Information on HIV/AIDS

What Is HIV?
HIV is short for human immunodeficiency virus, the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). AIDS is a serious, life-threatening illness that has a variety of symptoms. HIV infection can be treated with medications to make patients feel better and to prolong life. However, there is no cure for HIV infection or AIDS.

How Is HIV Transmitted From Person-To-Person?
You cannot get HIV infection from drinking from a water fountain, contact with a toilet seat, or touching an infected person. You can get HIV infection from:

Bodily fluids, including semen and vaginal secretions (through sexual contact with an infected person) and blood. There is no evidence that HIV infection is transmitted through saliva.
Infected blood from shared drug injection needles or an accidental needle stick with a needle contaminated with infected blood.
Infected blood and blood products though transfusion (this is rare in developed countries but still occurs in countries with inadequate blood donor testing programs).
Women with HIV infection can transmit the virus to their babies during pregnancy, delivery, or through their breast milk.

What Are The Symptoms Of HIV-Related Disease?
Individuals with HIV infection may not feel sick at first. However, HIV infection is often accompanied by a variety of symptoms, which can vary, depending on how long a person has been infected. Since HIV affects the way the immune system functions, people who are infected develop illnesses that could previously be fought off by the immune system. Symptoms tend to increase in severity and number the longer the virus is in the body if the patient remains untreated.

Symptoms may include:

Swollen lymph nodes
Fever, chills, and night sweats
Diarrhea
Weight loss
Coughing and shortness of breath
Persistent tiredness
Skin sores
Blurred vision and headaches
Development of other infections, such as certain kinds of pneumonia

How Do You Prevent HIV Infection?
Do not have sexual contact with any persons (opposite or same-sex partners) unless you are sure they are free of HIV infection. This includes oral, anal, or vaginal contact of any type.

If your partner has had prior sexual experience, even if you believe you are in a mutually monogamous relationship, to protect yourself, use a new latex condom each and every time you have any sexual contact, unless you are certain that your partner has had a negative HIV test result. However, keep in mind that condoms can break. If you are allergic to latex, polyurethane condoms are available. If you inject drugs, seek treatment for it and do not ever share needles with others. Use only a new, clean needle each time you inject.

I Just Tested Positive - Now What?
Finding out that you have HIV can be scary and overwhelming. This can be especially true if you are a young person. If you feel 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 that you are going to die.
It does not automatically mean that you have AIDS.

HIV is the virus that causes AIDS, and yes, left untreated, it can lead to death. This is why it is so important to get medical care if you find out you have HIV. Do not be afraid to seek a doctor or other health care provider--he or she can help you to stay well and, hopefully, not get sick. Treatments for HIV are not perfect, and are not available to everyone around the world, but can be very effective for many people. A doctor or other health care provider can explain the best options for you and help you to stay well.

If you have HIV, it is important to know that you could give the virus to others by having unprotected sex or sharing needles (or, if you have a child, by breast-feeding). This is true even if you are feeling perfectly fine, and even if you are taking HIV medications or your virus is "undetectable." Using condoms and clean needles can prevent spreading HIV to other people. It can also protect you from getting infected with other strains of HIV or other diseases.

Remember: The most important things you can do right now are:

Start seeing a doctor or other health care provider.
Ask for help or support.

Source: Journal of The American Medical Association. V. 292 No.2, July 14, 2004.
HIV InSite -- June 29, 2006

If you have additional questions, please call your doctor or local health department.