Note:
This text was gleaned from the net. Apologies for not acknowledging
the author, but unfortunately I have lost the link.
Help
is not without hope in Malawi,
contact FOMO, your local hospital or doctor
What is HIV?: HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency
Virus. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndrome).
HIV attacks the immune system's soldiers - the CD4 cells.
When the immune system loses too many CD4 cells, you are less
able to fight off infection and can develop serious opportunistic
infections (OIs). A person is diagnosed with AIDS when he
or she has less than 200 CD4 cells and/or one of 21 AIDS-defining
OIs.
-
Common myth:
"HIV doesn't cause AIDS."
-
Truth:
If you don't have HIV, you can't get AIDS. If you have AIDS,
you have HIV. There is 20 years of solid scientific proof
on this. AIDS is not caused by party drugs, AZT, government
conspiracies, or anything else but a virus.
The HIV Test: There is only one reliable way to find
out your HIV status and that is to take the HIV test. The
most common test is an antibody test called ELISA. A positive
result means you have antibodies for HIV and you are infected
with the virus.
Control and Prevention (CDC), it is more than 99% accurate.
In addition, all positive results are confirmed with another
test (called the Western Blot) to insure no mistakes are made.
Why Should I get Tested if There is no Cure for HIV?:
There is no cure for HIV. But there are drugs that can slow
down the virus and protect your immune system. There are also
drugs to treat and prevent OIs. If you do not know your status
you cannot get the health care and treatment you may need
to stay well. You are also more likely to unknowingly pass
HIV to others.
-
Common myth:
"It's not AIDS that kills people, it's the medicines
they take!"
-
Truth:
HIV drugs can help keep people healthy for a longer time.
People died from AIDS before AZT or any other drugs came
out. In fact, death rates have gone down a great deal in
the U.S. since new HIV medications came out in the mid-nineties.
HIV Transmission: HIV is only spread
through the following body fluids:
-
Blood
-
Semen
-
Vaginal fluids
-
Breast milk
The most common ways HIV is passed from one
person to another are:
To reduce the risk of HIV transmission:
- Do not
reuse or share dirty needles: Clean needles with a
bleach solution before reusing them or use fresh needles each
time.
- Do not have unprotected
sex: Use a condom every time you have sex, especially for
anal and vaginal intercourse, which are the riskiest sexual
activities.
- Get tested
if you are pregnant or considering pregnancy: HIV+
mothers can pass the virus to their babies while pregnant,
during birth, or by breastfeeding. Advances in treatments
have significantly reduced the risk of a baby getting HIV
from its mother when precautions are taken.
- Common myth:
"HIV can be spread through casual contact.
- Truth: HIV cannot
be spread through tears, sweat, and saliva. Casual contact
is not risky because it does not include contact with infectious
body fluids. Examples of casual contact include: social kissing,
use of public facilities (pools, theaters, bathrooms), sharing
drinks or eating utensils, etc. Insect bites do not transmit
HIV.
Why do I Need to get Tested for HIV?: Many HIV+ people
are unaware of their status. They may feel healthy and not think
they are at risk. But anyone of any age, gender, race, sexual
orientation, or social or economic class can become infected.
It is what you do that puts you at risk. If you have used dirty
needles or had unprotected sex, a sexually transmitted disease,
or hepatitis C you should be tested.
- Common myth:
: "Straight people don't get HIV."
- Truth:
The majority of HIV+ people worldwide are heterosexual.
"Traditional" sex (vaginal intercourse) puts both
partners at risk, but the woman is more vulnerable to HIV
infection.
- Common myth:
"I'm safe because I'm in a monogamous relationship
(or married)".
- Truth: You might
have gotten infected before your relationship. If not, if
your partner is unfaithful, or was already HIV+ before you
met, you can still get HIV.
- Common myth:
"Lesbians don't get HIV."
- Truth: Women
who only have sex with women are generally at lower risk.
Women who consider themselves lesbians but occasionally have
sex with men can get infected that way.
Women and HIV: If HIV+ women receive adequate care and
treatment in a timely manner, they appear to benefit from HIV
therapy as much as men. However, there appear to be some differences
in the types of side effects and how often they occur (some
less, some more) for women and men.
Women and HIV: Certain gynecological (GYN) conditions
are more common, more serious and/or more difficult to treat
in HIV+ women than HIV- women:
- Herpes simplex virus (genital herpes)
- Human papilloma virus (warts, dysplasia)
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
- Fungal Infections (yeast infections, vaginal candidiasis)
- Menstrual (period) Problems
HIV+ women should have regular GYN care and Pap smears since
many GYN conditions do not have obvious symptoms and can get
worse without your realizing it.
In Conclusion:
It is important to get tested for HIV on a regular basis.
If you test HIV- take steps to stay that way. If you test
HIV+ seek on-going medical care. By taking advantage of good
health care and treatment, you increase your chances of living
a longer and healthier life.
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