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Since people approach AIDS with varying levels of education and understanding, this page provides what we call AIDS 101". It is okay to start with little or no knowledge of AIDS, ARC, or safer sex. It is not okay to never find out. When it comes to AIDS prevention, knowledge really is power!
* INDEX *
<1>What is AIDS? <2>What is HIV - symptomatic? <3>How Does HIV Affect the Body?
<4>What Are the Symptoms? <5>How is AIDS Transmitted?
<6>Who Gets AIDS? <7>How Do I Prevent AIDS? <8>What is Safer Sex?
<9>Everything You Need to Know About Condoms <10>AIDS and Drugs
<11>Should I Take the AIDS Antibody Test?
<12>Does Everyone Infected with the AIDS Virus Die?
<13>Where Can I Get More Information on AIDS? <14>The Global Impact of AIDS
*** Answers ***
1) What is AIDS?
----------------
AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. First
discovered in the United States in 1981, AIDS has spread rapidly,
killing men, women and children, Blacks, whites, Latinos, Asians,
heterosexuals, homosexuals, the rich and the poor. To date over
379,656 people in the United States have died from AIDS and the
number of diagnosed AIDS case doubles every 13 to 15 months. There
is no cure for AIDS: PREVENTION is the only way to stem the spread
of this deadly virus.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the virus which causes
AIDS, debilitates the immune system - that part of the body which
normally protects against disease -leaving the individual vulnerable
to rare infections which they could have easily fought off earlier.
These infections can be deadly. More than half the people diagnosed
with AIDS have already died from the disease.
Once a person is infected with HIV there is no way to destroy
or rid the body of the virus. There is hope for effective
treatments to thwart the effects of HIV. The new Protease Inhibitor drugs
inhibits replication of the virus within the body. These drugs may prolong
the lives of people with AIDS and even prevent the appearance of
symptoms related to HIV infection. Researchers are continuing to
search for other ways to fight AIDS. Experimental vaccines to
protect against HIV infection are now being tested.
AIDS is not contagious, that is, it is not spread by casual
contact; therefore there is no need to fear people who have HIV or
AIDS. You can not get AIDS by touching people, eating in
restaurants, or being near someone who has with AIDS. You won't get
AIDS from your pets, toilets, swimming pools, dishes or bugs. AIDS
is spread mainly through sexual intercourse and sharing drug needles
with infected IV drug users. Women who are infected with the virus
can also transmit the disease to their unborn child.
Why haven't we heard about it before? AIDS was not recognized
or described as a disease until 1981. Tracking of AIDS only began
when doctors had seen enough of it to recognize that they were faced
with a serious, previously unknown disease. In 1981, 316 people in
the United States had AIDS. Five years later (by August, 1986),
over 23,000 cases were reported here. A tremendous growth in the
rate of the disease has continued and today we have over 548,102
reported cases. This is alarming, and scientists, health professionals
and the general public have all become extremely concerned about it.
The exact origins of AIDS are not known. Either it is a new
human disease that developed recently, or it is a disease that was,
until recently, isolated in a particular geographic group of people.
The prevailing scientific opinion now is that the virus originated in
Africa. The best scientific guess is that at some point in time, as a natural part of the process of all living organisms, there was a chance mutation of one of the simian (monkey) viruses, which make it possible for the virus to cross the species barrier from monkey to human. While mutations at the cellular level are fairly common, this particular type of mutation would be very unusual.
In certain areas of Africa, the green monkey is considered a food delicacy. Possibly through ingesting some uncooked organs, or through an accidental cut while preparing a carcass, the first human was infected. The disease may have begun in this simple, quiet manner, spreading to others from this point through sexual intercourse and shared needle use. We want to note that many African government representatives are sensitive about this view, understandably, since it is often set forth in a manner that seems to blame Africa for the appearance of the virus. While scientific events are not themselves racist, observations and reporting of them may be so. It is important to remember that no one person, nation or population is responsible for the development of AIDS, and we must all share the responsibility of stopping the spread of the virus.
Back to Top 2) What is HIV - symptomatic? ---------------
People that are HIV-symptomatic may show many of the same
symptoms as a person with AIDS - ranging from persistent swollen
lymph glands to extreme fatigue and rapid weight loss - though it
differs from AIDS in that a person with AIDS also has an
opportunistic infection. Opportunistic infections take advantage of
the already weakened immune system, the most common opportunistic
infections in people with AIDS are Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia
(PCP) and Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), a rare skin cancer.
