HIV & AIDS

WHAT IS HIV/AIDS?

• HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus
• AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
• HIV prevents the immune stystem from working properly
• AIDS is a collection of illnesses amd conditions thst occur if your immune system has been effected by HIV

TRANSMISSION OF HIV

• HIV is found in blood and sexual fluid
• It can be transmitted thriugh sex and passing of body fluids from one person to another
• The most common way of contracting HIV is through unprotected sex
• It can also be transmitted through mother to chikd during pregnancy if the mother is HIV positive
• Also through blood to blood transmission. This is common within drug users who share needles

EFFECTS OF HIV & AIDS

• HIV prevents the immune system from working so your body cannot fight off infections
• Because HIV attacks the immune system it weakens its resistence to infecdtion causing "oppurtunistic infections"
• These "oppurtunistic infections" can lead to serious viruses that can result in death

TREATMENTS FOR HIV/AIDS

• There is NO cure or vaccines currently avaliable for HIV
• However, HIV & AIDS can be effectively managed with specific medications such as HAART (Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy)