AIDS and HIV
Key Concepts
Risks of HIV
Common signs and symptoms of HIV
Common routes of transmission of HIV
Relative risks of specific behaviors
Why Teens are at Risk
The number of AIDS cases is
decreasing but the number of
HIV infections is not
declining from those ranging
13 -24 years of age.
What is HIV and AIDS?
• HIV- human immunodeficiency virus
– A virus that attacks the immune system
• AIDS – Acquired immune deficiency
syndrome
– A disease in which the immune system
of the patient is weakened
The Origin of AIDS
• The earliest presence of AID's in
American is thought to be in the 1970’s
• In 1982, doctors labeled this new disease
AIDS
• During the 80’s as many as 150,000 people
a year were becoming infected; this
number dropped to about 40,000 per year
in the 90’s
The Origin of AIDS
• In 1999 researches discover origin in
subspecies's of chimpanzees
• Thought to be spread to humans
through the hunting of the
chimpanzee and transmitted through
infected blood
Transmission of HIV
Transmitted from one person to another in
three ways:
1. through blood to blood contact
2. through sexual intercourse (oral, vaginal
or anal)
3. From an infected woman to her
child before, during or after birth
[through breast milk].
Virus
• The human immunodeficiency virus
causes HIV infection and AIDS.
• This virus may not have any
symptoms and may not realize they
have become infected.
Symptoms of HIV
People who have HIV symptoms
experience one or more of the
Following:
– flu-like symptoms, swollen
– glands, diarrhea, night sweats, weight
loss, fatigue, yeast infections,
pneumonia, and cancer.
What this does to the
body?
• HIV virus enters certain cells of the
immune system
– T cells- help lymphocytes identify and
destroy invading pathogens
• Once the virus takes over and copies
itself, it destroys the cell when it breaks
out
• This process repeats itself continuously
destroying the number of T cells that help
fight off invading pathogens.
Stages of the Infection:
Asymptomatic
• Asymptomatic Stage- a period of time
during which infected person has no
symptoms. This also includes those that
show symptoms in the first few weeks.
• During this time the virus continues to
grow inside the body
• At this time the immune system will keep
pace with the infection generating billions
of new cells until the HIV takes over and
infects and destroys most of the cells in
the immune system.
Stages of Infection:
Symptomatic
• Symptomatic Stage – the infected
person with HIV has symptoms of
infections due to the severe drop in
immune cells (helper T cells)
• These symptoms include: swollen
glands, weight loss, and yeast
infections
AIDS Infection
AIDS –
– Must have presence of HIV infection
– Severely damaged immune system
(measured by number of helper T cells)
– Appearance of one or more
opportunistic infections
– By this time HIV has reached the brain
cells causing difficulty remembering and
thinking
What causes the spread of
HIV
• Having unprotected sex and having
multiple sex partners
– Sexual intercourse (oral, vaginal, anal)
• Sharing needles or syringes
– Blood-to-blood contact, which may occur
when sharing needles to inject drugs
• Alcohol and other drugs: interfere with the
ability to make good decisions about sex
and risky drug use.
• MOM to baby: From an infected mother to
her child before, during or after birth
**HIV is not transmitted through casual
contact (shaking hands, etc.).
HIV Prevention
• Abstinence is a safe sexual
behavior
• Correct and consistent use of latex
condoms. (reduces risk does not prevent)
• Getting Tested
Treatment for HIV
• Persons who are exposed to HIV can
receive free or low-cost and
anonymous or confidential testing at
a clinic or doctor's office.
• Home-test kits are also available.
Counseling is vitally important!
PREVENTION
• Abstaining from oral, anal, and
vaginal intercourse
• Mutual monogamy with an uninfected
partner
• Correct and consistent use of latex
condoms
• Avoiding injection drugs
Resources for HIV
Resources for HIV
• National AIDS Information
Clearinghouse 1-800-458-5231
• National HIV/AIDS and STD Hotline
– 1-800-342-AIDS [English]
– 1-800-344-7432 [Spanish]
Decision Making:
involves choosing between alternative courses of action to
deal with a problem.
Steps in the Decision-Making Process:
1. Analyze the situation.
2. Define the problem.
3. Consider options / Develop solution
alternatives.
4. Evaluate the solution alternatives.
5. Make a choice / decision.
6. Implement the plan and evaluate the decision.
Case of Katherine
Case of Katherine