HIVHIV

(Human Immunodeficiency (Human Immunodeficiency

Virus)Virus)

By Daniel David GrupeBy Daniel David Grupe

WHAT IS IT?WHAT IS IT?

HIV HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system (the is a virus that attacks the immune system (the body's defense against infection).body's defense against infection).

HIV uses healthy white blood cells to replicate HIV uses healthy white blood cells to replicate itself, breaking down the immune system and itself, breaking down the immune system and leaving the body more susceptible to illness.leaving the body more susceptible to illness.

Without treatment, most people infected with HIV Without treatment, most people infected with HIV become less able to fight off germs that we are become less able to fight off germs that we are exposed to every day.  exposed to every day. 

Someone who has HIV is called "HIV positive" or Someone who has HIV is called "HIV positive" or "HIV+". "HIV+". 

HISTORYHISTORY

HIV was first recognized on December 1, 1981.HIV was first recognized on December 1, 1981. HIV is thought to have originated in non-HIV is thought to have originated in non-

human primates in sub-Saharan Africa and human primates in sub-Saharan Africa and transferred to humans early in the 20th transferred to humans early in the 20th century.century.

The first paper recognizing a pattern of The first paper recognizing a pattern of infections was published on 4 June 1981.infections was published on 4 June 1981.

It is estimated that about 0.6 percent of the It is estimated that about 0.6 percent of the world's population is infected with HIV and world's population is infected with HIV and approximately over one million Americans.approximately over one million Americans.

HOW IT HAPPENSHOW IT HAPPENS

Infection with HIV occurs by the transfer Infection with HIV occurs by the transfer of blood, semen, vaginal fluid, pre-of blood, semen, vaginal fluid, pre-ejaculate, or breast milk. ejaculate, or breast milk.

The four major routes of transmission are The four major routes of transmission are unprotected sex, contaminated needles, unprotected sex, contaminated needles, breast milk, and from an infected mother breast milk, and from an infected mother to her baby at birth. to her baby at birth.

HIV VIRUSHIV VIRUS

SYMPTOMS/LONG TERM SYMPTOMS/LONG TERM EFFECTSEFFECTS

For many people, early infection is asymptomatic (they For many people, early infection is asymptomatic (they don’t show signs of symptoms).don’t show signs of symptoms).

They may display signs of fever, headache, fatigue, They may display signs of fever, headache, fatigue, and enlarged lymph nodes. and enlarged lymph nodes.

These symptoms usually fade for as little as a few These symptoms usually fade for as little as a few months to up to 10 years depending on the individual. months to up to 10 years depending on the individual.

After this asymptomatic period, as the immune system After this asymptomatic period, as the immune system is further broken down by the HIV virus more constant is further broken down by the HIV virus more constant symptoms such as energy and weight loss, fevers and symptoms such as energy and weight loss, fevers and sweats, yeast infections, skin rashes or flaky skin, sweats, yeast infections, skin rashes or flaky skin, pelvic inflammatory disease, short term memory loss, pelvic inflammatory disease, short term memory loss, and severe herpes infection appear and severe herpes infection appear

TREATMENTTREATMENT

There is no cure to HIV.There is no cure to HIV. While there is very effective treatment called While there is very effective treatment called

antiretroviral therapy, once someone has antiretroviral therapy, once someone has contracted HIV, they have it for life.contracted HIV, they have it for life.

With modern day therapy, that maintains a With modern day therapy, that maintains a safe level of the HIV viral load, an HIV infected safe level of the HIV viral load, an HIV infected individual can live a normal adult lifespan but individual can live a normal adult lifespan but will have to take antiretrovirals every day of will have to take antiretrovirals every day of their lives. their lives.

THANK YOUTHANK YOU

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY AND A HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY AND A PLEASANT TOMORROW! PLEASANT TOMORROW!