| Frequently Asked Questions About
HIV: What is HIV? What is AIDS? What are the symptoms of HIV? How is HIV transmitted? How can you protect yourself from HIV? How do you know if you are HIV-positive? |
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What is HIV? HIV means Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
HIV is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome).
HIV damages the body's ability |
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| What is AIDS? |
| AIDS is the end stage of HIV. A person can be HIV positive for many years before developing AIDS. A person who is HIV-positive may feel completely healthy while someone with AIDS may suffer from fatigue, infections and cancer. With AIDS, the immune system has been damaged and does not defend the body properly against germs. |
| The change from being HIV-positive to having AIDS is often described in stages: |
First Stage The first stage is called primary infection. This occurs just after infection with the HIV virus. It may include flu-like symptoms such as headache, fever, fatigue, and muscle aches. Unfortunately, many patients think they just have the flu and don't see their doctors. As a result, they don't know they are infected. |
| Second Stage During the second, or asymptomatic stage of the HIV disease, the person has no symptoms and feels completely healthy. Even though an HIV-positive person feels normal, the virus is constantly making copies of itself and interfering with the immune system. This stage may last for years. |
| Third Stage Next is symptomatic stage. During this period, the HIV-positive person begins to become easily tired, may lose his/her appetite, experience some weight loss, and have night sweats. In addition, minor infections that the person has never had before begin to appear and recur. |
| Fourth Stage AIDS is the last stage of HIV disease. At this stage of disease, the immune system is almost completely destroyed and the HIV-positive person develops many severe infections. This is because the germs take the 'opportunity' offered by the damaged immune system to cause infection. Opportunistic infections can usually be supressed by taking certain antibiotics on a continuous basis. |
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| What are the symptoms of HIV/AIDS? |
| Most people with HIV look and feel fine. Once symptoms of HIV infection begin they can be similar to other illnesses like colds or flu. However, the symptoms of HIV usually don't go away or they keep coming back. |
| The following are possible signs of HIV: |
Losing lots of weight for no reason Feeling very tired all the time Persistent fever or night sweats Frequent diarrhea White spots on the tongue or mouth Swollen glands usually in the neck, armpits or groin Dry cough not caused by cold or flu Pink, blue or purple blotches on the skin, inside the mouth, nose, eyelids or rectum Chronic vaginal yeast infections Persistent PID (pelvic inflammatory disease) |
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| How is HIV transmitted? |
| You CAN get HIV from: |
| Having vaginal, anal or oral sex, especially
without a latex condom/rubber. By sharing needles, syringes, cookers or cotton (works) to shoot drugs. By being born to an HIV-infected mother. |
| You CANNOT get HIV from: |
| Air, by insects, food or casual contact Handshakes, hugging or casual kissing Sneezing, coughing or spitting Dishes, utensils or food handled by a person with HIV Bathtubs, sinks or toilet seats used by a person with HIV Mosquitoes and other insects You cannot get HIV by donating blood. Blood banks and other blood collection centers use sterile equipment and never reuse needles |
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| How can you protect yourself from HIV? |
| HIV is preventable.
To reduce your chances of becoming infected with HIV, remember: Practice abstinence If you have sex, use latex condoms/ rubbers Have one uninfected partner for a lifetime Don't share needles, syringes, cookers or cotton (works) to shoot drugs Alcohol and other drugs can affect your judgment about protecting yourself from HIV |
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| How do you know if you are HIV-positive? |
| A blood test is the only way to know if you are infected with HIV. You should be tested if you have unprotected sex with an HIV-infected person or someone whose HIV status is unknown to you, or with someone who has shared needles. Your doctor or public health clinic can perform the test in a confidential manner. |
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