"Immunosuppressed" or "immunocompromised" are other terms used to
refer to people with a weakened immune system.
The effects of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) on the
immune system may weaken the body so much that other health-related
problems may lead to death for the person with Advanced HIV, making it no
less serious as AIDS. Usually, persons with Advanced HIV lead active,
productive lives, having only mild symptoms that don't normally
affect daily activities.
People can also be without any symptoms for extended periods
of time. Studies show some people who are HIV-symptomatic may never
go on to develop full-blown AIDS, and most do not progress to AIDS within
five-ten years.
Back to Top
3) How Does HIV Affect the Body?
--------------------------------
Discovery of the virus which causes AIDS was first reported in
May, 1983 by Dr. Luc Montagnier and fellow researchers at the
Pasteur Institute in Paris. They named the virus
lymphadenopathy-associated virus (LAV), because they had isolated it
from the lymph node of a patient who had what is now known as ARC.
At approximately the same time, Dr. Robert Gallo and his colleagues
at the National Cancer Institute also identified the causative
agent of AIDS. They named it human T-cell lymphotropic virus-III
(HTLV-III), in light of its apparent similarity to other viruses
isolated by Gallo and his staff, namely, HTLV-I and HTLV-II.
Controversy surrounding the labeling of this newly identified virus
led the International Committee on the Taxonomy of Viruses to give
it the name human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This is the
designation which the medical community now uses to refer to the
virus.
HIV is different from many other viruses. It belongs to a
special family of viruses known as retroviruses. Like other
viruses, retroviruses consist of a tightly packed core of genetic
information and a protein coat. Retroviruses contain their genetic
information in ribonucleic acid (RNA) rather than in
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). In order to replicate, the retrovirus
must use an enzyme known as reverse transcriptease to create DNA from
viral RNA. This newly manufactured viral DNA is then inserted into
the DNA of the host cell. The inserted viral DNA is termed the
provirus. The provirus then uses the genetic machinery of the host
cell to reproduce itself. In this way, retroviruses, like all
viruses, depend upon the host cell to provide the mechanism for the
production of new viral particles.
The primary target of HIV is a special type of white blood
cell known as the T-4 helper cell, the cell responsible for
directing the immune system's fight against invading organisms.
When HIV enters the body, it seeks out the T-4 helper cell, attaches
itself to this cell and then enters it. Once inside, it uses the
genetic material of the T-4 helper cell to replicate. New viral
particles are then released into the blood stream, where they can
find new T-4 helper cells to infect.
The presence of HIV inside the T-4 helper cell can cause the
cell to function poorly or destroy the helper cell completely. When
the number of T-4 helper cells decreases drastically in the body,
the immune system is unable to fight off many infections which
normally pose no threat. Complications related to these
opportunistic infections can lead to death for the person with AIDS.
Macrophages, another type of white blood cell, can also be
infected by the AIDS virus. These cells often travel throughout the
body, destroying invading organisms that may be present outside of
the circulatory system. But macrophages can carry HIV into the
brain. Once in the brain, HIV attacks the glial cells, the cells
that provide structural support and insulation for neurons. If a
large number of glial cells are destroyed, the intellectual
functioning of the individual may be dramatically impaired.
The manifestations of HIV infection can vary widely from
person to person. The range of infections seen is quite broad, with
people being affected by fungal, bacterial, protozoal and viral
disease as well as some cancers. Two diseases we hear most often
about are Kaposi's Sarcoma (KS) and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia
(PCP).
KS is a cancer of the cells that line certain small blood
vessels. People with KS develop purple lesions on the skin or
possibly internally where they cannot be seen. In time, the lesions
increase in both number and size, causing complications as they
spread.
PCP is the most common opportunistic infection seen in people
with AIDS. It is caused by a protozoan, a microscopic organism.
People with PCP usually become quite ill at the time of diagnosis,
with fatigue, weight loss, fevers, dry cough and difficulty
breathing, often PCP requiring hospitalization. PCP can be treated,
but as with other AIDS-related disease, successful treatment of PCP
does not cure the underlying immune problems. In time a person may
again be affected by PCP or any one of a number of opportunistic
infections.
