Monday, January 31, 2011

HIV

HIV


HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus.

This is the virus that causes AIDS. HIV is different from most other viruses because it attacks the immune system. The immune system gives our bodies the ability to fight infections. HIV finds and destroys a type of white blood cell (T cells or CD4 cells) that the immune system must have to fight disease.

For more information view CDC's questions and answers on "HIV Science".


Virusl

Anatomy of the AIDS Virus



Aids

AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

AIDS is the final stage of HIV infection. It can take years for a person infected with HIV, even without treatment, to reach this stage. Having AIDS means that the virus has weakened the immune system to the point at which the body has a difficult time fighting infections. When someone has one or more of these infections and a low number of T cells, he or she has AIDS.

For more information view CDC's questions and answers on "HIV Science".


Electron microscope image of HIV, seen as small spheres on the surface of white blood cells

Information about HIV and AIDS for Kids

Information about HIV and AIDS for Kids

HIV/AIDS is a major health problem that affects people all around the world. HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus, while AIDS stands for acquired immune deficiency syndrome. HIV causes AIDS.

    Definitions

  1. HIV is a virus--a very tiny, non-living particle that causes disease. AIDS is a syndrome, meaning a group of medical conditions that all have the same basic cause.
  2. Causes

  3. You can get HIV from having unprotected sex with someone who has HIV and by sharing needles with someone who has HIV. Some children born to mothers who have HIV also get the virus, according to the HIV/AIDS charity Avert.org.
  4. Features

  5. HIV attacks cells of the immune system, which is your body's natural way of protecting itself from disease. HIV makes these cells produce more copies of the virus instead of helping protect the body.
  6. Effects

  7. When the body's immune defenses are weakened, people can become very sick. People with advanced HIV disease, or AIDS, develop diseases in many different parts of their bodies.
  8. Treatment

  9. There is no cure for HIV. However, medicines called antiretrovirals help slow down HIV, letting people with HIV live longer and be more healthy.
  10. Considerations

  11. You cannot get HIV from playing with a friend who has HIV, by sharing her drink, or by hugging her. You also cannot get HIV from a bug bite, when someone coughs or sneezes, or by using the bathroom or a swimming pool.

How long does it take for HIV to cause AIDS?

How long does it take for HIV to cause AIDS?

The length of time between being infected with HIV and being diagnosed with AIDS depends on lots of different things. These days, there are many drugs that can be used to help people with HIV, and most doctors believe that a lot of people can be treated for a very long time. Many people do not know exactly when they were infected with HIV, and the length of time between this happening and them being diagnosed with AIDS can be very variable.

So how do you get infected with HIV?

HIV is passed on in the sexual fluids or blood of an infected person, so if infected blood or sexual fluid gets into your body, you can become infected. This usually happens by either having sexual intercourse with an infected person or by sharing needles used to inject drugs with an infected person. People can also become infected by being born to a mother who has HIV and a very small number of people become infected by having medical treatment using infected blood transfusions.

HIV can't be caught by kissing, hugging or shaking hands with an infected person, and it can't be transmitted by sneezes, door handles or dirty glasses.

What is 'safe sex'?

Safe sex means sexual activities which you can do even if one person is infected with HIV, and they definitely won't pass it on to the other person. Loads of activities are completely safe. You can kiss, cuddle, massage and rub each other's bodies. But if you have any cuts or sores on your skin, make sure they are covered with plasters (band-aids). Nothing you do on your own can cause you to get HIV - you can't infect yourself by masturbation.

What about using drugs?

The only way to be safe around drugs is not to take them. If you are on drugs you may take risks you normally wouldn't take, and you may have unsafe sex when you would normally be more careful. If you take drugs, you might find it more difficult to use a condom, or you might forget altogether. One of the most common drugs this can happen with is alcohol - if you're drunk, you might not always know what you're doing, or you might not care.

“If you're drunk, you might not always know what you're doing, or you might not care.”

If you inject drugs, you should always use a clean needle, syringe and spoon, water, etc each time you inject, and never share any of these with anyone else. If you snort drugs, and you use a note or a straw to snort through, you shouldn't share it with anyone else, as blood can be passed from the inside of one person's nose to another.

If you have a tattoo or a piercing, you should make sure that the needles and equipment used are sterile. Ask the staff at the place you have it done about what precautions they use.

What is safer sex?

Safer sex also means using a condom during sexual intercourse. Using a condom is not absolutely safe as condoms can break, but condoms can be effective if they are used correctly. To find out more about this, see our condoms page.

Oral sex (one person kissing, licking or sucking the sexual areas of another person) does carry some risk of infection. If a person sucks the penis of an infected man, for example, infected fluid could get into the mouth. The virus could then get into the blood if you have bleeding gums or tiny sores somewhere in the mouth. The same is true if infected sexual fluids from a woman get into the mouth of her partner. But infection from oral sex alone seems to be very rare.

Can you get infected your first time?

Yes, if your partner has HIV and you have unsafe sex, then you can become infected.

Is there a cure?

There is no cure for HIV. HIV is a virus, and no cure has been found for any type of virus. Recently, doctors have been able to control the virus once a person is infected, which means that a person with HIV can stay healthy for longer, but they have not managed to get rid of the virus in the body completely.

How can I tell if someone's infected with HIV?

There is no way to tell just by looking at someone whether they are infected with HIV. Someone can be infected but have no symptoms and still look perfectly healthy. They might also feel perfectly healthy and not know themselves that they are infected. The only way to know if a person is infected or not is if they have a blood test.

How can I get tested?

You may find it helpful to talk to an adult - perhaps a parent, school nurse or teacher may be able to advise you where you can have a test. There are details of helplines, clinics and testing centres on our help and advice page. It's much better to talk to someone than to worry on your own. The clinic will suggest that you wait three months after your last risky sexual contact before having a test. This is because the virus is difficult to detect immediately after infection.

Will they tell my parents?

The clinics in different places have different policies. Most (but not all) clinics have a confidentiality policy, and will not tell anyone, although some places will want to bring a parent to give consent. You can phone the clinic before you go to find out.

What will they do?

Before they do anything, the doctor or nurse will ask if you're sure you want to have a test. They will usually take a sample of blood from you to examine. If you also want to be tested for STD's, they may take a urine sample, or they might ask if they can take a swab from the vagina or penis. Some places can give you the results on the same day, in other places you may have to wait for a week or more. While you wait, you shouldn't have sexual contact with anyone.

I have HIV - what should I do?

If you have found that you have HIV, you will need to tell the people who you have had sex with and anyone you have shared needles with so that they can decide if they want to have a test. This can be a very difficult thing to tell someone. If you think you can't tell them, your doctor or nurse may be able to help you. Your doctor at the clinic should also be able to give you more advice about how to stay healthy. They will also be able to tell you if you need to have any other blood tests done, and talk to you about medication.

Isn't it only a problem for adults?

Isn't it only a problem for adults?

No. HIV is a big problem for young people, as well as adults. It is estimated that in 2007 there were 2 million people under 15 living with HIV,1 and globally AIDS is the second most common cause of death among 20-24 year olds.2

"I am 15 years old and my best friend who is a male has AIDS and we were really close so one night we experimented and after the fact that we "did it" he told me that he had AIDS."Monica

What's the difference between HIV and AIDS?

HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. HIV stands for the 'Human Immunodeficiency Virus' and AIDS stands for the 'Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome'. AIDS is a serious condition in which the body's defences against some illnesses are broken down. This means that people with AIDS can get many different kinds of diseases which a healthy person's body would normally fight off quite easily.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

What's the big deal about HIV and AIDS?

What's the big deal about HIV and AIDS?

It's easy to think that AIDS and HIV are things for other people to worry about - gay people, drug users, people who sleep around. This is wrong - all teens, whoever they are, wherever they live need to take the threat of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, seriously. To be able to protect yourself, you need to know the facts, and know how to avoid becoming infected.

