H.I.V. & A.I.D.S.

1. H.I.V. & A.I.D.S. Presented by: Miss. Lord Mr. Keith

2. What are HIV & AIDS? • HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. • Over time, HIV disease infects and kills white blood cells called CD4 lymphocytes (or “T cells”) and can leave the body unable to fight off certain kinds of infections for cancer. • A normal CD4 count is between 600 and 1200. When the CD4 count drops below 200, a person’s immune system is severely weakened. And the person is diagnosed with AIDS. • AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. • A person with AIDS has an immune system so weakened by HIV that the person usually becomes sick from one of several opportunistic infections or cancer such as PCP ( a type of pneumonia) or KS (Kaposi Sarcoma), wasting syndrome (involuntary weight loss), memory impairment, or tuberculosis. • AIDS takes time to develop once the person acquires HIV- - usually between 2 to 10 years or more.

3. Depression- Everyone has had days where they were feeling a little "blue". We all have been "down in the dumps" or felt "blah" But when these feelings last longer than a couple weeks you may be suffering from depression. Diarrhea- Diarrhea can be a life threatening problem if not treated correctly and rapidly. But what can you do about this nagging problem? Take a look. Weight loss- Weight loss is a common problem in HIV and AIDS. Unless you are actively trying to lose weight by exercising and watching what you eat, weight loss is a serious problem. Lactic Acidosis- This emerging problem can make you sick, miserable, and can even be fatal. Lip dystrophy- People infected with HIV are living longer and more productive lives. A large part of the reason is the introduction of medication combinations into standard HIV care. But with the benefits of medications also comes some unforeseen problems. One such problem is fat redistribution syndrome or lip dystrophy. Sinus Infection- Your head feels congested and full. The pressure behind your eyes makes it hard to concentrate. The pounding in your head and face is relentless. The dreaded sinus infection. Fatigue- Fatigue is a common problem in HIV and AIDS. To treat fatigue, one must decide what is causing the problem. Nausea and Vomiting; Burning and tingling of the feet and hands Signs and symptoms

4. How do I protect myself?Protecting Yourself is about KNOWLEDGE! • People make many mistakes when it comes to having safe sex. This could be for a number of reasons… • You could be afraid to insist that your partner use a condom; you could make false assumptions about your partners (they seem too young, old, healthy, or nice to be HIV positive); You might be a drinker or recreational drug user who does things while under the influence that you wouldn’t otherwise consider. • Be safe and smart with your decisions. • Reduce your risk of getting the infection by avoiding activities that put you at risk and PRACTICE SAFER SEX!!

5. How risky is Oral Sex? • Oral sex is sex that involves the mouth and the penis, vagina, and or anus • Experts believe that oral sex with out protection is less risky than other kinds or sex, but all agree that it is possible to get HIV from giving oral sex to on HIV-infected partner with out protection, especially if the HIV-infected partner ejaculates in the mouth. • Risks increase if there is any open cuts or soars in his or her mouth. • To have safer oral sex, avoid getting any semen in the mouth. • The possibility of infection is higher if there is menstrual blood or if the woman has another kind of STD. • To have safer oral sex, you can use a plastic wrap over the vagina when performing cunnilingus or rimming.

6. Is there a cure? • THERE IS NO CURE! • Drug development has helped change the face of the disease. • Drug therapy has helped to prolong and improve the quality or life for many individuals. • Has helped people with the virus live longer then they would with out the drug treatment.

7. Should you have the HIV test? Have you… • had sex without knowing for sure if the person or persons you had sex with do not have HIV? • had sex with someone you know has HIV or AIDS? • had a disease passed on by sex, like genital herpes or syphilis? (Having these diseases makes it easier to get HIV.) • had sex with many men or women or had sex with someone who has had sex with many men or women? • had sex with someone who has used needles to take drugs? • shared needles or works to take drugs?

