Aids

What Is HIV?
H – Human. I – Immunodeficiency. V – Virus.

Human immunodeficiency virus is a lot like other viruses, including those that cause the "flu" or the common cold. But there is a difference, over time; your immune system can clear most viruses out of your body. That isn't the case with HIV. The human immune system can't get rid of it.

HIV can hide for long periods of time in thecells of your body and that it attacks a key part of the immune system: T-cells or CD4 cells. The body has to have these cells to fight infections and disease, but HIV invades them, uses them to make more copies of itself, and then destroys them.

Over time, HIV can destroy so many of the CD4 cells that the body can't fight infections and diseases anymore. When that happens, HIV infection can leadto AIDS.

What Is AIDS?
A – Acquired. I – Immuno. D – Deficiency. S – Syndrome.

Immunodeficiency syndrome acquired is the final stage of HIV infection. People at this stage of HIV disease have badly damaged immune systems, which put them at risk for opportunistic infections (OLs) . To be will be diagnosed with AIDS you have one or more specific OIs, certain cancers, or a very low number ofCD4 cells.

How Do You Get HIV?
HIV is found in specific human body fluids. If any of those fluids enters the body, it can become infected with HIV.



Which Body Fluids Contain HIV?
HIV lives and reproduces in blood and other body fluids like: Blood, Semen (cum), Pre-seminal fluid (pre-cum), Breast milk, Vaginal fluids and Rectal (anal) mucous.
How to protect yourself and others fromHIV and prevent it?

The risk for getting HIV, or transmitting it to others, is extremely low if: not having sex of any kind (anal, oral, or vaginal), not injecting drugs, not being pregnant, not likely having contact with infected body fluids in your workplace. But if you are having sex, injecting drugs, pregnant, or might be exposed to HIV at work, this are the ways to protect yourself:Safe Sex
Most people who get HIV get it by having unprotected sex with a partner who is HIV-positive. “Unprotected” means without a condom or other barrier to protect you from infected body fluids.

Prevention Before and During Sex: Know your own HIV status and your partner’s too, Use condoms, correctly and consistently, Limit your number of sexual partners.
Knowledge Is Power: Have you beentested for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs)? Has your partner? Knowing your health status, and that of your sex partner(s), is the best way to protect each of you from STIs, including HIV.

Condoms Keep You Safer: Condoms offer excellent protection against HIV if you use them correctly. Both male condoms and female condoms are effective in preventing HIV infection.

PreventionAfter Sex
If you believe you may have been exposed to HIV through unprotected sex, you can take medications that will lower your risk of getting HIV. The treatment is called PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis). This medicine is most effective if you start them within 36 hours of possible exposure.

Safer Drug Use
Using illegal drugs greatly increases your risk for getting, or transmitting, HIV.That’s especially true if you are injecting illegal drugs (like narcotics or steroids) and you share any of the needles with others. That’s because used needles can easily deliver infected blood into your body.

Reduce your risk of getting HIV or transmitting it to others: Never reuse or share anything you use to prepare or inject your drugs. Only use syringes obtained from a reliable source (suchas pharmacies or needle-exchange programs). Use a new, sterile syringe each time to prepare and inject drugs. If possible, use sterile water to prepare drugs—otherwise, use clean water from a reliable source (such as fresh tap water). Use a new or disinfected container ("cooker") and a new filter ("cotton") each time you prepare drugs. Clean the injection site with a new alcohol swab before you...