Frequently Asked Questions

What Is AIDS?

AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is the most serious stage of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) infection. It results from the destruction of the infected person's immune system. Your immune system is your body's defense system. Cells of your immune system fight off infection and other diseases. If your immune system does not work well, you are at risk for serious and life-threatening infections and cancers. HIV attacks and destroys the disease-fighting cells of the immune system, leaving the body with a weakened defense against infection and cancer.

What are the symptoms of AIDS?

Many people may have AIDS but not experience any symptoms for a number of years and feel well. Some symptoms that may be noticeable include: fever, extreme fatigue, headache, dry cough, night sweats, rash, and swollen lymph nodes in neck or groin.

How is HIV Transmitted?

These are the most common ways that HIV is transmitted from one person to another:

• by having sex (anal, vaginal, or oral) with an HIV-infected person;

• by sharing needles or injection equipment with an injection drug user who is infected with HIV; or

• from HIV-infected women to babies before or during birth, or through breast-feeding after birth.

How long does it take for HIV to be detectable in the body?

HIV can take up to six months to be detectable. Your body needs time to respond to the virus, and therefore the virus may not be detected till months after the actual transmission.

How long should I wait to be tested after potential exposure to HIV?

For the most accurate test result, you must wait six months after your last possible exposure to the virus (or anytime after that). At six months, the tests are more than 99% accurate. If you get tested before the six-month waiting period, you could have the infection but the test won't pick it up.

How long does it take for HIV to cause AIDS?

Currently, the average time between HIV infection and the appearance of signs that could lead to an AIDS diagnosis is 8-11 years. This time varies greatly from person to person and can depend on many factors including a person's health status and behaviors. Today there are medical treatments that can slow down the rate at which HIV weakens the immune system. There are other treatments that can prevent or cure some of the illnesses associated with AIDS. As with other diseases, early detection offers more options for treatment and preventative health care

Can I get HIV from casual contact (shaking hands, hugging, using a toilet, drinking from the same glass, or the sneezing and coughing of an infected person)?

No. HIV is not transmitted by day-to-day contact in the workplace, schools, or social settings. HIV is not transmitted through shaking hands, hugging, or a casual kiss. You cannot become infected from a toilet seat, a drinking fountain, a door knob, dishes, drinking glasses, food, or pets.

Can HIV be transmitted through oral sex?

It is possible to transmit HIV through oral sex. Contact with bodily fluids through open or broken membranes can the cause the body to be vulnerable to exposure.

Can mosquitoes transmit HIV?

No. There is no evidence that mosquitoes, other insects, or animals play a role in the HIV transmission. In areas known to have many mosquitoes and high rates of HIV infection, studies have shown that only those individuals participating in sexual or injection drug activities were infected rather than those who were exposed only to mosquito bites, such as young children and elderly adults.

Is it possible to contract HIV from the bathroom?

This is possible, but not at all probable. The HIV virus is extraordinarily fragile and will not survive outside the body for long including on the toilet seat.

Is the transmission of HIV possible through kissing?

Simply kissing someone is usually not conducive to the transmission of HIV. There has to be a very high rate of exchange of saliva to be detrimental to your health unless there are ulcers or the mouths membrane has been broken allowing for the exposure of an open sore to the bodily fluids of another person.

Can I get HIV from getting a tattoo or through body piercing?

A risk of HIV transmission does exist if instruments contaminated with blood are either not sterilized or disinfected or are used inappropriately between clients. CDC recommends that instruments that are intended to penetrate the skin be used once, then disposed of or thoroughly cleaned and sterilized.

Are condoms a good method for preventing HIV transmission?

Condoms have not been proven to be 100% effective in protecting against HIV transmission, though the chance of transmission is significantly reduced in comparison to unprotected sex. Condoms do help prevent contact with the majority of bodily fluids, but they are not fail proof.

Are lambskin condoms as safe as the latex condoms?

Essentially, the latex is much less porous than the lambskin condoms, and therefore proves to protect more effectively against HIV.

I Tested HIV Positive. What Does This Mean? Does it Mean I Have AIDS?

A positive HIV test result means that you are infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Being infected with HIV does not mean that you have AIDS right now. However, if left untreated, HIV infection damages a person's immune system and can progress to AIDS.

What if I test HIV positive?

If you test positive, the sooner you take steps to protect your health, the better. Early medical treatment, a healthy lifestyle and a positive attitude can help you stay well. Prompt medical care may delay the onset of AIDS and prevent some life-threatening conditions. It is important to know that a positive HIV test should always be confirmed, to be sure that it is a true positive. If your test result is positive, there are a number of important steps you can take immediately to protect your health:

• See a doctor, even if you don't feel sick. Try to find a doctor who has experience treating HIV. There are now many new drugs to treat HIV infection. There are important tests, immunizations and drug treatments that can help you maintain good health. It is never too early to start thinking about treatment possibilities.

• Have a tuberculosis (TB) test done. You may be infected with TB and not know it. Undetected TB can cause serious illness. TB can be treated successfully if detected early.

• Recreational drugs, alcoholic beverages and smoking can weaken your immune system. There are programs available to help you stop.

• Consider joining a support group for people with HIV infection or finding out about other resources available in your area, such as HIV/AIDS-knowledgeable counselors for one on one therapy. There are also many newsletters available for people living with HIV and AIDS.

• There is much you can do to stay healthy. Learning as much as you can is a step in the right direction. Local and/or national resources may be available. Many HIV/AIDS organizations provide services free or on a sliding scale, based on ability to pay.

What Is HIV Treatment?

HIV treatment is the use of medications to keep an HIV infected person healthy. Treatment can help people at all stages of HIV disease. Although anti-HIV medications can treat HIV infection, they cannot cure HIV infection. HIV treatment is complicated and must be tailored to you and your needs.

Could a child get infected during a fight or a contact -sport like football?

There is no evidence of HIV transmission resulting from sports injuries or fist fights. Precautions should be taken to avoid contact with blood. No one should play while bleeding or with open wounds. All blood should be cleaned up with an appropriate disinfectant. Anyone helping with injuries should use gloves when administering first aid or cleaning up blood.

If a child is bitten by a child with HIV infection, what is the possibility of transmission?

No cases of HIV transmission can be attributed to saliva. There are two reports of HIV transmission through an adult bite; in both cases blood was present, either from bleeding gums or from teeth being knocked out.

What are the safety protocols to protect those whose occupation presents a risk for HIV exposure?

For individuals who may come in contact with blood or other body fluids during their work these precautions include but are not limited to the following: never recap needles, dispose of used needles and other sharps, wear vinyl or latex gloves when coming in contact with body fluids, proper hand washing, and never reusing gloves.

Why are homosexuals or bisexuals at an increased risk for HIV infection?

Reported cases of HIV infection among males who have sex with other males are associated with sexual behaviors involving semen-to-blood or blood-to-blood contact, particularly anal intercourse. Anyone who engages in anal intercourse or activities that expose them to semen, vaginal secretions, or blood of another person is at risk for HIV infection.