HIV and AIDS. Lesson. By Carone Fitness. HIV and AIDS

Transcription

1 Lesson By Carone Fitness The leading cause of death for people between the ages of is Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). AIDS is the final stage of an HIV infection that is characterized by a severely weakened immune system. HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus, is a virus that attacks the body s immune system. 1

2 HIV HIV must enter a person s bloodstream in order to infect the person. HIV has been found in body fluids such as: Blood Semen Vaginal secretions HIV Small concentrations of HIV have also been found in other body fluids, namely: Saliva Sweat Tears Feces Urine Breast milk 2

3 Transmission Based on research, HIV is known to be transmitted only through: Blood Semen Vaginal secretions Breast milk Risk Factors There are certain behaviors that increase a person s risk for getting HIV, which are: Sexual intercourse Sharing needles 3

4 Sharing Needles Sharing needles refers to using the same needle as an infected person in order to inject steroids, make tattoos, pierce ears, or inject drugs. Drugs that are injected directly into veins are referred to as intravenous (IV) drugs. Sexual intercourse and the use of intravenous drugs are the primary routes of transmission for HIV. Transmission Other modes of transmission for HIV include blood transfusions and mother-tochild transmission during pregnancy or birth. 4

5 Transmission Donating blood does not put you at a risk for HIV because the needles used are disposable and only used once. If you need a blood transfusion, the donated blood is screened for many different diseases, including HIV. These tests help reduce the risk of you receiving contaminated blood. Transmission The transmission of HIV from motherto-child occurs because the baby receives blood from the infected mother through the umbilical cord. There is treatment available to help reduce the risk of the mother infecting her unborn child. The delivery of the baby can also allow HIV to be transmitted to the baby if the he/she has a cut on their body. It also is possible that a nursing baby could receive HIV from the breast milk of an infected mother. 5

6 Myths There are several myths about how HIV is transmitted that should be dispelled. Myths Myth: You can get HIV from a mosquito bite if that mosquito has bitten an HIV-infected person. Fact: Although mosquitoes can spread diseases such as malaria and yellow fever, HIV is not spread through a mosquito s salivary glands. 6

7 Myths Myth: You can get HIV from swimming in the same pool as an infected person. Fact: Even if the infected person bled into a swimming pool, the blood would be so diluted that it would not be able to infect you. Myths Myth: You can get HIV if someone who is infected sneezes on you. Fact: HIV is not spread through airborne droplets. 7

8 Treatment Research about HIV has not led to a cure for the disease. However, now there are several medications that can slow down the progress of HIV. The final stage of HIV is AIDS. This is marked by an extremely weakened immune system. Treatment A person with AIDS does not die directly from AIDS but from illnesses that attack their weakened body. Research has development drugs that prevent other illnesses from attacking an AIDS patient. These research developments have been able to prolong the lives and improve the quality of life of people with HIV. 8

9 Prevention The best and most effective way to prevent HIV is avoiding the high-risk behaviors mentioned earlier, such as sexual intercourse and intravenous drug use. Presented By Carone Fitness 9