DO YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE?

DO YOU KNOW IF YOU ARE AT RISK?

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

• HIV = Human Immunodeficiency Virus

• AIDS =Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

• HIV cripples a person’s immune system – by attacking the helper T cells

• As the immune system deteriorates complications can occur through “Opportunistic Infections”

• AIDS is the disease caused by HIV

• Someone can be HIV positive and have no signs or symptoms of the AIDS disease.

How is it spread?

• Needles: Sharing equipment for injecting drugs, tattooing, or body piercing

• Sex: vaginal, oral, and anal

• Moms to babies: delivery & breast milk

PREVENTION!

• If it is a body fluid, if it is wet, warm, and NOT yours, DON’T TOUCH IT!

• ABSTINENCE:• No vaginal, oral or anal intercourse• No using drugs and sharing needles

• Monogamous (infection free) Relationships

CONDOMS ARE NOT 100%, - but they are safer than unprotected sex.

(Consistent, correct condom use)

It is not spread by “Casual Contact”

Examples of safe behaviors that will not spread HIV are...

• Living in the same home

• Sharing food, using the same utensils

• Shaking hands, holding hands or hugging

• Working or going to the same school

More “Casual Contact”

• Sharing a toilet or using a public toilet

• Using the same water fountain

• Swimming in the same pool

OR ANY OTHER ORDINARY CASUAL CONTACT!

Basic Statsfrom the Center for Disease Control• 80 million people infected with HIV worldwide.

• Approximately 40,000 new cases each year in the US and 5 million worldwide.

• More than 900,000 cases of AIDS have been reported since 1981 in the US.

• In US, 950,000 may be infected with HIV (more than one quarter do not know they are infected).

Youth and HIV

• Youth represented 13% of those diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in 2004.

• Two young people every hour become infected with

HIV *The Alan Guttmacher Institute

• HIV is the fifth leading cause of death for people 25-44yrs old in the US.*NCHS, National Vital Statistics Report, vol 50 (16); 30