HIV 101 Presented By: Daniel Corona San Joaquin AIDS Foundation 4330 N. Pershing Ave., Ste. B3 Stockton, CA 95207 (209) 476-8533 Fax 476-8142 www.sanjoaquinaidsfoundation.org
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What is HIV? HIV damages the body s immune system which protects the body from disease. People who have HIV are usually referred to as being HIV positive. The virus attacks and eventually weakens the immune system, which allows the body to become infected with other diseases that would normally not occur. HIV is a disease with many stages which is why some HIV positive people can be healthy while others can be very sick.
What Does HIV Mean? Human : because this virus only affects humans. Immunodeficiency: because the virus damages and weakens your body s immune system Virus: because this organism cannot be eradicated or removed from your body
How Your Immune System Normally Works A pathogen invades the body Helper T Cells (WBC s) identify the pathogen and activate 2 types of immune system cells -Memory B Cells -Killer T Cells B Cells make antibodies specific to that pathogen Antibodies attach to the invading pathogen and make it easier for the immune system to kill it.
How does HIV compromise (destroy) an immune system? HIV enters the blood stream & invades Helper T cells and Macrophages HIV takes over and replicates inside the Helper T cells Helper T cells explode and die which spreads more virus into the bloodstream With T cells dying, too few B cells are told to make antibodies to help keep your body protected
Body Fluids Containing HIV Blood (highest) Semen Pre-ejaculate or pre-cum Vaginal Fluids Breast Milk (lowest)
Body Fluids NOT Containing HIV Saliva Sweat Tears Mucous Urine Feces These are waste products that leave the body all the time.
3 Requirements For HIV To Be Transmitted From One Person To Another 1) The virus must be present. 2) There must be enough virus present to pass to another person. *No one knows how much virus is enough. 3) The virus must enter the bloodstream by some route - i.e. Cut, Needle, Sores, etc.
3 Major Sexual Routes Of HIV Transmission 1) Unprotected Anal Intercourse 2) Unprotected Vaginal Intercourse 3) Unprotected Oral Intercourse WITH AN INFECTED PERSON!!!
Non-Sexual Routes Of HIV Transmission 1) Sharing unclean needles with someone who is HIV+ (IDU s and tattoo needles) 2) Transfusion or blood products (mostly before 1985) 3) Vertical Transmission from HIV+ mother to child
HIV Is NOT Spread By: Donating blood. Casual contact, such as hugging, kissing or sharing food. Sharing of telephones, toilet seats, towels or eating/drinking utensils. Insect bites
How Do You Know If You Have HIV? You can t tell by looking at someone if they have HIV. The only way to know if you are infected with HIV is to get an HIV antibody test. If you are infected with HIV, your immune system will produce antibodies specific to the virus.
The HIV Antibody Test Detects HIV antibodies. There could be up to a 6 month window period, after having been infected, for the immune system to produce a detectable amount of antibodies.
A Negative Test Result Does Not Mean: You are resistant or immune to HIV. You can t get HIV in the future. You re not infected if you are in the window period.
The Only Thing Meant By A Negative Test Result There were no antibodies to HIV found when the test was taken.
What Does A Positive Test Result Mean 1) Your sample was tested three times using an Elisa Test and a Western Blot test. 2) HIV antibodies were found. 3) You have HIV and are infectious.
Tests Performed To Determine Disease Progression from HIV to AIDS T Cell count - Measures the number of T Cells per/ml 3 of blood. A normal average range is between 600 1200 T Cells per/ml 3 ; a low count shows damage done to the immune system. Viral Load count - Measures the amount of Virus per/ml 3 of blood.
The Difference Between HIV and AIDS People can have HIV for years without becoming AIDS diagnosed. They may look and feel fine and might not even know they are infected with HIV. AIDS is the stage of HIV disease when the immune system gets very weak and the body becomes more susceptible to infection and other diseases.
What Is AIDS? AIDS is a more advanced stage of HIV disease. HIV is a disease of the immune system and AIDS is a diagnosis. For example, hepatitis is a disease of the liver and a diagnosis of cirrhosis is a more advanced stage of hepatitis disease.
What Does AIDS Mean? ACQUIRED IMMUNE - because it s a condition you must acquire or become infected with. - because it affects your body s immune system. DEFICIENCY SYNDROME -because it makes your immune system deficient, or not able to work properly. - because someone with AIDS may have many different diseases and infections.
Progression Of HIV To AIDS According to the CDC, an AIDS diagnosis requires a T-cell count of less than 200 T cells per/ml 3 of blood or the presence of an opportunistic infection, such as pulmonary TB, recurrent pneumonia, etc. in someone who is HIV positive.
What Are Opportunistic Infections? Opportunistic Infections are diseases which would normally be prevented by a healthy immune system. It is better to prevent O.I. s than to get them. O.I. s require different medications than HIV medications.
Treatments For HIV Disease There are several different treatment options for HIV and AIDS available. Some treatment options can cause physical side effects that are debilitating. All treatment options are expensive and effectiveness may vary from person to person.
Reducing Sexual Risk Of HIV Exposure Abstinence is the only 100% effective way to avoid infection. Reduce the number of sexual partners Use of protection Condoms (male or female) Oral Barrier (dental dam) Water-based Lubricant (not containing nonoxynol-9)
Reducing Nonsexual Risk Of HIV Exposure Abstaining from drug use is the only 100% effective way to reduce risk If using drugs do not share drug paraphernalia (drug tools) if you share, clean with bleach and water before use Do not share personal hygiene items Toothbrushes Razors
National HIV/AIDS Statistics Half of all new infections are thought to occur in young people under 25. More than 123,000 young adults developed AIDS in their twenties. This means that they were infected with HIV as teenagers. Young Americans between the ages of 13 24 are still contracting HIV at the rate of 2 per hour. Information from www.thebody.com
Local HIV/AIDS Statistics Worldwide National California AIDS Cases 40 million 886, 575 128,064 Deaths 25 million 501,669 72,310 San Joaquin County Information from www.avert.org and SJC Public Health Quarterly Report 1,045 541
Teen Health Statistics Only 48% of sexually active teens surveyed in the U.S. used a condom the last time they had sexual intercourse. Forty percent of sexually active teenage girls become pregnant each year in the United States. Twenty-five percent of sexually active teens in the U.S. are infected with an STD each year.
For More Information: San Joaquin AIDS Foundation 4330 N. Pershing Ave., Ste. B3 Stockton, CA 95207 (209) 476-8533 Fax 476-8142 www.sanjoaquinaidsfoundation.org Free & Anonymous HIV Antibody Testing Thursdays 5:30 to 7:00 pm CDC-INFO: 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636) TTY: 1-888-232-6348 In English, en Español 24 Hours/Day CDC National Prevention Information Network: P.O. Box 6003 Rockville, Maryland 20849-6003 1-800-458-5231 Internet Resources: NCHSTP: http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/od/nchstp.html DHAP: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv NPIN: http://www.cdcnpin.org