Abstain from sexual activity

Abstain from sexual activity or be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner।
  • Limit your number of sex partners. The fewer partners you have, the less likely you are to encounter someone who is infected with HIV or another STD.
  • Image of condoms.Correct and consistent condom use. Latex condoms are highly effective at preventing transmission of HIV and some other sexually transmitted diseases. “Natural” or lambskin condoms do not provide sufficient protection against HIV infection.
  • Get tested and treated for STDs and insist that your partners do too.

  • Male circumcision has also been shown to reduce the risk of HIV transmission from women to men during vaginal sex.
  • Do not inject drugs. If you inject drugs, you should get counseling and treatment to stop or reduce your drug use. If you cannot stop injecting drugs, use clean needles and works when injecting.


  • Obtain medical treatment immediately if you think you were exposed to HIV. Sometimes, HIV medications can prevent infection if they are started quickly. This is called post-exposure prophylaxis.
  • Participate in risk reduction programs. Programs exist to help people make healthy decisions, such as negotiating condom use or discussing HIV status. Your health department can refer you to programs in your area.

How can HIV be prevented?

How can HIV be prevented?

Because the most common ways HIV is transmitted is through anal or vaginal sex or sharing drug injection equipment with a person infected with HIV, it is important to take steps to reduce the risks associated with these. They include:

  • Know your HIV status. Everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 should be tested for HIV at least once. If you are at increased risk for HIV, you should be tested for HIV at least once a year.
    • If you have HIV, you can get medical care, treatment, and supportive services to help you stay healthy and reduce your ability to transmit the virus to others.
    • If you are pregnant and find that you have HIV, treatments are available to reduce the chance that your baby will have HIV.

How do HIV tests work?

How do HIV tests work?

The most commonly used HIV tests detect HIV antibodies – the substances the body creates in response to becoming infected with HIV. There are tests that look for HIV's genetic material or proteins directly; these may also be used to find out if someone has been infected with HIV.

It can take some time for the immune system to produce enough antibodies for the antibody test to detect, and this “window period” between infection with HIV and the ability to detect it with antibody tests can vary from person to person. During this time, HIV viral load and the likelihood of transmitting the virus to sex or needle-sharing partners may be very high. Most people will develop detectable antibodies that can be detected by the most commonly used tests in the United States within 2 to 8 weeks (the average is 25 days) of their infection. Ninety-seven percent (97%) of persons will develop detectable antibodies in the first 3 months. Even so, there is a small chance that some individuals will take longer to develop detectable antibodies. Therefore, a person should consider a follow-up test more than three months after their last potential exposure to HIV. In extremely rare cases, it can take up to 6 months to develop antibodies to HIV.

Conventional HIV tests are sent to a laboratory for testing, and it can take a week or two before the test results are available. There are also rapid HIV tests available that can give results in as little as 20 minutes. A positive HIV test result means that a person may have been infected with HIV. All positive HIV test results, regardless of whether they are from rapid or conventional tests, must be verified by a second “confirmatory” HIV test.

Read our Questions and Answers about HIV testing.

AIDS patients in West Africa

HIV-2

In 1986, a second type of HIV, called HIV-2, was isolated from AIDS patients in West Africa. HIV-2 has the same modes of transmission as HIV-1 and is associated with similar opportunistic infections and AIDS. In persons infected with HIV-2, immunodeficiency seems to develop more slowly and to be milder, and those with HIV-2 are comparatively less infectious early in the course of infection. As the disease advances, HIV-2 infectiousness seems to increase; however, compared with HIV-1, the duration of this increased infectiousness is shorter.

HIV-2 infections are predominantly found in Africa. West African nations with a prevalence of HIV-2 of more than 1% in the general population are Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. Other West African countries reporting HIV-2 are Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Niger, São Tomé, Senegal, and Togo. Angola and Mozambique are other African nations where the prevalence of HIV-2 is more than 1%.

The first case of HIV-2 infection in the United States was diagnosed in 1987. Since then, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has worked with state and local health departments to collect demographic, clinical, and laboratory data on persons with HIV-2 infection.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

What are HIV and AIDS?

What are HIV and AIDS?
Scanning electron microscope image of HIV virons on CD4 lymphocytes.
Electron microscope image of HIV, seen as small spheres on the surface of white blood cells.

HIV is the human immunodeficiency virus. It is the virus that can lead to acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or AIDS. CDC estimates that about 56,000 people in the United States contracted HIV in 2006.

There are two types of HIV, HIV-1 and HIV-2. In the United States, unless otherwise noted, the term “HIV” primarily refers to HIV-1.

Both types of HIV damage a person’s body by destroying specific blood cells, called CD4+ T cells, which are crucial to helping the body fight diseases.

Within a few weeks of being infected with HIV, some people develop flu-like symptoms that last for a week or two, but others have no symptoms at all. People living with HIV may appear and feel healthy for several years. However, even if they feel healthy, HIV is still affecting their bodies. All people with HIV should be seen on a regular basis by a health care provider experienced with treating HIV infection. Many people with HIV, including those who feel healthy, can benefit greatly from current medications used to treat HIV infection. These medications can limit or slow down the destruction of the immune system, improve the health of people living with HIV, and may reduce their ability to transmit HIV. Untreated early HIV infection is also associated with many diseases including cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, liver disease, and cancer. Support services are also available to many people with HIV. These services can help people cope with their diagnosis, reduce risk behavior, and find needed services.

AIDS is the late stage of HIV infection, when a person’s immune system is severely damaged and has difficulty fighting diseases and certain cancers. Before the development of certain medications, people with HIV could progress to AIDS in just a few years. Currently, people can live much longer - even decades - with HIV before they develop AIDS. This is because of “highly active” combinations of medications that were introduced in the mid 1990s.

No one should become complacent about HIV and AIDS. While current medications can dramatically improve the health of people living with HIV and slow progression from HIV infection to AIDS, existing treatments need to be taken daily for the rest of a person’s life, need to be carefully monitored, and come with costs and potential side effects. At this time, there is no cure for HIV infection. Despite major advances in diagnosing and treating HIV infection, in 2007, 35,962 cases of AIDS were diagnosed and 14,110 deaths among people living with HIV were reported in the United States.

Read our Questions and Answers about HIV and AIDS science.

What Is AIDS?

What Is AIDS?

To understand what AIDS is, let’s break it down:

AAcquired – AIDS is not something you inherit from your parents. You acquire AIDS after birth.

IImmuno – Your body's immune system includes all the organs and cells that work to fight off infection or disease.

DDeficiency – You get AIDS when your immune system is "deficient," or isn't working the way it should.

SSyndrome – A syndrome is a collection of symptoms and signs of disease. AIDS is a syndrome, rather than a single disease, because it is a complex illness with a wide range of complications and symptoms.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome is the final stage of HIV infection. People at this stage of HIV disease have badly damaged immune systems, which put them at risk for opportunistic infections (OIs).

You will be diagnosed with AIDS if you have one or more specific OIs, certain cancers, or a very low number of CD4 cells. If you have AIDS, you will need medical intervention and treatment to prevent death.

What Is HIV?

What Is HIV?

To understand what HIV is, let’s break it down:

HHuman – This particular virus can only infect human beings.

IImmunodeficiency – HIV weakens your immune system by destroying important cells that fight disease and infection. A "deficient" immune system can't protect you.

VVirus – A virus can only reproduce itself by taking over a cell in the body of its host.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus is a lot like other viruses, including those that cause the "flu" or the common cold. But there is an important difference – over time, your immune system can clear most viruses out of your body. That isn't the case with HIV – the human immune system can't seem to get rid of it. Scientists are still trying to figure out why.

We know that HIV can hide for long periods of time in the cells of your body and that it attacks a key part of your immune system – your T-cells or CD4 cells. Your body has to have these cells to fight infections and disease, but HIV invades them, uses them to make more copies of itself, and then destroys them.

Over time, HIV can destroy so many of your CD4 cells that your body can't fight infections and diseases anymore. When that happens, HIV infection can lead to AIDS.

