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What is
AIDS?
AIDS is a disease that causes the
body to lose its natural protection against infection. A person with
AIDS is more likely to become ill from infections and unusual types
of pneumonia and cancer that healthy people normally can fight off.
It is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus. The virus, which
is found in the blood and other body fluids of infected individuals,
attacks certain white blood cells that protect the body against
illness. Currently, there is no vaccine or cure for AIDS.
How does
someone get HIV?
HIV is
not easy to get. Both men and women can become infected and can give
the virus to someone else. HIV is found in the blood, semen and
vaginal secretions of infected people and can be spread in the
following ways:
- Having sex -- vaginal, anal or
oral -- with an HIV-infected person (male or female).
- Sharing drug needles or injection
equipment with an HIV-infected person to inject or "shoot" drugs.
- Passing the virus from an
HIV-infected woman to her baby during pregnancy or during birth.
(An infected mother also can pass HIV to her baby through
breast-feeding.)
HIV
cannot be spread in the following ways:
- Shaking hands, hugging or simple
kissing.
- Coughs or sneezes, sweat or
tears.
- Mosquitoes, toilet seats or
donating blood.
- Eating food prepared or handled
by an infected person.
- Everyday contact with
HIV-infected individuals at school, work, home or anywhere else.
The most
common modes of exposure to HIV are:
- Sex between men who have sex with
men.
- Injection drug use.
- Heterosexual contact, primarily
with injection drug users.
Because HIV-infected individuals may
look and feel healthy, many are unaware they are infected and
capable of infecting others. Only an HIV antibody test can determine
exposure to the virus. Too often, people at greatest risk of HIV
infection do not know that their high-risk behaviors can result in
HIV infection, or they are reluctant or unable to change those
high-risk behaviors.
How is
HIV diagnosed?
An HIV antibody test, either from a
blood sample or an oral sample, can tell whether your body has been
infected with the virus. If it has, your immune system makes
proteins called antibodies. It takes most people up to 12 weeks
after exposure to develop detectable antibodies ("window period"),
but some may take as long as six months. If your test is positive
for HIV antibodies, it means you are infected and can infect others.
If the test is negative, it generally means you are not infected.
But, because the "window period" may be as long as six months, you
should be tested again if, in the six months prior to the test, you
engaged in behavior that could transmit the virus.
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Where is
the test available?
Anonymous or confidential counseling
and testing services are available at many local health departments
and community agencies, including through some outreach testing
sites. A trained counselor will help you understand the test, your
results and how to protect your health whether you are infected or
not. For help locating a convenient test site, call the state's
AIDS, HIV and STD toll-free line, 1 (800) 243-2437. You also can
arrange to be tested by your personal physician.
How can
infection with HIV be prevented?
To avoid infection through sex, the
only sure way is not to have anal, vaginal or oral sexual
intercourse or to have sex only with someone who is not infected and
who has sex only with you. Using latex condoms correctly every time
you have vaginal, anal or oral sex can greatly lower your risk of
infection. Don't impair your judgment with drugs. Never share
needles or injection equipment to inject drugs or steroids. HIV in
blood from an infected person can remain in a needle, syringe or
other item and then be injected directly into the bloodstream of the
next user.
Is HIV
disease treatable?
People who are infected with HIV can
do many things to live healthier and longer lives. First, they must
take care of themselves: eat right, get plenty of exercise and
sleep, and avoid being exposed to airborne and food-borne pathogens.
There are also medications that slow the growth of the virus and
delay or prevent certain life-threatening conditions.
The Illinois Department of Public
Health provides FDA-approved prescription drugs through its AIDS
Drug Assistance Program for HIV-infected patients who meet specific
income guidelines. Since managing the personal, financial and
medical aspects of this disease can be daunting for many faced with
the challenge, HIV-infected people generally are offered case
management services through 10 HIV care consortia. Case managers
coordinate an effective system of care based on each client's
individual needs. The AIDS Drug Assistance Program toll-free line is
1 (800) 825-3518.
Is
confidential information available?
Yes. To ask questions about personal
risk or to learn more about HIV or other sexually transmitted
diseases, call the free and anonymous AIDS, HIV and STD toll-free
line at 1 (800) 243-2437 or the TTY number, 1 (800) 782-0423, for
hearing-impaired use only.
For more
information contact:
[Illinois
Department of Public Health] |
