What Is HIV/AIDS?

You may have heard about HIV and AIDS, but many people don't know the basic facts about them.

HIV causes AIDS. HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It breaks down the immune system — our body's protection against disease. HIV causes people to become sick with infections that normally wouldn't affect them.

AIDS is short for acquired immune deficiency syndrome. It is the most advanced stage of HIV disease.

In the United States, more than 980,000 cases of AIDS have been reported to the government. About 40,000 women and men in the United States get HIV each year.


What Are the Symptoms of HIV?

Some people develop HIV symptoms shortly after being infected. But it usually takes more than 10 years.

There are several stages of HIV disease. The first HIV symptoms may include swollen glands in the throat, armpit, or groin. Other early HIV symptoms include slight fever, headaches, fatigue, and muscle aches. These symptoms may last for only a few weeks. Then there are usually no HIV symptoms for many years. That is why it can be hard to know if you have HIV.

What Are the Symptoms of AIDS
AIDS symptoms appear in the most advanced stage of HIV disease. In addition to a badly damaged immune system, a person with AIDS may also have

thrush — a thick, whitish coating of the tongue or mouth that is caused by a yeast infection and sometimes accompanied by a sore throat
severe or recurring vaginal yeast infections
chronic pelvic inflammatory disease
severe and frequent infections
periods of extreme and unexplained tiredness that may be combined with headaches, lightheadedness, and/or dizziness
quick loss of more than 10 pounds of weight that is not due to increased physical exercise or dieting
bruising more easily than normal
long periods of frequent diarrhea
frequent fevers and/or night sweats
swelling or hardening of glands located in the throat, armpit, or groin
periods of persistent, deep, dry coughing
increasing shortness of breath
the appearance of discolored or purplish growths on the skin or inside the mouth
unexplained bleeding from growths on the skin, from the mouth, nose, anus, or vagina, or from any opening in the body
frequent or unusual skin rashes
severe numbness or pain in the hands or feet, the loss of muscle control and reflex, paralysis, or loss of muscular strength
confusion, personality change, or decreased mental abilities



How Can I Know If I Have HIV?

You cannot know for sure if you have HIV until you get tested. About 1 out of 6 people with HIV don't know they are infected, so testing is very important. Read more about HIV testing.

How Is HIV Spread?

People have lots of questions about the ways you can get HIV. HIV is transmitted in blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk. The most common ways HIV is spread are by

having vaginal or anal intercourse without a condom with someone who has HIV/AIDS
sharing needles or syringes with someone who has HIV/AIDS
being deeply punctured with a needle or surgical instrument contaminated with HIV
getting HIV-infected blood, semen, or vaginal secretions into open wounds or sores

Babies born to women with HIV/AIDS can get HIV from their mothers during birth or from breastfeeding.

HIV is not transmitted by simple casual contact such as kissing, sharing drinking glasses, or hugging.

Getting and Giving Blood

Some people are concerned about the risk of HIV when getting or giving blood. Hospitals, blood banks, and health care providers in the United States are extremely careful. Syringes and needles are only used once. And blood is always tested before it's banked. So, today, there is practically no risk of getting or spreading HIV by giving or receiving blood.



How Can I Prevent Getting or Spreading HIV?

There are many ways you can protect yourself from HIV. The surest way is to abstain from sexual intercourse and from sharing needles and "works" if you use steroids, hormones, or other drugs.

Many people have been infected with HIV by sharing needles. If you are using needles for steroids, hormones, or other drugs

Never share needles.
Get into a needle-exchange program.
Be sure to disinfect the needles you use.

Don't share personal items that may have blood on them. This includes toothbrushes, razors, needles for piercing or tattooing, and blades for cutting or scarring.

If you choose to have sex, have safer sex to reduce the risk of exchanging blood, semen, or vaginal fluids with your sex partner(s).

Safer Sex and HIV

Some kinds of sex play are "safer" because they have lower risk of infection than others. "Safer-sex" activities are those we choose to lower our risk of exchanging blood, semen, or vaginal fluids — the body fluids most likely to spread HIV. Each of us must decide what risks we will take for sexual pleasure.

Here are some common sexual behaviors grouped according to risk.

VERY LOW RISK — No reported HIV infections due to these behaviors

fantasy, cyber sex, or phone intimacy
using clean intimacy gadgets
masturbation or mutual masturbation
manual stimulation of one another
touching or massage
handling or body rubbing
kissing
MouthAction on a man with a condom
MouthAction on a woman with a Glyde dam or plastic wrap

LOW RISK — Very few reported HIV infections due to these behaviors

deep kissing that causes bleeding
vaginal intercourse with a condom or female condom
anal intercourse with a condom or female condom
MouthAction

(Try not to get semen, vaginal fluids, or blood into the mouth or on broken skin.)

HIGH RISK — Millions of reported HIV infections due to these behaviors

vaginal intercourse without a condom
anal intercourse without a condom

Talk with your health care provider about testing and treatment for STDs. Women and men with open sores from herpes and other infections get HIV more easily than other people.
Where Can I Get a Test for HIV?

Tests are available from Planned Parenthood health centers and most physicians, hospitals, and health clinics. Local, state, and federal health departments offer free testing. You can also buy an HIV home test kit.

Read more about HIV testing.

Should I be tested?

HIV tests are a normal part of health care. If you think you may have been exposed to HIV, talk with a health care provider about testing. Talking about what risks you've taken can help you decide whether testing is right for you.
Want to get tested for HIV?Find a Health Center


What If I Have HIV/AIDS?

Consult a health care provider who has experience treating HIV/AIDS.
Inform sex partner(s) who may also be infected.
Protect your sex partner(s) from HIV by following safer sex guidelines.
Do not share needles or "works."
Get psychological support with a therapist and/or join a support group for people with HIV/AIDS.
Get information and social and legal support from an HIV/AIDS service organization.
Don't share your HIV status with people who do not need to know. People with HIV may still face discrimination. Only tell people you can count on for support.

Maintain a strong immune system with regular medical checkups and a healthy lifestyle:

Eat well.
Get enough rest and exercise.
Avoid illegal or recreational drugs, including alcohol and tobacco.
Learn how to manage stress effectively.

Consider using medicines that may slow the progress of the infection.
What If I Have HIV/AIDS and I Am Pregnant?

If you have HIV and are pregnant, consult a health care provider who knows about HIV disease. Without treatment, about 25 out of 100 babies born to women with HIV are also infected. However, the use of HIV medicines, cesarean delivery, and refraining from breastfeeding can reduce the risk of transmission to less than 2 out of 100.






[size=30pt] AIDS IS REAL[/size]

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-info/stds-hiv-safer-sex/hiv-aids

Some of the information you put here are incorrect.

Nice one

The Influence of Hiv/Aids Awareness on Teenage Behaviour in Abakaliki Town, Ebonyi State.

There are certain pathological developments within the immune system that lead to manifestation of certain diseases.
Disorder in the immune system characterized by a defect in the immune system that leads to the suppression of the immunodeficiency. AIDS is one of such immunodeficiency and it is the most severe form of a continuum of illness associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

http://www.scharticles.com/the-influence-of-hivaids-awareness-on-teenage-behaviour/