People with HIV may also suffer from infections that can lead
to confusion, loss of memory, poor motor control, inability to speak
clearly, seizures, or other manifestations of dementia. These
problems may be caused by direct HIV infection of the brain, or by
diseases such as toxoplasmosis or cryptococcal meningitis.
Other illnesses seen are either very unusual diseases rarely
diagnosed in anyone who does not have HIV infection, or more common
human illnesses that appear in unusually severe forms.
For example, a person with AIDS might have a thrush infection
(Candida) which is not limited to the mouth but spreads throughout
the esophagus and intestinal tract. An HIV infected individual
might develop a herpes simplex infection that spreads well beyond
the usual mucous membrane sites for herpes (mouth, genitals) over
other skin surfaces, in spinal fluid, or in the lungs.
Estimates of the incubation period for AIDS have changed as
research continues and we have more experience with the disease.
The most recent research suggests the average length of incubation
is eight to fifteen years, with people developing AIDS sooner than
this and in some instances AIDS has appeared later than this. There
are reported cases of people being infected with the AIDS virus for
ten-fifteen years and still show no symptoms.
Back to Top
4) What Are the Symptoms?
-----------------------------------------
Many of the symptoms associated with AIDS are the same
as those associated with a cold or the flu; but or AIDS these symptoms
are persistent and seem to have no apparent cause. The person just isn't
able to overcome what ever is making them ill.
***>> Only a health-care professional is qualified <<***
***>> to diagnose the cause of these symptoms. <<***
* Unexplained, persistent fatigue that interferes with physical
and mental activities.
* Weight loss greater than 10 pounds in less than 2 months not
due to changes in diet or level of physical activity.
* Unexplained fever (greater than 100 degrees F) that lasts for
more than several weeks.
* Night sweats that drench the individual's bedclothes and
pajamas.
* Swollen glands (enlarged lymph nodes usually in the neck,
armpits, or groin) which remain swollen for more than 2
months for no apparent reason.
* White spots or unusual blemishes on the tongue or roof of the
mouth.
* Persistent diarrhea.
* A dry cough which has lasted too long to be caused by a
common respiratory infection, especially if accompanied by
shortness of breath.
* Pink to purple flat or raised blotches or bumps occurring on
or under the skin. Initially they may resemble bruises but
do not disappear. They are usually harder than the skin
around them.
Back to Top
5) How is AIDS Transmitted?
---------------------------
Although the AIDS virus is found in several body fluids, a
person acquires the virus during sexual contact with an infected
person's blood or semen and possibly vaginal secretions. The virus
then enters a person's blood stream through their rectum, vagina or
penis. Small (unseen by the naked eye) tears in the surface lining
of the vagina or rectum may occur during insertion of the penis,
fingers, or other objects, thus opening an avenue for entrance of
the virus directly into the blood stream; therefore, the AIDS virus
can be passed from penis to rectum and vagina and vice versa without
a visible tear in the tissue or the presence of blood.
Drug abusers who inject drugs into their veins are another
population group at high risk and with high rates of infection by
the AIDS virus. Intravenous drug users make up 25 percent of the
cases of AIDS throughout the country. The AIDS virus is carried in
contaminated blood left in the needle, syringe, or other drug
related implements and the virus is injected into the new victim by
reusing dirty syringes and needles. Even the smallest amount of
infected blood left in a used needle or syringe can contain live
AIDS virus to be passed on to the next user of those dirty
implements.
Some persons with hemophilia (a blood clotting disorder that
makes them subject to bleeding) have been infected with the AIDS
virus either through blood transfusion or the use of blood products
that help their blood clot. Now that we know how to prepare safe
blood products to aid clotting, this is unlikely to happen.
If a woman is infected with the AIDS virus and becomes
pregnant, she is more likely to develop Advanced HIV or classic AIDS, and she
can pass the AIDS virus to her unborn child. Approximately one
third of the babies born to AIDS-infected mothers will eventually
develop the disease and die. Several of these babies have been born
to wives of hemophiliac men infected with the AIDS virus by way of
contaminated blood products. Some babies have also been born to
women who became infected with the AIDS virus by bisexual partners
who had the virus. Almost all babies with AIDS have been born to
women who were intravenous drug users or the sexual partners of
intravenous drug users who were infected with the AIDS virus. Many
more such babies can be expected.
