ACTUAL REALITY! ACT UP! FIGHT AIDS!What is HIV? What is AIDS?? As defined by Wikipedia AIDS is: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS or Aids) is a collection of symptoms and infections in humans resulting from the specific damage to the immune system caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the late stage of which leaves individuals prone to opportunistic infections and tumours. Although treatments for AIDS and HIV exist that slow the virus' progression, there is no known cure.Who is mostly at risk? One out of ever five people who test positive for HIV is a teenagerWhy?Why are so many teens at risk?1. 50-60% are sexually active 2. They have unprotected sex 3. They participate in anal sex 4. Many use drugs 5. They don't see themselves at risk 6. IgnoranceTesting If you think that you may be carrying the HIV virus. GET TESTED! If you live in the USA, you can be tested for AIDS for free! Americans get a chance that most of the world does not. Only one in eight people who want to be tested actually have access to testing!So...How do you get tested? *Initial AIDS tests look for the presence of antibodies. [The only problem is...these antibodies may take up to six months to develop...so you might be carrying the HIV virus and not even know it.] *If you test positive for the HIV virus, your T4 cell count will be tested. If your T4 cell count is lower than 200, you are officially diagnosed with AIDS and very close to death.SYMPTOMS How will you know if you are infected? *During the first stage of an HIV infection [acute] you will feel flu like symptoms that last for weeks. You are the most infectious at this time, you will experience fevers, sweats, aching muscles, sore throat, nausea, thrush, lethargy, and swollen lymph nodes. *The next stage of AIDS is the Latent Stage, You may experience NO symptoms for many years. * Next is the chronic ilness stage. It is sometimes referred to as ARC stage. An estimated 50% of all patients will enter this tage within ten years of infection. You will experience, extreme fatigue, fever, weight loss, diarrhea, and swollen lymph nodes. *The last stage is ADVANCED ILLNESS.This is when the T Cell count falls below 200 and patients are no longer able to fight of the Disease.Prevention You can prevent acquiring the HIV virus by avoiding these High Risk Behaviors: 1. Unprotected Anal Sex: Rectal walls tear easily and allow blood and semen to mix. This allows easy entrance for the HIV virus. 2. Unprotected Vaginal Sex: Semen comes into contact with the vagina and easily spreads the HIV virus. 3. Sharing IV Needles: This causes blood to blood contact and thus, if a person who has HIV shares a needle with a person who does not have HIV, the person will acquire the HIV virus through blood.You can also prevent acquiring the HIV virus by avoiding these medium risk behaviors: 1. Unprotected Oral Sex: Cuts and sores that are not easily seen can create contact of body fluids and the passing of the HIV virus. 2. Vaginal/Anal sex with condoms:Because they can sometimes tear or be used incorrectly, Latex condoms are 80-90% effective at preventing HIV.Low or no risk behaviors include: 1. Blood Transfusions: since 1985 blood has been tested very carefully but chances of HIV viruses in blood transfusions still exist. 2. Health Care Workers follow strict rules to avoid being injured with a needle. 3. Physical fights: this could cause blood to blood contact and thus the passing of the HIV virus. 4. Deep Kissing: If your partner has sores, injuries, deteriorated gums, and is a carrier of the HIV virus, there is a small chance that he/she might pass HIV to you. MOST IMPORTANTLY!!! If you cannot be abstinent from sex! USE A CONDOM!!RYAN WHITE 1971-1990
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