HIV/AIDS Frequently Asked Questions

A: AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is a medical condition. HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is the virus that causes AIDS. People develop AIDS because HIV has damaged their immune system. Your immune system is your body's defense system against infection and other diseases. If your immune system does not work well, you are at risk for developing serious and life-threatening infections and cancers.

A: Anyone can get HIV/AIDS. It does not matter your race, age, economic status, sexual orientation, or marital status. It's your actions, not your demographics, that puts you at risk for HIV.

A: Many people may have HIV/AIDS but not experience any symptoms for a number of years and feel well. The only way to know your status is to get an HIV test. Some newly infected individuals may experience "flu-like" symptoms including: fever, extreme fatigue, headache, dry cough, night sweats, rash, and swollen lymph nodes in neck or groin.

A:  Here are the most common ways that HIV is transmitted from one person to another: having sex (anal, vaginal, or oral) with an HIV-infected person;  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. HIV/AIDS also can be transmitted through receipt of infected blood or blood clotting factors. However, since 1985, all donated blood in the United States has been tested for HIV. Therefore, the risk of infection through transfusion of blood or blood products is extremely low. The U.S. blood supply is considered to be among the safest in the world.

A: Most HIV tests are antibody tests that measure the antibodies your body makes against HIV. It can take some time for the immune system to produce enough antibodies for the antibody test to detect, and this time period can vary from person to person. This time period is commonly referred to as the “window period.” Most people will develop detectable antibodies within 6 to 12 weeks. Even so, there is a chance that some individuals will take longer to develop detectable antibodies. Ninety-seven percent of persons will develop antibodies in the first 3 months following the time of their infection. In very rare cases, it can take up to 6 months to develop antibodies to HIV.

A: 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. As with other diseases, early detection offers more options for treatment and preventative health care.

A: 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.

A: 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.

A: 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.

A: 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 mouth's membrane has been broken allowing for the exposure of an open sore to the bodily fluids of another person.

A: 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.

A: Condoms are highly effective when used consistently and correctly. The following are tips on condom use and HIV prevention:

• Use a new condom for each act of intercourse.
• Put on the condom as soon as erection occurs and before any sexual contact (vaginal, anal, or oral).
• Hold the tip of the condom and unroll it onto the erect penis, leaving space at the tip of the condom, yet ensuring that no air is trapped in the condom's tip.
• Adequate lubrication is important, but use only water-based lubricants, such as glycerine or lubricating jellies (which can be purchased at any pharmacy). Oil-based lubricants, such as petroleum jelly, cold cream, hand lotion, or baby oil, can weaken the condom.
• Withdraw from the partner immediately after ejaculation, holding the condom firmly to keep it from slipping off.

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

A: 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 develop AIDS.

A: 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. Also, learning as much as you can about the disease will help you fight it. There are a number of important steps you should take immediately:

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 as well as important tests and immunizations that can help you maintain good health.

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 emotional  support resources available in your area.

A: HIV treatment is the use of medications to keep an HIV infected person healthy. 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.

A: 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.

A: 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

A: 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.

A: 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. It is NOT just a homosexual or bisexual disease - it is  your actions not your sexual orientation that puts you at risk for HIV/AIDS.