HIV & AIDS: What You Need to Know
What is AIDS
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) attacks the immune
system, the body's defence against disease. People who
have HIV are said to be HIV antibody positive. Because
HIV can live in the body for many years and have no
effect, many people who are HIV-positive appear and
feel healthy.
AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is the advanced
stage when the immune system of people with HIV infection
is seriously impaired, and cannot fight off illness
or infection. Kaposi Sarcoma (a cancer of the blood
vessels), PCP (a type of pneumonia) and CMV retinitis
(a viral infection that affects the eyes) are common
AIDS-related illnesses.
You can be HIV-positive and not know it. Your sexual
partner can be HIV-positive and not know it. Anyone
who is HIV-positive can pass on the virus to someone
else.
Who can get AIDS?
Anyone can become infected with HIV. With AIDS, it
doesn’t matter who you are, it matters what you do.
How is HIV spread?
Large amounts of HIV can be found in the blood, semen
and vaginal fluids of infected people. HIV is spread
by:
Unprotected sexual intercourse
-
Any person infected with HIV can pass the virus
to another person through sexual activity where
semen, vaginal fluids or blood enter the other person's
body and into the bloodstream.
-
Unprotected sex means having sexual intercourse
without the proper use of a latex condom or latex
barrier. Unprotected sexual intercourse puts both
persons at risk.
-
Anal and vaginal sexual intercourse are the highest
risk activities.
-
Oral sex can also pose some risk.
Infected blood
-
Sharing needles, syringes or other equipment for
injecting drugs, including steroids, can pass infected
blood from one person to another. This is an extremely
dangerous activity.
-
Equipment used for tattoos, ear piercing and acupuncture
can pass on the virus if the equipment is not sterilized
properly after each use.
-
The risk of becoming infected by receiving transfusions
with blood or blood products in Canada is extremely
low. Since November 1985, all donated blood is tested
for the HIV antibody, thereby greatly reducing the
risk of HIV infection by blood transfusion.
Mother to child
How can I know if someone is infected with HIV?
You can't. Many people who are HIV-positive look and
feel healthy. They themselves might not even know that
they are infected. But they can still pass the virus
on to others.
Can I get AIDS from everyday contact?
No. The virus in not spread by ordinary, everyday
contact with people such as:
You cannot get the virus from:
Can I get AIDS from donating blood?
No. You cannot be infected with HIV by donating blood.
All needles used to take donations are used only once.
If you have HIV or AIDS, do not donate blood, organs,
tissues or sperm.
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How should I react to people who are HIV-positive
or who have AIDS?
With compassion. Be reassured that everyday contact
with someone who is HIV-positive does not pose a risk
to you. Remember that people who are HIV-positive or
have AIDS are going through pain and fear like anyone
who has a life-threatening illness. They will appreciate
your kindness, care and support.
Can I get AIDS from kissing?
Very small traces of HIV have been found in the saliva
of infected people. However, of the hundreds of thousands
of cases of AIDS reported world-wide, none have been
reported as being caused by saliva alone. However, deep
kissing where there are open sores or cuts in the mouth
increases the risk. It is the blood-to-blood contact,
not the saliva, that can transmit the HIV.
I will be travelling outside of Canada. Should
I be concerned?
You should be aware that not all blood supplies outside
of Canada are safe.
Can I get AIDS from mosquitoes?
No. HIV is not spread by insects. The virus cannot
reproduce inside an insect, so even those insects that
draw blood cannot pass on the infection.
How can I protect myself from HIV infection?
Abstain from sexual intercourse.
It's okay to say "no" to sex. Respect yourself.
You are important and you are responsible for you and
your sexual behaviour. Don't be afraid to say "no"
to a sexual relationship, even if you've had sex before.
If you are not ready for it, if you think it might be
unsafe or if it just doesn't feel right, don't do it.
You have the right to ask your partner about his or
her sexual past.
Choose one partner for life.
The greatest risk of HIV infection is from having sexual
intercourse with an infected partner. If you and your
uninfected partner have sexual intercourse with each
other only and neither of you has ever been previously
exposed to the virus, then you are not at risk. If you
or your partner are infected with HIV, remember always
to practice safer sex.
If you increase the number of your sexual partners,
and are not practising safer sex, then you directly
increase your risk of HIV infection or getting other
sexually transmitted disease such as gonorrhea, syphilis
or hepatitis B. Remember that sexual partners can pass
on disease they may have picked up from previous sexual
encounters. You are, in effect, coming in contact with
every partner your partner ever had.
Before becoming sexually involved, both you and your
partner should each consider having HIV antibody test.
Always practise safer sex.
Safer sex means consistent and proper use of a latex
condom or barrier (e.g. dental dam or plastic wrap).
- Use only latex condoms. When properly used, latex
condoms provide safer, though not 100 per cent safe,
sex.
- If you use lubricants, be certain to use only water-based
lubricants.