The AIDS virus has been found in blood, semen, urine, vaginal
secretion, spinal fluid, tears, saliva and breast milk. Of these,
only semen, vaginal secretions, and blood are implicated in
transmission. There are a few reported cases in which babies have
contracted AIDS through infected breast milk. Feces are also
considered a risk because they may carry blood.
People are naturally concerned about some of the other fluids
contact with tears or saliva is much more common in day-to-day life.
Evidently, these other fluids do not carry a strong enough
concentration of the virus to cause infection, even in the unlikely
event one's blood system were to come into direct contact with them.
In all reported U.S. case so far, there is not a single case of
transmission of the AIDS virus by saliva. Occasional news reports
of such transmission, in the U.S. and elsewhere have all turned out
to be incorrect.
So far, the AIDS virus has not been detected in sweat. Even
if it is found here at a future time, sweat, like tears or saliva,
would most likely not be implicated in transmission.
Finally, a small number of health care workers who have had unusual exposure to patient blood have become infected. For example, a lab technician, because of an equipment malfunction, was splashed in the eye with copious quantities of AIDS-infected blood. She has subsequently become infected herself. Instances such as these, while rare, remind health professionals to follow infection control guidelines carefully.
Back to Top
6) Who Gets AIDS? -----------------
HIV DISEASE AFFECTS EVERYONE HIV disease is a potential threat to everyone - men, women, and children. Over 300,000 people have died of HIV disease, hundreds of thousands of people in the United States are infected with HIV. From the beginning of the epidemic, men and women of all backgrounds and ages have been affected. AIDS ISN'T JUST A HOMOSEXUAL DISEASE!
Although many of the early AIDS patients were gay (homosexual) men
that is, men who have sex with other men - and most persons with
AIDS in the United States are gay men, many persons who are not gay
are infected with HIV.
Because there are many ways of catching HIV, the fact that a
man is infected with HIV or has symptoms of advanced HIV disease
does NOT mean he is a homosexual. A man does not have to have
sexual relations with another man to catch HIV disease. Many men
and women - and their babies - have become infected with HIV as the
result of using intravenous drugs, receiving blood transfusions or
blood products, or through heterosexual (straight) relations - that
is, sex between a man and a woman.
In the 1990's, gay men are more aware of the risk of contracting
HIV and have taken steps to avoid infecting or being infected, but
many other people who are at risk for catching HIV are not taking
precautions because they do not know they are at risk.
In the 1990's, HIV testing to determine if you are infected is very
important not only to prevent infecting others, but also because
there are now treatments for HIV infection before it has progressed
Remember that anyone infected with the AIDS virus might
develop AIDS; though people in the United State diagnosed with AIDS
usually fall into one of several risk categories. It is behaviors,
not membership in any particular group, which will put someone at
risk for AIDS or HIV infection.
As of July 1996, the breakdown for source of infection in
adolescents and adults with AIDS in the United States was as follows
(while absolute numbers in these reports change weekly, the
percentages represent more general trends and will not be likely to
change significantly for some time):
Gay or bisexual men 49%
IV Drug Users 25%
Heterosexual contact 9%
Blood Transfusion 1%
Undetermined/Other 15%
Back to Top
7) How Do I Prevent AIDS?
-------------------------
Obviously, if you avoid having sex you will not become
infected with the AIDS virus through sexual contact. Abstinence
can be a viable choice for many people at different times in their
lives. It's a choice that many people seem to be making these days
in the wake of AIDS.
The more people you have sex with - the greater the risk.
Each new partner increases the chance that you will be exposed to
the HIV virus: its like playing Russian Roulette with your life.
Latex condoms can provide effective protection against
infection with the AIDS virus. Condoms act as a physical barrier
which prevents the passage of the virus form one person to another.
Use condoms to reduce the risk associated with vaginal and anal
intercourse.
Condoms can also be used during oral sex to eliminate any
possible risk associated with this activity. See Section *:
"Everything You Need to Know about Condoms" to find out more about
how condoms can help protect against infection with the AIDS virus.
By finding out which sexual activities are riskiest, you will
be able to make changes in your sex life so that you can reduce your
own level of risk. There are many types of sexual expression that
are not considered to be very risky. However, some activities, such
as intercourse without a condom, can readily lead to transmission of
the AIDS virus. Take the time to learn about making sex safer so
that you can protect yourself and the people you love from AIDS.