NIH-Funded Study Finds Daily Dose of Antiretroviral Drug Reduces Risk of HIV

NIH-Funded Study Finds Daily Dose of Antiretroviral Drug Reduces Risk of HIV


Today, the New England Journal of Medicine published research findings from the iPrEx study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation testing the efficacy of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The study is a major step forward in our ability to prevent new HIV infections. The study found that a daily dose of an oral antiretroviral drug taken by HIV-negative gay and bisexual men and transgender women reduced the risk of acquiring HIV infection by 43.8 percent. The data showed even higher levels of protection from infection, up to 73 percent, among those participants who adhered most closely to the daily drug regimen.

Moving Forward to Implement the National HIV/AIDS Strategy

Moving Forward to Implement the National HIV/AIDS Strategy


In July, the President released the National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United States, the most comprehensive effort to-date to set national priorities for responding to the domestic HIV/AIDS epidemic with quantitative metrics for measuring our progress. At that time, he also released a Federal Implementation Plan identifying specific action steps for 2010 and 2011 and a Presidential memorandum to ensure ongoing actions are taken to fully implement the Strategy. The Presidential memorandum gave lead agencies (The Departments of Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Justice, Labor, and Veterans Affairs, along with the Social Security Administration) 150 days to deliver operational plans responsive to the implementation of the Strategy. Additionally, he tasked the Departments of Defense and State and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission with developing reports providing recommendations and action steps to support implementation of the Strategy. This week is the deadline for agencies to submit their plans and reports to the Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Given the high level of interest in this process and the strong momentum that we have sustained in developing the Strategy, I wanted to share the next steps of this process:


In December, ONAP and OMB will review the submissions by the agencies. In early January, we plan to re-convene the Federal Interagency Working Group which consists of high level HIV leaders from across the Federal government to collectively review the plans and continue to consider one of the Strategy’s key goals: improving coordination and collaboration across the Federal government.

In the New Year the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA) will also meet and reviewing these plans will be on their agenda. In addition, ONAP will develop a synthesis document for public release early in 2011 that pulls together key activities outlined in the individual agency plans.

My team in ONAP and our colleagues in OMB greatly appreciate the effort by all of the Federal agencies to be responsive to the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. The Obama Administration is committed to providing strong Federal leadership to reinvigorate the national response to HIV/AIDS in order to reduce the number of new infections, increase access to care, and reduce HIV-related health disparities. Our actions, however, are just one part of a broader effort that will be necessary to meet the Strategy’s ambitious goals. Our hope is that State and local government commit to developing their own implementation plans, and advocates, businesses, faith communities and others take other actions to further the goals of the Strategy.

This is a good week for all of us. We are doing the hard work that will lead us toward the realization of the vision of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy in which the United States is a place where new HIV infections are rare and when they do occur, every person, regardless of age, gender, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or socio-economic circumstance, will have unfettered access to high quality, life-extending care, free from stigma and discrimination.

Should I Share My HIV Status with Others?

Should I Share My HIV Status with Others?

Partners
If you test positive for HIV, your sex or drug-using partners may also be infected. It's important that they know they have been exposed so that they can be tested too.

You can tell them yourself—but if you're nervous about doing that, you can ask your doctor or the local health department to tell them for you. Health departments do not reveal your name to your partners. They will only tell your partners that they have been exposed to HIV and should get tested.

Most states have laws that require you to tell your sexual partners if you are HIV-positive before you have sex (anal, oral, or vaginal). You can be charged with a crime in many places if you don't tell—even if your partner doesn't become infected.

Family/Friends
In most cases, your family and friends will not know your test results or HIV status unless you tell them yourself.

If you are under 18, there may be exceptions to this. All 50 states and the District of Columbia will allow you to get tested and treated for sexually transmitted infections (STI)—but some states allow your healthcare provider to tell your parent(s) if they think doing so is in your best interest. For more information, see the Guttmacher Institute's State Policies in Brief: Minors' Access to STI Services Exit Disclaimer.

Employers
In most cases, your employer will not know your HIV status unless you tell. But your employer does have a right to ask if you have any health conditions that would affect your ability to do your job or pose a serious risk to others. (An example might be a healthcare professional, like a surgeon, who does procedures where there is a risk of blood or other body fluids being exchanged.)

If you have health insurance through your employer, the insurance company cannot legally tell your employer that you have HIV. But it is possible that your employer could find out if the insurance company provides detailed information to your employer about the benefits it pays or the costs of insurance.

All people with HIV are covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This means that your employer cannot discriminate against you because of your HIV status as long as you can do your job. For more information, see AIDS.gov's Civil Rights.

Friday, January 28, 2011

What Do I Do If I Am Diagnosed As Being HIV-Positive?

What Do I Do If I Am Diagnosed As Being HIV-Positive?

If you are diagnosed with HIV, you should do the following things—even if you don't feel sick:

  • Find a healthcare provider who has experience treating HIV. The testing center can usually recommend someone.
  • Get screened for other STIs and for TB. If you have HIV, these infections can cause serious health problems.
  • Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Smoking, drinking too much, or taking illegal drugs can weaken your immune system and allow HIV to increase in your body.
  • Practice safer sex. Condoms are very effective in preventing HIV transmission when used correctly and consistently.
  • Tell your partner or partners about your HIV status before you have any type of sexual contact with them (anal, oral, or vaginal) and don't share needles or syringes with anyone.

See AIDS.gov's Diagnosed with HIV and Staying Healthy with HIV sections for more information and resources.

If I Test Positive For HIV, Does That Mean I Have AIDS?

No. Being diagnosed with HIV does NOT mean you have AIDS. Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is the final stage of HIV disease. You get AIDS only after HIV has severely damaged your immune system. This is why it is so important to get treatment as soon as you test positive for HIV—early treatment can keep HIV under control and prevent it from developing into AIDS. For more information, see CDC's Basic Information about HIV and AIDS.

Will Other People Know My HIV Test Results & Status?

Your test results are protected by state and Federal privacy laws.

Whether anyone can know about your test results or your HIV status depends on what kind of test you take. There are two types of HIV tests—confidential tests and anonymous tests.

Most HIV tests are confidential tests. If you take a confidential HIV test, your name and other identifying information will be attached to your test results. The results will go in your medical record and may be shared with your healthcare providers and your insurance company. Otherwise, no one else has access to your HIV test results unless you tell them.

Some places still offer anonymous HIV tests. If you take an anonymous HIV test, nothing connects your test results to you. When you take the test, you will get a special number or code that allows you to get your results.

If you test positive for HIV, the testing site will report the results to your state health department and the CDC. All personally identifying information will be stripped out. Public health officials do not share this information with anyone else, including insurance companies.

Many states have moved away from anonymous tests because confidential tests help public health officials do a better job of keeping track of how many people have HIV and which areas of the country have the highest rates of HIV. This allows them to get resources to the areas that need them most.

Why Should I Be Tested?H

Why Should I Be Tested?

Getting tested can give you some important information and can help keep you—and others—safe. For example:

  • Knowing your own HIV status can give you peace of mind—and testing is the only way you can know for sure.
  • When you and your partner know each other's HIV status, you can make informed decisions about your sexual behaviors and how to stay safe.
  • If you are pregnant, or planning to get pregnant, knowing your status can help protect your baby from being infected.
  • If you find out you are HIV-positive, you can get into early treatment. This increases your chances of staying healthy.
  • If you know you are HIV-positive, you can also take steps to protect your sex or drug-using partners from becoming infected.

When Should I Be Tested?

On average, you may need to wait 1-3 months from the time of possible exposure to get an accurate test result. That's because, if you are infected, it can take your body a while to start making HIV antibodies. This time between when you are exposed to HIV and the time you could test positive for HIV antibodies is called the window period.

If you took an HIV test within the first 3 months after possible exposure, you should consider getting another test 3 months later to confirm your results.

For more information, see CDC's HIV Testing Basics for Consumers.

