HIV&AIDS

Michaela Remiker & Talon Meyer

sorry i didnt get anything done i actually had a ton done but when i hit save the internet timed out and wouldnt save any of it, i worked on it last nite at home a whole ton, with class to day i think i have everything done, if you just want to proofread it. if you feel that i missed anything use the website i have at the bottom of the page for any additional information its got everything under HIV/AIDS basics (aids 101). btw i rode your bus wen my car needed repairs i sit across from ben when im on.

**__What is AIDS/ HIV?__** HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system of the person. Human Immunodeficiency Virus reproduces in and destroys the cells that are needed to fight off infectious diseases in the body. Without these cells diseases can get into your body and the body would not be able to destroy the diseases. When HIV gets to the point where diseases and infections cannot be destroyed by the immune system it turns into AIDS, Aquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome. When a person has AIDS opportunistic diseases that the body can normally get rid of on its own become nearly impossible for the body to kill and could even kill the person. A simple minor flu could kill a person with AIDS if their immune system is depleted enough.

__ **How Does a Person Get AIDS/HIV?** __ sexual contact, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, exposure to body fluids, blood transfusions, organ transplants, needles including drugs, tattoos, and piercings can all have a risk of contracting HIV. HIV is not an airborne type virus so you cant get it just by breathing the air around people that have HIV or AIDS, nor can a person get it from hugging someone with HIV. HIV can live in body fluids such as semen, blood, vaginal fluids, breast milk, rectal mucuous, amniotic fluid, other fluids, and even saliva. However, the cha nce of getting HIV from saliva exchange is minimal compared to that of other fluids.

__ **How to Prevent AIDS/HIV?** __ safe sexual activity: only having one or few partners, using a condom, also knowing your status and your partners status, post exposure prophylaxis can help if something goes wrong, can all help prevent getting HIV through sex. drug use: don't do illegal drugs, use a new sterile syringe and needle every time (prescription and illegal), don't share drugs, syringes, or needles, sterilize the area with a fresh alcohol swab before injection, sterile clean new needles also aplys for tattoos and piercings. pregnancy: if an expecting female is HIV positive there are medications that can significantly reduce the chance for the baby to become infected during child birth, also HIV positive mothers should not breast feed their children as the baby can get the virus through breast milk. work: if exposed to blood or other fluids in the work place, wash hands or exposed skin regularly, wear gloves and face masks, cover up any open wounds or cracks in the skin properly.

__ **What Are The Symptoms and Signs of AIDS and HIV?** __ Many times HIV doesn't have symptoms, only when the disease is getting closer to turning into AIDS will that person start to feel sick. Most of the "symptoms" of illness are not from the HIV or AIDS but from the diseases that become opportunistic when a person has a weak immune system. Acute retroviral syndrome is the initial attempt of the immune system to get rid of the virus. This takes place between 2 and 4 weeks and is described as "the worst flu ever".

__ **What Tests Are Used to Diagnose AIDS/HIV?** __ HIV tests are usually taken through blood, however, a mouth swab or urine test are sometimes used. Results from the tests may take just 20 minutes to a few days. The tests don't test for the actual virus but for anitbodies against the virus, therefore, a person would have to wait 1-3 months before the test would be accurate.

__ **What Treatments Can be Used for AIDS/HIV?** __ Antiretrovial therapy (ART) is a combination of drugs that help slow down the HIV virus. These drugs may prevent the virus from reproducing, or getting into other body cells.

__ **What Happens if Left Undiagnosed or Treated?** __ as there is no cure for HIV or AIDS only medicines that can help slow down the viruses effects or help cure the other diseases that become easier to get when a person has AIDS, if a person is not diagnosed with HIV or AIDS or they decide to not take those medicines, the HIV would just turn into AIDS sooner and death from other diseases would just occur sooner.

__ **Statistics of AIDS and HIV** __ 33.4 million people have HIV or AIDS 25 million poeple have died from AIDS since 1981 over 1 million people currently have HIV or AIDS in the US every 9.5 minutes someone in the US is infected with HIV 1 in 5 people with HIV don't know it

Because AIDS and HIV is a immune disease and is internal, a person may not look differently from another except for if infected with another disease as well as AIDS.



<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Resources: <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">[] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">[] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">[]