Back to Top
8) What is Safer Sex?
---------------------
Safer sex means cutting your risk of being exposed to AIDS by
changing your sexual behavior. The following shows the various
levels of risk associated with different sexual activities.
NO RISK
=======
Dry Kissing: There have been no documented cases of an
individual becoming infected from kissing.
Masturbation: You can not become infected by contact with
your own body fluids. In order for infection with HIV to take
place you must come in contact with the body fluids of someone
who already has the virus inside his or her own body.
Protected Oral Sex: By using a latex condom or a rubber dam
(a square piece of latex which can be placed over the vagina)
during oral sex, individuals can reduce any possible risk
associated with this activity. Both act as a physical barrier
which prevents HIV from being passed from one partner to the
other.
Touching: You won't get AIDS just by touching someone who
carries the virus.
SOME RISK
=========
Deep Kissing: Deep kissing is considered to be risky only
when one or both persons has cuts or open sores in the mouth
which could allow the virus to enter the blood stream.
Oral Sex: The risk of becoming infected with HIV through oral
sex is much less than the risk associated with sexual
intercourse. However, virus contained in semen or vaginal
secretions can be transmitted during oral sex if there are
open cuts or sores in the mouth.
Vaginal Intercourse: Although latex condoms have been shown
to prevent with Condom transmission of HIV in the laboratory,
they are not always 100% effective in real-life situations.
Anal Intercourse with Condom: If used properly, condoms can
greatly reduce the risk associated with sexual intercourse.
See "Everything You Need to Know about Condoms" for more
information.
HIGH RISK
=========
Anal Intercourse without Condom: Anal and vaginal intercourse
WITHOUT a condom are the riskiest sexual activities that an
individual can engage in. The virus can be passed by either
vaginal Intercourse partner, although the receptive partner
is at the without Condom greatest risk. You can give yourself
protection by avoiding sexual intercourse outside of a
mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected person or
by always using condoms.
Oral/Anal Contact: Some researchers have found oral/anal
contact to be correlated with HIV infection. Others have not.
Because many diseases such as hepatitis B, can be transmitted
in this way, it is best to consider oral/anal contact a high
risk activity.
Back to Top
9) Everything You Need to Know About Condoms
--------------------------------------------
There are a few important things everyone needs to know about
condoms:
1. Buy good quality latex condoms.
2. Put on when erection first occurs.
3. Leave 1/2 inch space at tip of condom for semen.
4. Use a non-greasy lubricant - preferably a spermicidal
jelly. Vaseline, Crisco, and oil-based lubricants can
weaken rubber and cause it to break.
5. Hold the bottom of the condom when withdrawing.
6. Dispose of condom safely.
NOT ALL CONDOMS ARE THE SAME
Laboratory studies have shown that latex condoms can prevent
the transmission of the AIDS virus. "Natural" condoms, made from
lamb intestine, do not provide the same protection. The pores of a
natural condom can be large enough to allow the virus to pass
through the surface of the condom. The virus isn't able to pass
through the surface of a latex condom.
CHECK THE EXPIRATION DATE
Just like milk and yogurt, condoms can get old. If condoms
have been left lying around too long they may become dried out,
causing them to break more easily. If condoms are left in warm
places, like the glove compartment or a wallet, they can dry out in
a short period of time. Condoms often have expiration dates printed
on the outside of the box or on the wrapper of each individual
condom. Sometimes the date shown is when the condom was
manufactured, and this should not be confused with an expiration
date. Condoms that are old shouldn't be used.
LUBRICANTS
A water-based lubricant, like K-Y jelly, should be used for
intercourse. Do not use an oil-based lubricant, like Vaseline,
because it can break down the surface of the condom, causing it to
break.
Use of Spermicidal Jellies
--------------------------
Most spermicidal jelly contains *nonoxynol-9* which has been
shown to inactivate the AIDS virus in laboratory tests. Thus, use
of nonoxynol-9-containing jelly for lubrication during vaginal or
anal intercourse, or mutual masturbation, provides added protection.
The jelly is usually called "contraceptive jelly" on the label and
is found in drug stores near to condoms and/or feminine hygiene
products.
Note: DO NOT RELY ON JELLY ALONE FOR INTERCOURSE;
use it IN ADDITION to condom (for men) or diaphragm (for women).