How Accurate Are My HIV Test Results And What Do They Mean?

HIV tests are over 99% accurate if you take one 3 months after a possible exposure. (Before then, the tests may not pick up the presence of HIV antibodies.)

What Does A "Negative" Result Mean?
If your test comes back negative, it means the test didn't find any evidence of HIV antibodies in your body. But a negative result only means that the test couldn't find HIV. Depending on when you were exposed, it is still possible that you might have HIV. If you are tested earlier than 3 months after exposure, the test may miss any HIV in your body fluids. That's why most healthcare providers encourage you to have a follow-up test 3 months later.

If you engage in risky behaviors between the time you take the test and get your results, or between your first test and a follow-up test, your test result may not be accurate. The test only tells you what your HIV status is when you took it—so if you were exposed to HIV after you took the test, the results may not show your current HIV status.

To get an accurate result, while you are waiting to take your test, or get your results:

  • Don't inject drugs—or always use clean equipment and don't share needles or works
  • Don't have sex—or always use protection (condom or dental dam) if you do

What Does a "Positive" Result Mean?
If your test comes back positive, it means that it found evidence of HIV antibodies in your blood. If you have a positive HIV test, the testing center will give you another test to make sure the first test result was correct.

Reputable testing centers always do these "confirmatory" tests, because there is a very small chance that the first test was wrong. If the second test has the same outcome, you will be diagnosed as being "HIV-positive."

What Is An HIV Test?

Testing


What Is An HIV Test?

An HIV test looks for signs of HIV in your body. When you get tested for HIV, you will usually give a sample of blood, but there are other kinds of HIV tests that use urine or a swab of fluids from your mouth instead. Some tests take a few days for results, but rapid HIV tests can give results in about 20 minutes.

Where Can I Get an HIV Test?

Many places offer HIV tests. Here are some great ways to find an HIV testing location near you:

  • Use the HIV Prevention and Services Locator on the right side of your screen. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get a map that shows you nearby testing locations.
  • Visit HIVtest.org. Enter your ZIP code and you'll get a list of HIV testing sites, including those that offer free HIV tests.
  • Call 1-800 CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636).
  • Text your ZIP code to KNOWIT (566948) and you'll receive a message in reply that lists the nearest testing locations.
  • Contact your state or local health department.

You can also ask your healthcare provider for an HIV test. Many medical clinics, substance abuse programs, community health centers, and hospitals offer them too.

How Does An HIV Test Work?

Most HIV tests look for antibodies to the virus, not HIV itself. Antibodies to HIV appear in your blood, urine, and oral fluid as your immune system begins trying to fight the virus. Your body makes different antibodies to fight different threats—so the test looks specifically for HIV antibodies to see if you are infected with HIV.

Should I Be Tested?

HIV is spread through risky behaviors. If you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions, you should get an HIV test:

  • Have you injected drugs or steroids or shared equipment (such as needles, syringes, works) with others?
  • Have you had unprotected anal, oral, or vaginal sex with a partner whose HIV status is unknown?
  • Have you exchanged sex for drugs or money?
  • Have you been diagnosed with, or treated for, hepatitis, tuberculosis (TB), or a sexually transmitted infection (STI)?
  • Have you had unprotected sex with someone who could answer "Yes" to any of the above questions?
  • Are you pregnant or planning to become pregnant?
  • Have you been sexually assaulted?

If you continue to engage in high-risk behaviors, the CDC recommends that you get an HIV test at least once a year, and possibly more often. Talk with your healthcare provider about a testing schedule that is right for you.

AIDS/HIV Prevention

AIDS/HIV Prevention
Circle of Hands
  • The most effective way to avoid getting HIV/AIDS is to not have sex. Virginity is becoming a popular choice for today's youth.
  • To avoid getting AIDS always use a latex condom when you engage in sexual relations. If you want to stop using a condom with your regular partner, you must BOTH pass STD screening tests and wait until the physician assures you that neither of you is infected with such a disease. However, always use a condom if you have sexual relations with other partners.
  • Be especially careful when you consume alcohol or take drugs, as you may forget to use a condom or be inclined to share needles to inject drugs.
  • Avoid taking drugs, in particular injectable drugs. If you do use drugs, NEVER re-use needles.
  • Ultimately the choice to use condoms is up to you. Remember that decisions to use condoms are based on more than just caring for someone. Think about things, talk about things, and be honest with yourself and your partner. Your life depends upon it.

Get The Facts

Get The Facts

  • AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) is a disease characterized by the breakdown of the body's immune system as a result of infection with the the human immunodeficiency virus, (HIV) often referred to as the AIDS virus.
  • Research to date has confirmed that the virus is transmitted in three ways:
    a) through vaginal, anal, and possibly, oral intercourse with a person infected with HIV;
    b) through direct entry of infected blood or blood components into the blood stream, particularly by sharing needles and syringes with an infected person;
    c) from mother to child in utero, during childbirth or through breast feeding.
  • No vaccine exists to provide immunity, nor is there a cure for AIDS or HIV infection. Recent tests with experimental drugs have shown promise that the course of the disease can be slowed
  • Several years may pass before an infected person shows clinical symptoms of HIV infection or AIDS.
  • Numerous scientific studies have shown that the AIDS virus, HIV, is not spread by indirect or casual contact (for example sneezing, shaking hands, hugging, perfunctory kissing or being in the same classroom with someone who is infected.
  • Latex condoms, when properly used, have been shown to be effective as a barrier to HIV but they are not fool proof. When used with contraceptive jelly, cream or foam containing spermicides, condoms are believed to be the most effective means for preventing HIV spread among persons who engage in sexual intercourse and who are now maintaining a mutually, monogamous relationship.

Telling Your Kids

Telling Your Kids

A major concern for mothers with HIV is whether to tell their kids about their HIV and when and how they will do it. Opinions on how mothers should handle this hard decision are mixed. Some studies show that open communication about the illness to their kids is better than not telling them. Children may already know something is wrong; keeping the illness a secret can confuse children and make them feel anxious. Other studies have found that children have negative reactions to being told, like behavior problems, sexual risk-taking behavior, and lower school performance. Several studies have shown that if a HIV-positive mother reveals her status, telling a child to keep her health condition a secret is stressful for that child and as a result, that child may have behavior problems.

In one study, women with HIV who told their children about their illness were interviewed. The women recommend these tips for talking to your kids about your HIV status.

  • Think about why you want to tell your children about your HIV status. Make sure you're ready and they're ready to listen.

  • Educate yourself about HIV so you can talk to your children about the illness.

  • Plan for what you're going to say to your children.

  • Consider how healthy you are right now and how healthy you will be later. It might be better to talk to your child when you're feeling healthy and can show your child a healthy, positive attitude.

  • Think about other things going on in the family. It may not be the best time to tell your child when there are other stresses in the family.

  • After you tell your children, get them additional support. They could talk to a health professional who can talk more with your children about HIV.

Revealing Your HIV Status

Women and HIV/AIDS

Women & HIV/AIDS


Revealing Your HIV Status


If you have been diagnosed with HIV, you probably feel overwhelmed. There is a lot to think about. Questions like these may be going through your mind: How will you get the health care you need? How will having HIV impact your life? How will your family and friends react?

One challenge you will face is deciding who to tell about your HIV status. You should talk to your current and past sexual partners about your HIV status or people who you shared needles with. If you cannot tell them yourself, the health department in your area can notify your contacts without giving your name. You should also tell your doctors to get the care you need. You might also consider sharing your status with other people, such as family members, friends, and children.

Revealing HIV Status

Deciding who to share your status with is a very personal decision. It may be hard to know if telling certain people will bring good or bad outcomes. You might fear rejection, discrimination, abandonment, or isolation. You might worry about being judged or feel guilty about past drug use or sexual behavior. In some situations, revealing your status could put you at risk for physical harm. Since some people may not be as accepting of your HIV status, these are all valid issues to think about.