- Check the expiry date. Condoms weaken over time
and should not be used beyond the expiry date (00
represents the year 2000).
- Don't store condoms where they can be damaged by
heat, cold or sharp objects. Condoms should not be
carried in back pockets.
- Men who aren't accustomed to condoms should practise
with them alone before using them during intercourse.
An intact latex condom (a "rubber" or "safe")
when used properly, will stop semen, vaginal fluids
or blood from passing between sexual partners.
If you are going to have sex with anyone, it is your
right to insist on the use of a latex condom to protect
yourself and your partner from HIV infection and other
sexually transmitted disease. A spermicide such as Nonoxynol-9
can provide extra protection when used together with
a condom. Nonoxynol-9 can cause irritation in some people
and should not be used if it does.
Both women and men should make sure that condoms are
available when needed and that they are properly applied
and consistently used. In taking equal responsibility,
people are able to look after their own health, their
future children's health as well as their sexual partner's
health.
If your partner refuses to use latex condoms and you
are unsure if both of you are free from HIV, then both
of you are at risk. Be prepared to say "no"
to a dangerous situation.
If you feel embarrassed about telling your partner
that you want to use a condom, show them how. Leave
some condoms out where they will be seen. Chances are
your partner will be glad that you did.
Birth control pills do not provide protection against
sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Condoms must also
be used with birth control pills to provide protection
against sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy.
Never share needles or syringes.
Never share needles, syringes, or "works."
Otherwise you could be injecting HIV directly into your
bloodstream. Never share cleaning/rinsing solutions
that someone else has used. For more information on
safer needle use, contact an AIDS service orgaization
or needle exchange program.
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How can I find out if I have come in contact with
HIV?
You can have a special blood test. You have to ask
your doctor for this test as it is not automatically
performed. You can also have the test at the STD clinic
nearest you.
If the virus is present in the body, the virus will
leave "footprints" or "markers."
These footprints are called HIV antibodies.
The only way to know for certain if antibodies are
present in the body is to have a special blood test,
the HIV antibody test.
A positive test result means that antibodies have been
found in your blood This means that you are infected
with HIV and are therefore referred to as being HIV-positive.
It does not necessarily mean that you have AIDS, nor
does it indicate if or when you might develop AIDS.
Medical follow-up is important if you are HIV-positive.
If you have any concerns that you may have been exposed
to HIV, then you can have the HIV antibody test done
12 weeks after your last potential high-risk exposure.
Should I be tested?
If you answer yes to any of these questions, you may
want to be tested or may want to seek more information:
-
Have you ever had unprotected sexual intercourse
with someone infected with HIV or AIDS?
-
Have you had anal or vaginal intercourse with a
number of sexual partners and not consistently used
latex condoms?
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Have you had a sexually transmitted disease since
1978?
-
Have you or your sexual partner(s) shared needles
to take drugs or other substances?
-
Have you had a blood transfusion between 1978 and
1986?
-
Have you had an organ or tissue transplant or in-vitro
fertilization since 1978?
If you think you might have been infected with HIV
and are planning to have children, it is important to
seek counselling about the risks and reducing the risks.
If you are infected, there is a risk of passing the
virus to your partner or to your baby. There are early
interventions that can reduce the risk of transmitting
HIV to your baby.
If you are entering a new relationship and want to
ensure that you are both HIV-free, you may wish to seek
information, counselling and testing through one of
the testing facilities.
The pros and cons of taking the HIV antibody test,
what the results mean, and what the consequences could
be for you should all be considered before taking the
test. You should discuss this with your doctor, STD
clinic or anonymous test clinic nurse. The earlier you
know about HIV infection, the more you can do to stay
healthy longer. Together with a doctor who knows
about AIDS, you can keep track of your health.
Community AIDS service organizations, STD clinics and
anonymous HIV test clinic provide free advice and counselling
about the test.
Where can I be tested?
Free testing is available through your doctor, through
a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic or an anonymous
HIV test clinic.
Can I be assured of confidentiality?
It is the responsibility of anyone seeking counselling
and testing to discuss the issue of confidentiality
with the doctor or clinic nurse.
Is there a vaccine for HIV?
No. Because there is not yet a vaccine, everybody is
responsible for protecting not only themselves but also
their sexual partners from the risk of HIV.
What treatments are available for people who are
HIV-positive?
There are drugs, therapies and treatments that slow
the progress of HIV and lengthen and improve the lives
of people with HIV.
There is no known cure for HIV infection. No drug has
yet been found that will destroy HIV or eliminate it
from the body.
Resources
If you need further information on HIV and AIDS, contact
your physician or local public health office. You may
also want to check out some of the resources that follow.
Directory of Sexually
Transmitted Disease Clinics
Directory of Anonymous
HIV Testing Clinics
Saskatchewan Health AIDS Co-ordinator (306) 787-7260
Toll-free AIDS information line 1-800-667-6876.
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