WHAT IS HIV?
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus that is mainly contracted through sexual contact. The disease attacks the immune system, making the infected person more susceptible to contracting serious illnesses such as pneumonia and tuberculosis.

The virus attacks white blood cells called CD4 cells, which help your body fight infection. Once a person is infected, the number of CD4 cells present in the blood begins to decrease, weakening the overall immune system. If left untreated, the infected person will be at high risk of developing serious infections like cancer.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIV AND AIDS?
AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and is the term used to describe the latter stages of the HIV infection. Although it differs from country to country, a person is generally classified as having AIDS when their CD4 count falls below a certain level (usually around 150) or when they contract a life-threatening infection. A common misconception is that AIDS is what ultimately can kill a person. It is in fact the life threatening infection that can kill someone, not the AIDS itself. The HIV virus simply weakens the body.

HOW IS HIV TRANSMITTED?
HIV can be transmitted from an infected person to another through blood (including menstrual blood), semen, vaginal secretions or breast milk. Blood contains the highest concentration of the virus, followed by semen, followed by vaginal fluids, followed by breast milk. Saliva, tears, sweat, feces and urine are NOT infectious bodily fluids.

WHAT ACTIVITIES ALLOW HIV TRANSMISSION?
• Unprotected sexual contact, both oral and intercourse.
• Direct blood contact, particularly through sharing injection drug needles.
• Infections due to blood transfusions, accidents in health care settings or certain blood products are possible, although they are extremely rare nowadays in the United States.
• Sharing injection needles.
• Mother to baby (before or during birth, or through breast milk).

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS FOR AIDS?
There are no common symptoms for individuals diagnosed with AIDS. When immune system damage is more severe, people may experience opportunistic infections (called "opportunistic" because they are caused by organisms which cannot induce disease in people with normal immune systems, but take the "opportunity" to flourish in people with HIV). Most of these more severe infections, diseases, and symptoms fall under the Centers for Disease Control's definition of AIDS. The median time to receive an AIDS diagnosis among those infected with HIV is 7-10 years.

IF I TEST POSITIVE, DOES THAT MEAN THAT I WILL DIE?
Testing positive for HIV means that you now carry the virus that causes AIDS. It does not mean that you have AIDS, nor does it mean that you will die as a result of the infection. Although there is no cure for AIDS, many opportunistic infections that make people sick can be controlled, prevented or eliminated. This has substantially increased the longevity and quality of life for people living with HIV.

IS THERE A CURE FOR HIV/AIDS?
Although there have been many advances in HIV treatments and therapies in recent years that have dramatically improved the quality of life and life expectancy of persons with HIV/AIDS in the US and other developed countries, there is, as of yet, no cure.

If you have additional questions, please contact us.
Health Educator/HIV Testing: 312-572-2730