HIV / AIDS FAQ - World AIDS Day 2008

How does a person get HIV/AIDS?

Many of the myths about HIV/AIDS include how you get it.

In general, the spread of HIV/AIDS involves an exchange of bodily fluids between an infected and an uninfected person. How does this happen? Accidental needle sticks or splashes of blood can result in HIV/AIDS infection. This is why you see doctors, dentists, nurses, emergency medical personnel, hospital staff and athletic trainers taking precautions against spreading the virus. Precautions include wearing surgical masks and gloves.But, for the most part, the spread of HIV/AIDS results from the kind of high-risk behaviors described in the section:

What are the risk factors for HIV/AIDS?

HIV/AIDS may be transmitted by:Having unprotected sex (sex without a latex condom) with a person who is HIV-positive. The virus can be in an infected person's blood, semen, or vaginal fluids and can enter your body through tiny cuts or sores in your skin, or in the lining of your vagina, penis, rectum or mouth. Sharing needles and syringes to inject drugs, or sharing drug equipment used in preparing those drugs with someone who has HIV. Receiving HIV-infected blood or blood products before 1985. Since 1985, all blood used for transfusions in the United States has been tested for HIV and is generally considered safe. Carrying, giving birth to or breast-feeding a child while HIV positive.

You cannot get HIV:

From dry kisses (closed-mouthed kisses) or hugs
From donating blood
By working with or being around someone who has HIV
From sweat, spit, tears, clothes, drinking fountains, phones, toilet seats, or having a meal together
From insect bites or stings

How do I know I have HIV/AIDS? What are the symptoms?

The only way to know for sure whether you are infected is to be tested. This involves a blood test.You cannot rely on symptoms to know whether you are infected with HIV. About half the people who are infected have flu-like symptoms within two to four weeks of having been exposed to HIV. However, just as many people infected by HIV do not have any symptoms at all for many years.Over time, as the immune system weakens, maybe over months or years, symptoms begin to develop.

The following may be warning signs of HIV infection:

rapid weight loss
dry cough
fevers or night sweats
extreme tiredness
swollen lymph glands in the armpits, groin, or neck
diarrhea that lasts for more than a week
frequent yeast infections (oral or vaginal)
pelvic inflammatory disease in women that does not respond to treatment
pneumonia
persistent skin rashes or flaky skin
short-term memory loss

Do not assume you are infected if you have any of these symptoms. Each of these symptoms can be related to other illnesses. The only way to determine whether you are infected is to be tested for HIV infection.

HIV tests do not actually test for the virus, but test for antibodies to the virus. Antibodies are made by the body's white blood cells to fight infection. If these antibodies are present in your blood, you are HIV-positive and need treatment.If you think you have been exposed to HIV, it is important to be tested as soon as possible, whether you have symptoms or not. The sooner you can get treatment, the less your immune system will be damaged. Unfortunately, the antibodies to the virus don't appear right away. It can take eight to twelve weeks for the antibodies to show up in a test.

AIDS look for opportunistic infections

What are some of the “opportunistic infections” and side effects linked to HIV/AIDS?

AIDS-Related Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL)
Anemia
Bacterial Pneumonia
Oral Candidiasis (Thrush)
Vaginal Candidiasis
Cervical Cancer
Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
Herpes virus
Kaposi's Sarcoma (KS)
Mycobacterium Avium Complex (MAC)
Menstrual Problems
Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia (PCP)
Toxoplasmosis (Toxo)
Tuberculosis (TB)

HIV/AIDS: Questions to Ask the Doctor (Health A to Z)

This site lists questions to ask doctors if you have just tested positive or been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.

Treatment & care: Questions to ask your doctor (British HIV Association and International HIV/AIDS Alliance)

Treatments: Questions to ask your doctor covers basic information about AIDS medications. What to expect, what the drug looks like, how to take it, side effects, and relief of side effects are discussed. Answers tell you how and where to get more information.

Office Visit Checklist (Mdchoice.com)

Office Visit Checklist is a checklist for your regular appointments. Use it to help you remember what to ask your doctor about on your next visit.