HIV and AIDS
HIV
Human Immunodeficiency Virus
The virus that causes AIDS
AIDS
Acquired Immunodeficiency
Syndrome
Is a deadly disease that interferes with
the body’s ability to fight infection
Someone who is infected by HIV
may not show any signs (carriers) of
the illness for a long time.
On average, 10 years may pass
before HIV infection leads to AIDS.
During this time, the virus is
seriously damaging the infected
person’s immune system.
Although there is no cure for AIDS,
they are working hard to develop a
vaccine.
A vaccine that works against one
form of HIV may not work against
another form.
If someone has HIV, they will have it
for the rest of their life.
What symptoms are there?
Symptoms include swollen lymph
nodes
Tiredness
Diarrhea
Weight loss
Fever
These symptoms become worse
over time
How HIV attacks the body
1. The virus enters the body through the
mucous membranes or through a break
in the skin.
HIV invades a host cell (T-cell: a key
part of the immune system)
The virus uses the cell’s resources to
reproduce
Eventually the host cell is destroyed
2. The virus multiplies within
the body
More and More t-cells are
destroyed
3. As the number of t-cells
drops, the immune system gets
weaker
The body loses its ability to
resist infections and diseases
that a healthy immune system
could fight off.
How HIV is Spread
Having sexual relations with an
infected person
Most common way of getting
AIDS
HIV circulates in the blood and
in the body fluids
Avoiding sexual contact is the
only sure way to protect yourself
against this kind of transmission
How HIV is spread continued...
Using a contaminated needle
Any blood left on the needle can
pass the virus from person to
person
People who share needles for drug
use (heroin) are at high risk of
transmitting HIV
How HIV is spread continued…
Passing HIV from an infected
mother to her fetus
How HIV is NOT spread
Through the air by coughing or
sneezing
By casual contract with an HIV-
infected person (shaking hands and
hugging)
By using the same sports
equipment, clothing, towel, brush,
or furniture as an infected person.
How HIV is NOT spread cont…
By using the same telephone,
shower, bathtub, or toilet as an
infected person
By sharing eating utensils or dishes
with an infected person
Through bites of mosquitos, ticks, or
other insects
How HIV is NOT spread cont…
By swimming in the same pool
as an infected person
By donating blood