8. The HIV test • The HIV test is designed to detect antibodies to HIV in your blood or saliva. Antibodies are “fighter cells” produced by your body when you have an infection. If you are infected with HIV, your body makes very specific antibodies to fight the infection. The HIV antibodies are different from antibodies for the flu, hepatitis, or other infections. If you have HIV antibodies then you have been infected with HIV. (The only exception to this applies to infants born to HIV-infected mothers; infants can receive HIV antibodies from their infected mothers that stay in their system for as long as 18 months.) • The HIV test does not tell you if you have AIDS or how long you have been infected or how sick you might be. It just tells you that you are infected with the virus

9. I tested Positive! • Finding out that you have HIV can be scary and over whelming. This can be especially true if you are a young person. If you are overwhelmed, try to remember that you can get help and that you will not feel this way forever - - the scary feelings will get better with time. There are some things that you should know about HIV that may ease some of the stress or confusion you are feeling… • You are not alone! • HIV does not equal death: having HIV does not mean you are going to die • It does not automatically mean that you have AIDS • The most important things you can do right now are: • Start seeing a doctor or other health care provider • Ask for help and support

10. I tested Negative! • Testing negative for HIV can be a huge relief. You have made an important choice to take care of yourself by getting tested, and you should be proud of your decision. There are several things you can do to keep protecting your health, now that you are negative. • Testing negative does not mean that you are immune to the virus, so it is very IMPORTANT to keep protecting yourself. • There are two important things that you can do right now: • Keep taking care of yourself and your health • Ask for support in staying HIV negative

11. Statistics in the US • People living with AIDS • At the end of 2004, the CDC estimates that 415,193 people were living with AIDS in the USA.1 Of these, • 35% were white • 43% were black • 20% were Hispanic • 1% were of other race/ethnicity. • Of the adults and adolescents2 with AIDS, 77% were men. Of these men, • 58% were men who had sex with men (MSM) • 21% were injection drug users (IDU) • 11% were exposed through heterosexual contact • 8% were both MSM and IDU. • Of the 93,566 adult and adolescent women with AIDS, • 64% were exposed through heterosexual contact • 34% were exposed through injection drug use. • An estimated 3,927 children were living with AIDS at the end of 2004, of whom 97% probably acquired the infection from their mothers.

12. I have AIDS…. Ana Luisa Magalhaes Amaral, 39 ` "I was infected eight and a half years ago by my husband (who died in June 2000), in an accident related to drugs, but I don't like to talk about it. I couldn't prevent my youngest daughter Bruna from infection because at that time we weren't aware of that possibility. Since 1998 I have been active in the Group of Support and AIDS Prevention (GAPA, a groundbreaking non-governmental organization with 22 offices throughout the country). And for the last two years I have been the Santa Catarina coordinator for RNP+, which has representation in 27 Brazilian states.      There is still a great deal of prejudice in Brazil. Families hide their relatives who have AIDS. In my case, I suffer triple discrimination, for having AIDS, for being a woman and for being black. But I felt privileged when I went to Durban, South Africa, last September to participate in the NGO Forum held parallel to the World Conference against Racism. There I experienced something wonderful: 15 women went out to the street to demonstrate in favor of the right of AIDS treatment for all. The police tried to isolate them, but those brave women soon were accompanied by at least 500 people who supported their demands. This movement is unstoppable." widow, six daughters (ages 7 to 20 )

13. I am HIV Positive… Pablo Anamaría, 30 "I am HIV-positive. I have known for seven years. Despite the psychological support they gave me before the test, receiving the news was as if the earth had opened under my feet. I lived alone, I didn't want to tell my friends. I called my ex-partner to tell him, and I couldn't avoid an accusatory tone because I knew I had been faithful and that he had infected me. Besides him, who to tell? Who could I share my solitude and panic with? I called my mother and, with her at my side, I told the rest of my family. They still loved me, but I felt that they were distancing themselves physically from me, undoubtedly out of fear. Only my mother dared overcome her fear to give me a hug. After several years of seeing that I am still alive, that I am normal, they have lost their fear. Now I have no qualms about saying I am HIV-positive. Everyone in the neighborhood knows. I do political work at PROSA. I use my experience as an educator to teach awareness courses to hospital and clinic workers, to help them overcome the specter of their fear of AIDS and to learn to treat those with the disease. I want to help those who come in search of help to defeat their anxiety."

14. Bibliography • http://aids.about.com/cs/conditions/tp/signs.htm • http://www.thebody.com/ • http://hivinsite.ucsf.edu/ • http://www.avert.org/statindx.htm