By opening up about your HIV status, you can get support, information, and acceptance. For example, you can talk to other women with HIV about your symptoms and fears or other issues like childcare and relationships. You can get emotional support, and you won't have the burden of keeping this secret. A support network can help you deal with the stresses of having HIV and help you to feel less alone.

Taking these steps can help you figure out whom you want to tell:

  1. Think about the people you rely on for support, like family, friends, or coworkers.
  2. Figure out your relationship with each of these people and the pros and cons of telling them.
  3. Determine any issues the person might have that will affect how much he or she can support you. For example, does the person have any health problems of her own? Can you trust her?
  4. Look at the person's attitude and knowledge about HIV. Do they have fears or misconceptions about HIV?
  5. Think about why you'd want to tell this person. What kind of support can this person provide?
  6. For each person, decide if the person should be told now, later, or to wait and see.

(Julianne Serovich, PhD, Professor, Marriage and Family Therapy)

Deciding who to tell may take a short time or a long time. There is no right way to do this. It is a very personal choice that only you can make.

When you tell someone that you're HIV-positive, they may also need support. Be ready with information they can read; phone numbers for support groups; and contact information for other people in your support network they can talk to.

Mothers with HIV/AIDS

Motherhood is a wonderful experience. Although our children need so much from us, they give us much more in return — hope and a sense of humor are just a few! However, if you are a mother living with HIV/AIDS, you know that having a child brings many more worries to your life than what other mothers might have. Besides the normal increase in responsibilities and demands on you as a parent, you will have to struggle with:

  • Telling your child about HIV — if you should and how to do it
  • If your child will be rejected if people find out about your HIV
  • Discrimination from your child's school
  • Disciplining your children
  • Parenting your child in spite of feeling drained from HIV/AIDS
  • Complications or drug side effects
  • Giving your child a happy and secure life
  • Planning for the care of your child in the future

A strong support network can help you to cope with the challenges of mothering with HIV. Talking with other mothers who are HIV-positive can give you the confidence you need to be a good mother to your own children.

Planning for Your Child's Future

Having HIV/AIDS no longer means a short life. Women with HIV/AIDS are living longer and raising families. But as is the case for all people, none of us know exactly how long we will live. All parents, including parents who are HIV-positive, need to think about and make plans for their children's future care and custody. Doing so at the early stages of illness, when you are feeling your best, is a good idea. Deciding who will be the guardian, or the person who will take care of your kids if you're too sick or if you pass away, is not easy. There are several different types of guardians.

  • Inter vivos (VEE-vohs) guardian. You give complete responsibility to someone else while you're alive. It goes into effect right away.

  • Standby guardian. This guardian is selected and is on standby until you want this person to be the guardian. You still have custody, so you won't give up your rights as a parent. So if you need it, the standby guardian can help you while you're alive.

  • Testamentary guardian. You put the guardian's name in your will. The guardian will only be able to have authority over your children after you die. The guardian must petition the Family Court to get appointed.

  • Standby adoption. You appoint a person to adopt your child at a specific time. The adoption doesn't happen right away, and the parent can advocate for the best interests of the child while alive.

  • Traditional adoption. You give up your parental rights and custody of your child.

States have different laws on how to select a guardian. Talk to a lawyer for more information about the laws in your state.

Mothers with HIV/AIDS

Mothers with HIV/AIDS

Motherhood is a wonderful experience. Although our children need so much from us, they give us much more in return — hope and a sense of humor are just a few! However, if you are a mother living with HIV/AIDS, you know that having a child brings many more worries to your life than what other mothers might have. Besides the normal increase in responsibilities and demands on you as a parent, you will have to struggle with:

  • Telling your child about HIV — if you should and how to do it
  • If your child will be rejected if people find out about your HIV
  • Discrimination from your child's school
  • Disciplining your children
  • Parenting your child in spite of feeling drained from HIV/AIDS
  • Complications or drug side effects
  • Giving your child a happy and secure life
  • Planning for the care of your child in the future

A strong support network can help you to cope with the challenges of mothering with HIV. Talking with other mothers who are HIV-positive can give you the confidence you need to be a good mother to your own children.

Planning for Your Child's Future

Having HIV/AIDS no longer means a short life. Women with HIV/AIDS are living longer and raising families. But as is the case for all people, none of us know exactly how long we will live. All parents, including parents who are HIV-positive, need to think about and make plans for their children's future care and custody. Doing so at the early stages of illness, when you are feeling your best, is a good idea. Deciding who will be the guardian, or the person who will take care of your kids if you're too sick or if you pass away, is not easy. There are several different types of guardians.

  • Inter vivos (VEE-vohs) guardian. You give complete responsibility to someone else while you're alive. It goes into effect right away.

  • Standby guardian. This guardian is selected and is on standby until you want this person to be the guardian. You still have custody, so you won't give up your rights as a parent. So if you need it, the standby guardian can help you while you're alive.

  • Testamentary guardian. You put the guardian's name in your will. The guardian will only be able to have authority over your children after you die. The guardian must petition the Family Court to get appointed.

  • Standby adoption. You appoint a person to adopt your child at a specific time. The adoption doesn't happen right away, and the parent can advocate for the best interests of the child while alive.

  • Traditional adoption. You give up your parental rights and custody of your child.

States have different laws on how to select a guardian. Talk to a lawyer for more information about the laws in your state.

Coping Issues

Coping Issues

Having HIV affects your child’s physical and emotional health. Coping with HIV can be hard for children with HIV, who face a variety of challenges:

  • Intimidation by doctors
  • Loneliness while away from family if hospitalized
  • Orphaned by parents who had AIDS
  • Social stigma
  • Side effects from medicines (like being too tired to play with other kids)
  • Fear of disability and death
  • Feelings of anger, anxiety, or sadness

It's hard to predict how your child will cope with having HIV. Talking with your doctor, other parents with HIV-positive children, and school staff can help you and your child. There is support available to help you get through those challenges.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Keep Your Child's Medicines on Track

Keep Your Child's Medicines on Track

Below are some tips for keeping your child on schedule with his or her medicines and helping your child take the medicines.

  • Give your child the medicines. Make sure he or she takes the medicine. As your child gets older, involve him or her in taking more responsibility for taking the medicines.

  • Use a special medicine measure with animals or other pictures on it.

  • Give your child a lifesaver or licorice if the medicine tastes bad.

  • Think about why you might have trouble sticking to the medicine schedule. For example, if a drug needs to be taken after a meal, it might mess up a special playtime or routine you have with your child. Talk to your doctor about these barriers and making the treatment plan fit you and your child's lifestyle.

  • Plan your meals. Some drugs have to be taken with food. Plan when your child will eat so the right drugs can be taken with the right amount and type of food.

  • Pill boxWrite down information about the medicines. This includes the drug name, when to take it, how much to take, and if your child takes it with food or on an empty stomach. Use this planner to organize your child's medicines.

  • Don't leave your doctor's office until you understand how your child takes the drugs.

  • Organize the medicines. Use daily or weekly pill boxes (or even egg cartons).

  • Don't forget! Use timers, alarm clocks, or pagers to remind you to give your child his or her medicines. You could even write it in your planner.

  • Plan ahead. Weekends and holidays make it harder to remember to stick to the medicine schedule. Figure out a plan ahead of time so you won't forget. If you're traveling, keep medicines with you, just in case your checked luggage is lost.

  • Get refills on time. Don't miss a dose!

  • WCalendarrite down the problems your child has with the drugs. It will help you remember and track the problems.

  • Tell your doctor right away if your child has side effects or other problems. Work with your doctor to make the treatment plan right for your child. You might be able to change it to make it better.

Parenting a Child with HIV

Women and HIV/AIDS

Women & HIV/AIDS


Mother and daughterParenting a Child with HIV


Having a Child with HIV/AIDS

If you are a parent of a child with HIV/AIDS, you can take comfort knowing that there is hope for your child's future. Eighty percent of infected children have a slow rate of disease progression. Children age 5 and older have rates of disease progression similar to young adults. With treatment children with HIV survive for longer now and have an improved quality of life because of new HIV drugs, good care, and fewer opportunistic infections.

