HIV 101
What does HIV/AIDS stand for?
HIV
HUMAN: Because the virus can only infect human beings.
IMMUNO-DEFICIENCY: The virus directly affects the immune system (CD4+ cells) and creates a deficiency within the immune system.
VIRUS: A microscopic organism that can reproduce itself inside a host cell.
HIV is a virus that breaks down the immune system; more specifically it takes over CD4+ cells in the body. CD4+ cells coordinate the immune system and help protect our bodies from infections and disease. HIV can eventually lead to AIDS.
AIDS
ACQUIRED: The virus is something a person obtained or acquired through transmission from another HIV positive person.
IMMUNO-DEFICIENCY: The virus directly affects the immune system and creates a deficiency within the immune system
SYNDROME: A wide range of illnesses, diseases and or opportunistic infections that vary from person to person.
People who have HIV infection do not necessarily have AIDS. AIDS can occur in the advanced stages of HIV. There is not set timeline as to when HIV might advance into AIDS, this varies from person to person.
AIDS is a political term and it is defined differently from country to country. In Canada to be medically diagnosed with AIDS a person has to be HIV positive and have an opportunistic infection. Some examples of opportunistic infections include: tuberculosis, PCP, Kaposi sarcoma, Candidiasis (thrush), cervical cancer etc. For a complete list and description of opportunistic infections go to www.aidsmeds.com.
There still is no known cure or vaccine for HIV or AIDS; however, new medications continue to be developed each year. HAART medication helps to boost the immune system, dramatically slow down the replication cycle of the virus and reduce viral loads. For more information on HAART go to: http://orders.catie.ca/product_info.php?products_id=410
The best defense against HIV/ AIDS is still prevention.
You cannot get HIV from:
- Casual, everyday contact
- Shaking hands
- Hugging, kissing
- Coughing, sneezing
- Giving blood
- Using swimming pools, toilet seats
- Sharing bed linens, eating utensils or food
- Mosquitoes and other insects or animals
How IS HIV Transmitted?
HIV is transmitted through bodily fluids: The following bodily fluids contain the HIV virus:
- Blood
- Semen (including Pre-Cum)
- Vaginal Fluid
- Anal Secretions
- Breast milk
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If any of these bodily fluids have an entry point into the body such as:
- Break in the Skin
- Mucous Membrane (eyes, nose, mouth, vagina, urethra, foreskin, anus, etc.)
- Sore or Lesion on a mucous membrane
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Combined with a risky activity:
- Unprotected Sex
- Sharing Needles and/or Drug equipment
- Mother to Child Transmission
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If all of these factors are combined and one person in the equation is HIV positive, then it is possible for transmission to occur.
High Risk activities
- Unprotected vaginal, and or anal sex
- Sharing needles for drug use, tattoos or piercings
- Sharing sex toys without the use of a condom
Low Risk activities
- Oral sex (cunnilingus, analingus, felatio) without a barrier***
- Vaginal or Anal Sex with a condom
***The risk of oral sex can increase if a person has any open cuts or sores in the mouth. A person should wait a minimum of 30 minutes before any kind of oral hygiene including brushing their teeth before or after oral sex. If a person has had dental work, it is advisable to wait until their mouth has healed before participating in oral sex.
For a detailed list outlining all types of sexual activities and risk levels please see CATIE's Safer Sex Menu (PDF). Or check out the Canadian AIDS Society guidelines.
Signs and Symptoms of HIV
When a person is first infected with HIV some people may experience flu-like symptoms, however most people don’t experience any signs or symptoms at all. Flu-like symptoms are not accurate enough to determine whether a person has HIV. The only way to determine whether or not a person is HIV positive is to get tested.
Getting Tested
If a person is newly infected with HIV there is a window period of 3 months before HIV can be confirmed through a blood test. The blood test looks for HIV anti-bodies. If the test were positive for anti-bodies then a person would be considered HIV positive.
The test will involve pre and posttest counseling. Currently in Saskatchewan rapid testing is not yet available. It takes about 2 weeks to get your results back from an HIV blood test in Saskatchewan.
Blood or Blood Products
Since November of 1985, all blood and blood products used in Canada have been screened as a safety precaution. Prior to 1985, many individuals were infected through the Canadian blood system but the risk now has been greatly reduced.
From HIV+ Mother to Baby
If a pregnant woman is HIV positive, the baby can be at risk for infection during the pregnancy, during the birthing process, or through breast-feeding. Pregnant women are not tested for HIV infection during prenatal examinations without their informed consent, nor are newborn babies. Pregnant HIV+ women can take anti-HIV medication. If taken as directed the risk of passing on HIV to the baby can be reduced to as low as a 1% chance of transmission occurring. If you are considering pregnancy, perhaps consider an HIV test in advance.In-depth information about healthy pregnancies for women who are HIV+ is available from CATIE.
