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What
is it?
AIDS stands
for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Sound serious? It is.
AIDS is caused by the HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) which
attacks the body's immune system - your defense against infections.
Without this protection, people with AIDS suff er from fatal infections
and cancers.
How is it spread?
HIV is spread
from an infected person to someone else when there is an exchange
of semen, vaginal fluids or blood. This occurs during sexual intercourse,
through the sharing of needles for injection or from an infected
pregnant mother to her child, at or about the time of birth.
How is HIV not spread?
HIV is not
passed by everyday social contact. Touching, hugging and shaking
hands with an infected person is safe. Pets and biting insects,
such as mosquitos, do not spread HIV.
Some people
think they may get HIV by donating blood. This is not so, as a
new needle is used for every donor. You do not come into contact
with anyone else's blood.
Donated blood
is always screened for HIV; therefore, the risk of getting it
from a blood transfusion is very, very low.
How can I tell if I have
an HIV infection?
There is a
simple blood test that will tell you if you are infected with
HIV. It's called the HIV antibody test. Your body reacts to the
presence of the virus by producing antibodies. A test that discovers
these antibodies indicates that you are infec ted.
A positive
test result means that you have the antibodies and are infected
with HIV. A negative test result means that no antibodies were
found in your blood at the time if testing. However, HIV antibodies
can take up to 14 weeks or longer to appear. In other words, you
can test negative but actually have the virus.
AIDS is the
last stage of HIV infection. Infected people may get attacks of
an unusual and serious pneumonia, or develop skin or other cancers.
But these are not necessarily due to the HIV. Only your doctor
can find out.
How can I avoid HIV?
Short of avoiding
sex entirely, you can protect yourself by having "safer sex".
Stay with one partner with whom you have discussed AIDS and who
is prepared to have "safer sex."
As in the
case of hepatitis B, avoid using instruments that pierce the skin
unless you are sure that they have been sterilized. Personal items
such as razors and toothbrushes may be blood contaminated. Do
not share the m with an infected person.
Kissing an
infected person on the cheek or with dry lips is not a known risk.
Is deep (French) kissing
safe?
No cases of
AIDS or of HIV infection due to kissing have ever been reported.
Deep or "French kissing" is essentially a no-risk activity.
I think I may be infected with HIV or AIDS. What should I do?
See a doctor
if you think you may be at risk or if you have symptoms. You may
need to have a blood test. A positive result means that you have
been exposed to the virus and could pass it on to others. It does
not mean that you have AIDS or that you wil l get it.
How is it treated?
There is no
cure for HIV infection or AIDS; the virus remains in the body
for life. Several drugs are being tried. One of these, AZT, arrests
the progress of the HIV infection but is not a cure. There are
other drugs to treat the infections and cancer s which could develop.
What about sex partners?
If you have
been exposed to HIV, then your sex partners and anyone with whom
you have shared needles and syringes must be told that they too
may have been exposed to the virus. After the infection has been
explained to them, they will have to decide if t hey wish to be
tested for HIV infection.
But who will tell them
they may have been exposed?
You may wish
to tell them yourself. If you are unable to do so, talk to your
doctor or nurse. They can help.
Used
with permission from Health and Welfare Canada.
If in doubt, get
checked out!
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