Drug Therapy


There is no cure for HIV/AIDS, but there are HIV medicines (also called antiretrovirals) that slow down the disease. Guidelines for treating infants and children with HIV are changing as experts learn more from treatment studies. Ask your child’s doctor about the best time to start HIV treatment. This will depend upon many factors. Keep in mind that even if treatment is able to decrease the amount of HIV in your child’s blood so that it is undetectable, your child still has HIV and still needs treatment.

Since no single drug can fight HIV alone, your child will take several drugs every day once treatment begins. He or she will have to take them exactly how your doctor tells you to. Your child can't miss doses or stop taking the drugs or they won't work. Ask your child’s doctor about any side effects the drugs might cause, such as changes in body shape, muscle problems, or vomiting, so you will be ready to help your child.

If your child is in school, it's important that your child gets all of his or her HIV medicines. You and your child (if appropriate) should decide what school staff to tell about his or her HIV status. The person giving the medicines should be told your child's HIV status, side effects of the drugs, and special requirements (like drugs that have to be taken with food). The school should keep your child's HIV status confidential unless you decide to tell other staff.

Take These Steps to Lower the Risk of Giving HIV to Your Baby

Take These Steps to Lower the Risk of Giving HIV to Your Baby

Just because you have HIV doesn't mean your child will get HIV. In the United States, about 25 percent of pregnant HIV-positive women who do not receive AZT or a combination of HIV drugs pass on the virus to their babies. If women do receive a combination of HIV drugs during pregnancy, the risk of giving HIV to the newborn is below 2 percent. The steps below can lower the risk of giving HIV to your baby.

  • Get prenatal care. Going to your doctor before you get pregnant or as soon as you find out you're pregnant will help you to have a healthy pregnancy.
  • Take HIV/AIDS medicines. Take HIV/AIDS drugs that include ZDV/AZT. Talk to your doctor about which HIV/AIDS drugs to take and when to take them.
  • Lower the risk of passing HIV during delivery. Choose the type of delivery that will reduce the risks of passing HIV to your baby. A cesarean delivery or C-section is done so the baby doesn't touch the mother's blood. If you choose a C-section, you will deliver at 38 weeks to avoid labor and having your water break around your baby. Your doctor may recommend this type of delivery if your viral load is unknown or high; if you have not taken any HIV drugs or only AZT during your pregnancy; or if you have not had prenatal care. If your viral load is low and you have had prenatal care, your doctor may recommend vaginal delivery since the risk of passing HIV to your baby this way is very low.
  • Do not breastfeed. You can pass the virus to your baby through your breast milk.

Make sure your baby is tested for HIV right after birth. If your baby is HIV-positive, ask your doctor about starting your baby’s treatment right away. A new study showed that HIV-positive infants were four times less likely to die if given treatment immediately after diagnosis. Learn more about parenting a child with HIV.

Paying for Care While You're Pregnant

If you are pregnant, Medicaid may pay for your prenatal care. If you are pregnant and HIV-positive, Medicaid might pay for counseling, medicine to lower the risk of passing HIV to your baby, and treatment for HIV. You can stay on Medicaid for up to 90 days after you deliver your baby. It may continue for one year after you deliver your baby. But this depends on the rules in your state. Each state makes its own Medicaid rules. If you don't think you qualify for Medicaid, check again. You may be able to get it while pregnant because the income limits are raised for pregnant women in all states to provide prenatal care and HIV treatment. To find out if you meet the requirements, contact your local or county medical assistance, welfare, or social services office. The number is listed in the blue pages of your telephone book. If you are unable to find that number, contact your state department of health or search your state's department of health by clicking on this map.

A Short Story: Maria and Enrique Have a Healthy Baby

Maria and her husband, Enrique, have been married for 5 years. This year, when Maria got the great news she was pregnant, she also found out she has HIV. This short story tells how one couple took steps to lower the risk their baby would be born with HIV.

Pregnancy

Women and HIV/AIDS

Women & HIV/AIDS


Pregnant womanPregnancy


Motherhood is a wonderful experience. Regardless of your HIV status, you are a woman first and may want to have children. Because HIV can be spread to your baby during the pregnancy, while giving birth, or by breastfeeding, you will have many choices to make about lowering the risk of passing HIV to your baby.

If you want to become pregnant, the best first step you can take is to talk with your doctor. Your doctor can tell you how HIV or other health conditions and risk factors you might have could affect your or your unborn baby’s health. Your doctor can tell you what you can do now to be sure your pregnancy is planned and to help prepare your body for a healthy pregnancy. If you just found out you are pregnant, see your doctor right away. Find out what you can do to take care of yourself and to give your baby a healthy start to life.

With your doctor’s help, you can decide on the best treatment for you and your baby before, during, and after the pregnancy. You should also take these steps before and during your pregnancy to help you and your baby stay healthy:


  • Take 400 to 800 micrograms (400 to 800 mcg or 0.4 to 0.8 mg) of folic acid every day if you are planning or capable of pregnancy to lower your risk of some birth defects of the brain and spine, including spina bifida.
  • Keep your viral load as low as possible by staying on the medicine your doctor has given you.
  • Manage side effects from the HIV/AIDS drugs.
  • Get immunizations if you need them to prevent opportunistic infections (OIs) like the flu or pneumonia.
  • Stop smoking and drinking alcohol.
  • Eat healthy foods.
  • Get plenty of rest.

HIV/AIDS Drugs and Pregnancy

Pregnant women should take HIV medicines to lower the risk of passing HIV to their babies, and in some cases, for their own health. Treatment plans should include AZT/ZDV (zidovudine or Retrovir) when possible to lower the risk of passing HIV to your baby.

If you haven't used any HIV drugs before pregnancy and are in your first trimester, you may want to wait until after the first trimester to start any HIV treatment. Since you may have nausea and vomiting early in your pregnancy, it may be hard to start the HIV drugs. Also, many vital organs and systems are formed during the first trimester, and we don’t know the effects some drugs have on a developing baby. Generally, women who need treatment should not wait to start, however. Keep in mind that HIV is usually passed to a baby late in pregnancy or during delivery. Talk to your doctor about your health status and the benefits and risks of delaying treatment.

If you are already taking HIV drugs and find out you're pregnant in the first trimester, talk to your doctor about sticking with your current treatment plan. Weighing the known and potential benefits and risks will help you decide whether to continue or stop HIV treatment in the first trimester. Unfortunately, researchers don't know if stopping your HIV drugs causes problems with your baby. Stopping HIV drugs could cause your viral load to go up. If your viral load goes up, the risk of infection also goes up. Your disease also could progress and cause problems for your baby. For these reasons, many doctors think stopping HIV drugs is not a good idea. On the other hand, the effects of some HIV drugs on an unborn baby are not yet known, so it's a big decision. If you decide to stop, all of the drugs should be stopped at the same time and then started again (later in the pregnancy) together at the same time. This will prevent drug resistance (drugs that don't work anymore). When you do start taking HIV drugs again during the pregnancy, talk to your doctor about including AZT/ZDV in your treatment plan.

If you are already taking HIV drugs and find out you're pregnant after the first trimester, continue with treatment. Ask your doctor about including AZT/ZDV in your treatment plan.

During your pregnancy, your doctor may need to adjust your medicines. Changing your treatment will depend on many factors:

  • Your CD4 count
  • Risk of disease progression
  • Use of HIV/AIDS drugs
  • How far along the pregnancy is
  • What is known and not know about the effects of the drugs on the fetus
  • Best treatment for the health of the HIV-positive mother

There are certain drugs available in the United States that should not be taken by pregnant women because they may cause birth defects or harm the mother:

  • Delavirdine (Rescriptor)
  • Efavirenz (Sustiva)
  • Combination of stavudine (d4T or Zerit)/didanosine (ddI or Videx)
  • Hydroxyurea (anticancer drug) during the first trimester

Short-term use of nevirapine (Viramune) can be part of a pregnant woman’s HIV treatment plan, but should be monitored closely. It should be used with caution in pregnant women who have never had HIV treatment and who have CD4 counts greater than 250.

