1. How is HIV spread?
HIV
is spread through blood-to-blood contact or sexual contact with an
infected person. There are three basic ways in which HIV can be
transmitted:
- Sharing needles and syringes with someone who has the virus
- Having sex - vaginal, anal, oral - with someone infected with HIV
- A baby's exposure to his or her infected mother during pregnancy, birth, or through breast-feeding.
Prior
to testing for HIV in 1985, some people became infected with
HIV
through receiving blood transfusions, blood components or blood clotting
factors, or transplants of infected organs. Since 1985, testing has
improved greatly, and this type of transmission is very low.
There are four basic body fluids that contain enough HIV to infect someone:
- Semen
- Vaginal Fluids
- Blood
- Breast Milk
If someone has come into contact with these body fluids that contain
HIV, they may become exposed to the virus. HIV has to have entry into
the body for there to be a true exposure. Entry can be sexual openings,
cuts, scraps, open wounds, open blisters, and through mucus membranes
such as the eyes, nose, ears, and mouth. You cannot get HIV through
casual everyday contact such as hugging, using public toilets, drinking
fountains, or swimming pools.
People cannot get HIV from
saliva, tears, sweat, vomit, urine, or feces. These fluids do not
contain enough HIV to infect someone. There is no evidence that anyone
in the United States has become infected with HIV from these body
fluids. A potential risk to HIV may be the presence of blood, semen,
vaginal fluids or breast milk in saliva, tears, sweat, vomit, urine, or
feces and these fluids enter into an opening in the body.
2. Learn about exposure through sharing needles
Someone can become infected with HIV from sharing a needle or syringe
that contains blood from an infected person. Because blood can be
injected directly into the body, the person sharing a contaminated
needle or syringe is at risk of becoming infected. Sharing needles and
syringes with anyone for any reason - such as injecting drugs (including
steroids, insulin, and other legal and illegal drugs), body piercing,
and tattooing - can spread HIV. There are several ways in which someone
can reduce their risk for HIV infection through sharing needles:
- Don't use illegal drugs
- Don't share needles, syringes, or equipment for any reason
- Use unused, sterile equipment and needles
- Sterilize needles and syringes with chlorine bleach and water (chlorine bleach destroys HIV)
- Get tattoos and body piercing done at a shop that is licensed with the state department of health
- Do not share ink for tattooing
3. Learn about exposure through sex
HIV
is considered a sexually transmitted disease and the most common way in
which HIV is spread is through sex. HIV can infect anyone who has
sexual contact with someone who has HIV. Sexual contact includes anal,
oral, and vaginal sex and a person may be exposed to the virus if they
come into contact with an infected persons blood, semen, or vaginal
fluid. Anyone is at risk for HIV infection through sexual contact
regardless of age, race, or gender. In the United States, the total
number of people with AIDS infected through men to women sex is lower
than the total number infected through men to men sex.
Nevertheless, the
rate of new HIV infections among men who have sex with men is
decreasing, while the rate of men to women sex is increasing. There are
several ways in which someone can reduce their risk for HIV infection
through sexual contact:
- Abstain from having sex (oral, anal, or vaginal)
-
Stay in a committed, monogamous relationship (had sex only with one
partner who does not have HIV and who only has sex with you) and both be
tested for HIV
- Know your partner. Talk opening about past behaviors and HIV testing to all sexual partners prior to having sex
- Use latex or polyurethane male condom consistently and correctly every time during sex
- Use a polyurethane female condom consistently and correctly every time during sex

4. Testing for HIV
People who think they are at risk of HIV infection are encouraged to
seek individual counseling and testing. People are at risk for HIV if
they:
- Share needles or syringes for injecting drugs
- Have sex with anyone who injects drugs
- Have had sex with a man or woman who has other sexual partners
- Have shared needles or inks for tattooing or body piercing
An HIV test is the only way to tell whether someone is infected. The
standard screening tests look for HIV antibodies, not the virus itself.
If HIV antibodies are present, it generally means that the person being
tested has HIV. If no antibodies are present, it means that someone does
not have HIV. A person can take several different types of HIV tests:
- Standard blood test
- Rapid HIV test - done by a finger prick
- OraSure test - done by placing a swab in the mouth
It can take up to two weeks to receive results from the standard blood
test and OraSure test while the rapid HIV test will take up to 20
minutes for the result.
Because the test is an HIV antibody
test, it can take anywhere between 3 weeks to 3 months for enough
antibodies to show up on a test after exposure. This 3 weeks to 3 months
is called the "window period". If people get tested during the window
period, their test results may be negative even though they have HIV. If
someone feels that they have been at risk for HIV infection, they
should test as soon as possible and then wait three months to be tested
again. If someone is in the 3 weeks to 3 month "window period" they
should avoid taking risks related to HIV to get an accurate HIV test
result. If someone tests negative but continues to take risks associated
with HIV such as unprotected sex or sharing needles, they will need to
get retested every three months. Stopping and reducing behaviors related
to HIV transmission can help people protect themselves and others from
HIV infection.
In Indiana, there are two common methods
of testing - anonymous or confidential. The two methods differ regarding
who has access to the HIV test results.
If people decided to test confidential -
Their tests results are linked to their identities and recorded in their file held by the agency conducting the HIV test.
Tests results cannot be revealed to anyone other than the person being
tested without their written permission, except as required by law.
(Indiana reports HIV-positive test results to the Indiana State
Department of Health as required by law and all information is kept
highly confidential.)
If a person tests confidential they are
eligible for care coordination services, medical treatment, and state
and local assistance programs if they test HIV-positive. A written copy
can also be given to the person if they so desire.
If a person decides to test anonymously -
Neither their names nor any identifying information that could link their HIV tests results to them is recorded.
Only people who are tested can find out their HIV test result. (Results
are sent to the Indiana State Department of Health but no name or
identifying information is given).
If a person tests anonymously
they are not eligible for care coordination services, medical
treatment, or state and local assistance programs if they test should
test HIV-positive, and a written copy cannot be given. If someone tests
HIV-positive and tests anonymous, it is recommended that they retest
confidential so that they can receive the appropriate services and
medical treatment.
Whichever method of testing is used, people
need to get counseling both before and after being tested even if the
result is negative. Deciding to be tested is not always easy. Although
there is no cure for HIV, early detection and early treatment of HIV can
extend a persons life and improve the quality of life for people with
HIV.
5. Treatment for HIV There
are a growing number of drugs that can attack HIV. Doctors combine
these drugs to block the ability of HIV to multiply, thus protecting the
immune system for some time. There are other drugs available to help
control the opportunistic infections that occur in people with HIV when
their immune system no longer is healthy. Although these medications can
prevent or lessen opportunistic infections, they do not attack the
virus itself. Doctors monitor both the quantity of the virus in the
blood (viral load) and the level of certain cells (CD4) in the body's
defense system to help them make treatment decisions. It is always
recommended for persons who are HIV-positive to seek care coordination
services at a local AIDS organization. Care coordinators can help people
living with HIV receive the necessary medical treatment as well as
refer them to various assistance programs in the state. |
Comments
Post a Comment