2. Human Immunodeficiency Virus

3.  HIV infects T Cells  T Cells stimulate other cells to produce antibodies to fight infections and diseases  HIV reproduces inside the cell and kills the cell in the process  These new HIV cells repeat the process

4.  HIV is monitored by the level of the T cells present in the body.  The lower the amount of T cells present the further the HIV has progressed  200 T cells per millimeter cubed of blood represents the onset of AIDS

5.  Asymptomatic Stage- At onset of infection a person will experience flu like symptoms. The person then may not show signs of the disease for years.  Symptomatic stage- Symptoms of the disease are now experienced. Weight loss, persistent fever, diarrhea and fungal infections are common.

6.  AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.  AIDS is the progression after the Symptomatic stage.  Even more symptoms are experienced during this time.  At this time a person is susceptible to diseases and infections that a normal person would not be susceptible to.

7.  These are infections that attack people when they have a weakened immune system.  These infections include tuberculosis, fungal infections, and lung diseases.

8.  Sexual contact  Shared needles  Contact with blood  Mother to Baby

9.  A person can get HIV from kissing a person with HIV  FALSE!  A person who has HIV always knows when they contract the disease  FALSE!  Tears, saliva, and sweat are fluids that easily transfer HIV from one person to another.  FALSE!

10.  Abstinence  Avoid Drugs….. Why?  Avoid contact with blood and body fluids

11.  In an HIV test the person is tested for HIV antibodies that the body produces.  If antibodies are detected a second test is done to verify the results.  If both tests show antibodies the person is then considered to be HIV positive.

12.  If a person is HIV negative but believes the infection may have occurred shortly before the testing, is there any reason they should do follow up testing?  YESS!! If testing occurs soon after infection the body may not have started making HIV antibodies. So, follow up testing should be conducted to eliminate all possibilities of an infection.

13.  A person can get tested by a doctor or through an anonymous mail-in testing system. What would be an advantage and disadvantage to each of these two systems. Write two paragraphs explaining your answers.