in 1981.
People became very frightened of this deadly illness and began ostracizing parts of the population that tested positive for HIV/AIDS.
The spread of AIDS continues and threatens people regardless of age, race or sexual preference.
Today, approximately 8,000 people die of AIDS everyday.

4. Difference Between HIV and AIDS
Have you recently learned anything about HIV or AIDS that you didn’t know before?
What is the difference between AIDS and HIV?

5. HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the virus that causes AIDS.
This virus severely damages the immune system by infecting and destroying certain white blood cells.
HIV is passed from person to person via blood, semen or mucous membranes. Pregnant women may pass HIV to their baby during pregnancy, delivery or breast feeding.

6. Some people will develop AIDS as a result of their HIV infection.
An HIV positive test result does not mean a person has AIDS.

7. AIDS
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is developed after a person has been in contact with HIV.
AIDS is a collection of infections and cancers that people with HIV might develop.
AIDS weakens the immune system making it difficult for a person to fight illness.

8. If a person gets one of these infections or cancers after they are HIV+ they are said to have AIDS.
Many of these infections that cause AIDS are harmless to a healthy immune system.

9. Transmission of HIV and AIDS
How is HIV/AIDS transmitted?
Does HIV/AIDS only affect certain types of people?

10. Transmission People can contract HIV in multiple ways:
Unprotected sex with an infected person
Sharing a needle with someone who uses intravenous drugs
Transmission from a mother to her unborn fetus

11. However, you cannot get HIV through daily social contact such as:
Hugging
Shaking hands
Sharing a swimming pool or toilet
Coughing sneezing, tears or insect bites

12. HIV/AIDS can infect anyone regardless of age, race or sexual preference.

13. Where does HIV/AIDS exist in the world?
HIV is one of the biggest social, economic and health challenges facing the world today. People are affected everywhere by this global pandemic.

14. Treatments and Cures?
Is their a cure or vaccine for HIV or AIDS?

15. Treatment
In the early 1980’s testing positive for HIV was a death sentence.
It was usually only a matter of time before a person infected with HIV developed full blown AIDS and died.
Although there are no cures, anti-retroviral drugs developed in recent years have revolutionized treatments of HIV.

16. Prevention How can the transmission of HIV be prevented?
The only 100% way to prevent HIV and AIDS is by abstaining from sex.
The next best method is by using a condom each and every time you have sex.