What
is HIV?
HIV stands for Human
Immunodeficiency Virus
and HIV is the virus
that causes AIDS. People
can become infected
with HIV and they can
pass it on to others.
A person infected with
HIV is infected for
life. People infected
with HIV can look and
feel well for a long
time.
What
is AIDS?
AIDS stands for Acquired
Immunodeficiency Syndrome—a
pattern of infections
caused by HIV, which
attacks and destroys
certain white blood
cells that are essential
to the body’s
immune system. Although
there are treatments
that can extend life,
AIDS is a fatal disease.
There is currently no
cure for AIDS and no
vaccine to prevent it.
For the moment, however,
prevention of transmission
remains the only method
of control.(GET DEF
FROM WEB)
You
can become infected
by:
having sexual intercourse
with someone who is
infected
being born to a HIV
positive mother. An
infected pregnant woman
can pass the virus on
to her unborn baby either
before or during birth.
HIV can also be passed
on during breastfeeding
receiving contaminated
blood and blood products,
tissues and organs;
& sharing needles
& sharp utensils
injecting drugs using
a needle or syringe
which has already been
used by an infected
person
You
cannot become infected
by:
shaking hands, hugging,
kissing or general contact
with an infected person
sharing food or utensil
or eating food prepared
by someone who is infected
using the same toilet
or shower as someone
with HIV
getting a mosquito or
insect bite
How
can I tell if someone's
infected with HIV?
There is no way to tell
just by looking at someone
whether they are infected
with HIV.
Someone can be infected
but have no symptoms
and still look perfectly
healthy.
They might also feel
perfectly healthy and
not know themselves
that they are infected.
The only way to know
if a person is infected
or not is if they have
a blood test.