Protease inhibitors (PIs) are associated with higher levels of blood sugar and diabetes. Pregnancy is also a risk for high blood sugar. But we don’t know if PI use increases the risk of pregnancy-related diabetes.

Use of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) can lead to a buildup of lactic acid in the blood, which can cause problems for pregnant women and developing babies. So, doctors need to monitor pregnant women using NRTIs. There is also some concern whether tenofovir and abacavir could affect bone health of the unborn baby.

For some HIV drugs, we don’t know enough about them to recommend use during pregnancy. These include entry inhibitors and integrase inhibitors.

No one can tell you for sure if your baby will be born with HIV. You can help lower your baby's HIV risk and keep yourself healthy by getting regular prenatal care and closely following your HIV drug treatment plan. See the Treatment section for more information on HIV medicines.

HIV among Gay, Bisexual and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM)AA

HIV among Gay, Bisexual and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM)
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Picture of gay male couple Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM)1 represent approximately 2% of the US population, yet are the population most severely affected by HIV and are the only risk group in which new HIV infections have been increasing steadily since the early 1990s. In 2006, MSM accounted for more than half (53%) of all new HIV infections in the United States, and MSM with a history of injection drug use (MSM-IDU) accounted for an additional 4% of new infections. At the end of 2006, more than half (53%) of all people living with HIV in the United States were MSM or MSM-IDU. Since the beginning of the US epidemic, MSM have consistently represented the largest percentage of persons diagnosed with AIDS and persons with an AIDS diagnosis who have died.

The Numbers

New HIV Infections2

  • In 2006, more than 30,000 MSM and MSM-IDU were newly infected with HIV.
  • Among all MSM, whites accounted for nearly half (46%) of new HIV infections in 2006. The largest number of new infections among white MSM occurred in those aged 30–39 years, followed by those aged 40–49 years.
  • Among all black MSM, there were more new HIV infections (52%) among young black MSM (aged 13–29 years) than any other racial or ethnic age group of MSM in 2006. The number of new infections among young black MSM was nearly twice that of young white MSM and more than twice that of young Hispanic/Latino MSM.
  • Among all Hispanic/Latino MSM in 2006, the largest number of new infections (43%) occurred in the youngest age group (13–29 years), though a substantial number of new HIV infections (35%) were among those aged 30–39 years.

Estimated Number of New HIV Infections among Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM), by Race/Ethnicity and Age Group, 2006

Estimated Number of New HIV Infections among Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM), by Race/Ethnicity and Age Group, 2006  On the x-axis features race/ethnicity and the y-axis features number of new infections.  The first bar are white MSM ages 13-29; their numbers start at zero and end around 3,200, second bar are ages 30-39; their numbers start at zero and ends around 4,900, the third bar are ages 40-49; their number start at zero and end at around 1400, the fourth are ages over 50; their numbers are 1400.  The fifth bar are black MSM ages 13-29; their numbers start at zero and end around 5,200, sixth bar are ages 30-39; their numbers start at zero and ends around 2,300, seventh bar are ages 40-49; their number start at zero and end at around 1,800, the eighth bar are aged over 50; their numbers start at zero and end around 500.  The ninth bar are Hispanic/Latino MSM ages 13-29; their numbers start at zero and end around 2,300, the tenth bar are ages 30-39; their numbers start at zero and ends around 1,980, eleventh bar are ages 40-49; their number start at zero and end at around 980, the twelfth bar are aged over 50; their numbers start at zero and end around 220.


HIV and AIDS Diagnoses and Deaths

  • A recent CDC study found that in 2008 one in five (19%) MSM in 21 major US cities were infected with HIV, and nearly half (44%) were unaware of their infection. In this study, 28% of black MSM were HIV-infected, compared to 18% of Hispanic/Latino MSM and 16% of white MSM. Other racial/ethnic groups of MSM also have high numbers of HIV infections, including American Indian/Alaska Native MSM (20%) and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander MSM (18%).
  • In 2007, MSM were 44 to 86 times as likely to be diagnosed with HIV compared with other men, and 40 to 77 times as likely as women.
  • From 2005–2008, estimated diagnoses of HIV infection increased approximately 17% among MSM. This increase was likely due to a combination of factors: increases in new infections, increased testing, and diagnosis earlier in the course of infection; it may also have been due to uncertainty in statistical models.
  • In 2008, an estimated 17,940 MSM were diagnosed with AIDS in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the US dependent areas—an increase of 6% since 2005.
  • By the end of 2007, an estimated 282,542 MSM with an AIDS diagnosis had died in the United States and 5 dependent areas.

Prevention Challenges

The high prevalence of HIV infection among MSM means they face a greater risk of being exposed to infection with each sexual encounter—especially as they get older

Sexual risk accounts for most HIV infections in MSM. These risks include unprotected sex and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The practice of not using a condom during anal sex with someone other than a primary, HIV-negative partner continues to pose a significant threat to the health of MSM.
Alcohol and illicit drug use contributes to increased risk for HIV infection and other STDs among MSM. The use of substances such as alcohol and other drugs can increase the likelihood of risky sexual behavior.

Many MSM with HIV are unaware of their HIV infection, especially MSM of color and young MSM. A recent CDC study found that among urban MSM in 21 cities in 2008 who were unaware of their HIV infection, 55% had not been tested in the previous 12 months. Low awareness of HIV status among young MSM likely reflects several factors: they may have been infected more recently, may underestimate their personal risk, may have had fewer opportunities to get tested, or may believe that HIV treatment minimize the threat of HIV. CDC recommends that all MSM get tested for HIV once a year— and more often if they are at higher risk. MSM at higher risk includes those who have multiple or anonymous sex partners or use drugs during sex.

Stigma and homophobia may have a profound impact on the lives of MSM, especially their mental and sexual health. Internalized homophobia may impact men’s ability to make healthy choices, including decisions around sex and substance use. Stigma and homophobia may limit the willingness of MSM to access HIV prevention and care, isolate them from family and community support, and create cultural barriers that inhibit integration into social networks.

Racism, poverty, and lack of access to health care are barriers to HIV prevention services, particularly for MSM from racial or ethnic minority communities. A recent CDC study found a strong link between socioeconomic status and HIV among MSM: prevalence increased as education and income decreased, and awareness of HIV status was higher among MSM with greater education and income.

Complacency about HIV may play a key role in HIV risk, particularly among young MSM. Since young MSM did not experience the severity of the early HIV epidemic, some may falsely believe that HIV is no longer a serious health threat because of treatment advances and decreased mortality. Additional challenges for many MSM include maintaining safe behaviors over time and underestimating personal risk.

What CDC Is Doing

Picture of African American gay male couple.In fiscal year 2009, 43% of CDC’s Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention’s budget was targeted towards MSM and MSM-IDU. CDC provides funding for state and local health departments and community-based organizations to support HIV prevention services for MSM in a variety of settings, including MSM of color and young transgender persons of color.

CDC supports the training and technical assistance for five HIV prevention interventions that focus on MSM and two additional interventions that were developed for HIV-positive MSM and others living with HIV. CDC conducts research to better understand the factors that lead to HIV infection and identify effective approaches to prevent infection among MSM—especially MSM who are at greatest risk. Research includes diagnostic tests, microbicides, pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis, vaccines, and behavioral research on health disparities.

CDC carefully monitors HIV and risk behaviors by race, age, risk group (including MSM), and gender, enabling communities to base HIV prevention strategies on the best possible understanding of the epidemic.

Through various communications and collaboration activities, CDC aims to provide MSM with effective and culturally appropriate messages about HIV prevention. CDC uses strategies such as social marketing, fact sheets, web-based information, and other resources to maintain the timeliness of HIV/AIDS information and encourage behavior change.