Some common brands and their nonoxynol-9 content:
Brand of Concentration
Contraceptive Jelly Nonoxynol-9
------------------- -------------
Ramses 5 %
Conceptrol 4 %
Koromex 3 %
Koromex crystal 2 %
Ortho Creme 2 %
Gynol II 2 %
READ THE DIRECTIONS
In order to provide effective protection, condoms need to be
used properly. It's not difficult to use a condom correctly, but
there are some basic directions you need to follow. These are
included in condom packages.
ONCE IS ENOUGH
You can't recycle condoms. Old condoms should be thrown away.
Use a new condom every time you have intercourse.
When used correctly, condoms can provide effective protection
against infection with the AIDS virus. Condoms break only about 2%
of the time because of manufacturing defects. Actual breakage rates
may be higher, because people often don't use them properly.
There is no guarantee that these measures will absolutely
prevent AIDS, but they should cut down on the risk considerably.
The most important preventive measures are to cut down on the number
of sexual partners and modify sexual activities so that there is no
exchange of bodily fluids.
Back to Top
10) AIDS and Drugs
---------------
ANYONE WHO SHOOTS UP AND SHARES NEEDLES IS PUTTING HIMSELF OR
HERSELF AT RISK FOR GETTING AIDS.
The Risk of Shooting Up
========================
Shooting up drugs has always been considered to be a high-risk
activity, even before AIDS was around. Many other blood-borne
diseases such as hepatitis-B and endocarditis, can also be spread by
using a dirty needle. The danger of a drug overdose is also a very
real threat to the user's health. It's often difficult to tell how
much of the drug is being injected because the strength of "street"
drugs can differ so much.
Accidental injection of tiny air bubbles can stop the flow of
blood to parts of the body. Using a dirty needle can also cause
other infections such as abscesses and tetanus. Now there is an even
greater risk--AIDS.
The AIDS virus can be transmitted from one person to another
by sharing IV-drug needles. Sharing dirty needles is one of the
easiest ways to become infected with this virus. About 25% of
people with AIDS were users of IV drugs.
The San Francisco AIDS Foundation has recommended the
following to reduce the risk associated with IV-drug use:
DON'T SHARE NEEDLES
If you continue to inject drugs reduce your risk don't share
needles. Sharing drugs can share diseases too. Obtain your own
"works" and don't let anyone else use them.
CLEAN YOUR WORKS
Wash them with alcohol after each use, then leave them to soak
in alcohol until the next use.
CLEAN YOUR SKIN
With alcohol, before injecting.
STAY HEALTHY
If you are in a weakened state, you are more likely to get a
disease. Eat a balanced diet, get enough rest and exercise, and get
medical care when you need it.
Back to Top
11) Should I take the AIDS Antibody Test?
-----------------------------------------
Soon after the virus (HIV) that causes AIDS was discovered,
several tests were developed to test for HIV infection. The three
tests that are used, ELISA, IFA, and Western blot, all work by
detecting the presence of antibody to HIV. This antibody is
developed by the immune system in response to the presence of HIV.
The presence of this antibody indicates that a person has been
infected with the virus. All three of the antibody tests are very
accurate.
A positive test result indicates that antibody was present.
A person who tests positive has been infected with HIV. A positive
test result does not mean that a person has AIDS, or will become ill
later. About 30 to 50 percent of persons who test positive go on to
develop AIDS within seven years. Although a person receiving a
positive test result may not go on to develop AIDS, he or she could
spread the virus through sexual intercourse or by sharing an IV-drug
needle.
A negative test result means that the antibody to HIV was not
found. There are two possible explanations for a negative test result:
1 - The person being tested has not been infected with the virus.
2 - Infection may have occurred recently, and the body hasn't
had enough time to develop antibody.
"Enough time" is about two to eight weeks, though in some
cases it be up to six months and possibly as long as a year to
develop the antibody. If there is concern about recent exposure to
the virus, re-test again in six months.
Since March of 1985, these tests have been used to screen all
blood that is used in the United States. Blood that is found to be
infected is discarded. The use of these tests has helped to make
the nation's blood supply much safer.
