AIDS

AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, occurs when infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) destroys the body’s natural protection from illness. The immune system weakens to the point where it can be invaded by “opportunistic” infections and certain cancers. These infections would not cause problems for healthy people. For people with AIDS, they may cause serious or even life-threatening problems.

HIV spread
*  Unsafe sexual contact with a person who is seropositive;
*  Receiving infected blood;
*  Using contaminated injection needles;
*  From a seropositive mother to an unborn child.

Myths about how HIV is spread
*  Food utensils
*  Towels and bedding
*  Swimming pools
*  Telephones
*  Toilet seats
*  Mosquito bites

AIDS risk factors
*  Sharing drug needles or syringes.
*  Sexual contact (including oral, anal or vaginal sex) with someone who is HIV positive or whose HIV status is unknown, without
the protection of a latex male condom.
*  Having another sexually transmitted disease such as syphilis, herpes, chlamydial infection, gonorrhea or bacterial vaginosis
seems to increase the risk of being infected by HIV during unprotected sexual contact with an infected partner.
*   Babies can be infected by an HIV-positive mother during  pregnancy, birth and breast feeding.

HIV and AIDS symptoms
*  Large lymph nodes or “swollen glands” that may be enlarged for more than three months
*  Frequent fevers and sweats
*  Skin rashes or flaky skin that does not go away
*  Short-term memory loss
*  Slow growth or frequent illness in children
*  Cough and shortness of breath
*  Seizures and lack of coordination
*  Difficult or painful swallowing
*  Confusion and forgetfulness
*  Nausea, stomach cramps, diarrhea, and/or vomiting that do not go away
*  Vision loss
*  Unexplained weight loss
*  Fatigue or unusual tiredness
*  Severe headaches
*  In children: conjunctivitis (pink eye), ear infections, and tonsillitis

Health Conditions