HIV/AIDS in People of Color and Women

HIV/AIDS in People of Color and Women

The number of HIV/AIDS cases is rising in people of color across the country. More than half of all people with HIV/AIDS are African American or Hispanic.

The number of cases of HIV/AIDS for women has also been growing over the past few years. The rise in the number of cases in women of color age 50 and older has been especially steep. Most got the virus from sex with infected partners. Many others got HIV through shared needles. Because women may live longer than men, and because of the rising divorce rate, many widowed, divorced, and separated women are dating these days. Like older men, many older women may be at risk because they do not know how HIV/AIDS is spread. Women who no longer worry about getting pregnant may be less likely to use a condom and to practice safe sex. Also, vaginal dryness and thinning often occur as women age. When that happens, sexual activity can lead to small cuts and tears that raise the risk for HIV/AIDS.

Treatment and Prevention

There is no cure for HIV/AIDS. But if you become infected, there are drugs that help keep the HIV virus in check and slow the spread of HIV in the body. Doctors are now using a combination of drugs called HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy) to treat HIV/AIDS. Although it is not a cure, HAART is greatly reducing the number of deaths from AIDS in this country.

Remember, there are things you can do to keep from getting HIV/AIDS. Practice the steps below to lower your risk:

  • If you are having sex, make sure your partner has been tested and is free of HIV. Use male or female condoms (latex or polyurethane) during sexual intercourse.
  • Do not share needles or any other equipment used to inject drugs.
  • Get tested if you or your partner had a blood transfusion between 1978 and 1985.
  • Get tested if you or your partner has had an operation or blood transfusion in a developing country at any time.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

How Do People Get HIV and AIDS?

How Do People Get HIV and AIDS?

Anyone, at any age, can get HIV and AIDS. HIV usually comes from having unprotected sex or sharing needles with an infected person, or through contact with HIV-infected blood. No matter your age, you may be at risk if:

  • You are sexually active and do not use a latex or polyurethane condom. You can get HIV/AIDS from having sex with someone who has HIV. The virus passes from the infected person to his or her partner in blood, semen, and vaginal fluid. During sex, HIV can get into your body through any opening, such as a tear or cut in the lining of the vagina, vulva, penis, rectum, or mouth. Latex condoms can help prevent an infected person from transferring the HIV virus to you. (Natural condoms do not protect against HIV/AIDS as well as the latex and polyurethane types do.)
  • You do not know your partner's drug and sexual history. What you don't know can hurt you. Even though it may be hard to do, it's very important to ask your partner about his or her sexual history and drug use. Here are some questions to ask: Has your partner been tested for HIV/AIDS? Has he or she had a number of different sex partners? Has your partner ever had unprotected sex with someone who has shared needles? Has he or she injected drugs or shared needles with someone else? Drug users are not the only people who might share needles. For example, people with diabetes who inject insulin or draw blood to test glucose levels might share needles.
  • You have had a blood transfusion or operation in a developing country at any time.
  • You had a blood transfusion in the United States between 1978 and 1985.

Is HIV/AIDS Different in Older People?

Is HIV/AIDS Different in Older People?

A growing number of older people now have HIV/AIDS. Almost one-fourth of all people with HIV/AIDS in this country are age 50 and older. This is because doctors are finding HIV more often than ever before in older people and because improved treatments are helping people with the disease live longer.

But there may even be many more cases than we know about. Why? One reason may be that doctors do not always test older people for HIV/AIDS and so may miss some cases during routine check-ups. Another may be that older people often mistake signs of HIV/AIDS for the aches and pains of normal aging, so they are less likely than younger people to get tested for the disease. Also, they may be ashamed or afraid of being tested. People age 50 and older may have the virus for years before being tested. By the time they are diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, the virus may be in the late stages.

The number of HIV/AIDS cases among older people is growing every year because:

  • Older Americans know less about HIV/AIDS than younger people do. They do not always know how it spreads or the importance of using condoms, not sharing needles, getting tested for HIV, and talking about it with their doctor.
  • Healthcare workers and educators often do not talk with middle-aged and older people about HIV/AIDS prevention.
  • Older people are less likely than younger people are to talk about their sex lives or drug use with their doctors.
  • Doctors may not ask older patients about their sex lives or drug use or talk to them about risky behaviors.

Facts About HIV/AIDS

You may have read or heard things that are not true about how you get HIV/AIDS. Here are the FACTS:

  • You cannot get HIV through casual contact such as shaking hands or hugging a person with HIV/AIDS.
  • You cannot get HIV from using a public telephone, drinking fountain, restroom, swimming pool, whirlpool, or hot tub.
  • You cannot get HIV from sharing a drink.
  • You cannot get HIV from being coughed or sneezed on by a person with HIV/AIDS.
  • You cannot get HIV from giving blood.
  • You cannot get HIV from a mosquito bite.

Anyone facing a serious disease like HIV/AIDS may become very depressed. This is a special problem for older people, who may not have a strong network of friends or family who can help. At the same time, they also may be coping with other diseases common to aging such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart problems. As the HIV/AIDS gets worse, many will need help getting around and caring for themselves. Older people with HIV/AIDS need support and understanding from their doctors, family, and friends.

HIV/AIDS can affect older people in yet another way. Many younger people who are infected turn to their parents and grandparents for financial support and nursing care. Older people who are not themselves infected by the virus may find they have to care for their own children with HIV/AIDS and then sometimes for their orphaned or HIV-infected grandchildren. Taking care of others can be mentally, physically, and financially draining. This is especially true for older caregivers. The problem becomes even worse when older caregivers have AIDS or other serious health problems. Remember, it is important to get tested for HIV/AIDS early. Early treatment increases the chances of living longer.

HIV, AIDS, and Older People

HIV, AIDS, and Older People

Grace was dating again. George, a close family friend she had known for a long time, was starting to stay overnight more and more often. Because she was past childbearing age, Grace didn't think about using condoms. And because she had known George for so long, she didn't think to ask him about his sexual history. So, Grace was shocked when she tested positive for HIV.

What Is HIV? What Is AIDS?

Like most people, you probably have heard a lot about HIV and AIDS. You may have thought that these diseases weren't your problem and that only younger people have to worry about them. But anyone at any age can get HIV/AIDS.

HIV (short for human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that damages the immune system—the system your body uses to fight off diseases. HIV infection leads to a much more serious disease called AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). When the HIV infection gets in your body, your immune system can be made weaker. This puts you in danger of getting other life-threatening diseases, infections, and cancers. When that happens, you have AIDS. AIDS is the last stage of HIV infection. If you think you may have HIV, it is very important to get tested. Today there are drugs that can help your body keep the HIV in check and fight against AIDS.

What Are the Symptoms of HIV/AIDS?

Many people have no symptoms when they first become infected with HIV. It can take as little as a few weeks for minor, flu-like symptoms to show up, or more than 10 years for more serious symptoms to appear. Signs of HIV include headache, cough, diarrhea, swollen glands, lack of energy, loss of appetite, weight loss, fevers and sweats, repeated yeast infections, skin rashes, pelvic and abdominal cramps, sores in the mouth or on certain parts of the body, or short-term memory loss.

Getting Tested for HIV/AIDS

  • It can take as long as 3 to 6 months after the infection for the virus to show up in your blood.
  • Your healthcare provider can test your blood for HIV/AIDS. If you don't have a healthcare provider, check your local phone book for the phone number of a hospital or health center where you can get a list of test sites. Health agencies in most cities offer HIV testing. You can also check www.hivtest.org to find a testing site.
  • Many healthcare providers who test for HIV also can provide counseling.
  • In most states the tests are private, and you can choose to take the test without giving your name.

You can now also test your blood at home. The "Home Access Express HIV-1 Test System" is made by the Home Access Health Corporation. You can buy it at the drug store. It is the only HIV home test system approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and legally sold in the United States. Other HIV home test systems and kits you might see on the Internet or in magazines or newspapers have not been approved by FDA and may not always give correct results.