Anyone concerned about their own possible exposure to the AIDS
virus can ask their doctor to perform an AIDS antibody test (it is
against the law for a physician to give this test without the
individual's permission). In the many states, the AIDS-antibody
test is also available at Alternative Testing Sites, established to
provide free testing in an anonymous and confidential setting.
The individual's identity is protected, as well as the results of
the test.
Anyone infected with the AIDS virus has HIV infection. Such
people fall into one of three categories:
1. Some people infected with the virus do not appear or feel
ill. They are able to pass the virus on to others through
unsafe sexual contact or the sharing of needles in
intravenous drug use. These people are said to have
asymptomatic HIV infection.
2. Some people infected with the virus develop mild to severe
symptoms caused by the infection, but do not meet the
criteria set by the CDC for an AIDS diagnosis. These
people are said to have Advanced HIV.
3. Those people who are HIV infected with symptoms of the
illness do meet the criteria for an AIDS diagnosis by defination.In 1981, when AIDS was first described, we did not know what caused the disease. The CDC developed a definition of AIDS. Their scientists defined
AIDS by listing common symptoms of the disease in its most serious state.
These were the cases coming to the attention of physicians. This definition said a person had AIDS if he or she had no underlying cause of immune system problems, but did have one or more of the following:
1. Kaposi's sarcoma (KS),
2. Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), or
3. Other opportunistic infections (OI).
(These diseases are explained further below.)
This definition left out a lot of people affected by HIV
infection, but it was several years before the broader range of HIV
infection was understood. The CDC has made a few changes in its
definition since 1981, to include people diagnosed with ARC.
The definition now includes 20 different OI'S as markers for
an AIDS diagnosis, including people with a T-cell count of less than 200.
This change cleared up some difficulties with this situation. For one thing,
people with ARC often were not eligible for the same benefits and services
as people with AIDS, though they may have need for such assistance. Based on
the new difinition these peole are eligible. For another, the uncertainties
of having ARC are many (Will I die? Will I be able to continue working? Will
I recover my health?), and numerous studies have shown people with ARC
experience greater anxiety than people with AIDS or those who are well.
In 1986, a four-tier system of classifying all stages of HIV infection
was developed. Many people working in the AIDS field now talk more generally
of people having HIV infection or disease rather than making many distinctions
between "AIDS," "moderate ARC," severe Advanced HIV," "mild AIDS-related symptoms," and
so forth. Today, in 1996, the CDC estimates that 750,000-897,000 Americans
are infected with HIV.
Back to Top
12) Does Everyone Infected with the AIDS Virus Die?
---------------------------------------------------
At this point, most of the people in the U.S. who are infected
with the AIDS virus are not ill. However, in studies of people who
have been infected for some time, rates of illness are quite high.
As time goes on, this number is likely to grow.
These findings are startling. If they hold true in other
groups, it means that most people infected will become ill. And,
while it is true that some people are only mildly ill or have
episodes of illness alternating with periods of health, AIDS-related
infections overall appear to be progressive in nature--that is, over
time the state of health deteriorates. There is a very small number
of individuals who may have recovered some of their immune
functioning (their immune systems have become stronger), but most
people have not done so once they become ill.
The answer to this question, then, is that we do not know if
everyone infected with the AIDS virus will die. We certainly hope
this is not the case. Out of respect for the thousands of people
living with this disease today, it seems inappropriate to make any
sort of blanket statements to this effect without better evidence
than we currently have.
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13) Where Can I Get More Information on AIDS ?
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The National AIDS Clearinghouse
P.O. Box 6003 Rockville, MD 20850
Voice: 1 (800) 458-5231
TTY/TDD: 1 (800) 243-7012
The Centers for Disease Control
1600 Clifton, N.E. Atlanta, GA 30333
1 (800) 342-2437
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14) The Global Impact of AIDS
--------------------------
AIDS has become a global pandemic that may eventually kill
millions of people by the end of this century. The World Health
Organization (WHO) reported that 446,681 cases of AIDS were reported
by 1992.
WHO has estimated that 30 million people are currently
infected with the virus that causes AIDS. In the next 7-10 years,
many of these people will go on to develop full-blown AIDS. WHO has
projected that because of under-diagnosis and delays in reporting,
the true worldwide total of people with AIDS is estimated to be close
to 40 million by the year 2000.
The effects of AIDS will have a profound impact on the
economic, political, and social structure of every country around
the world. This impact will be felt well into the 21st century.
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