|
|
|
HIV = Human Immunodeficiency Virus. HIV attacks
the body’s immune system, reducing its ability to fight disease
and infection.
|
|
AIDS = Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. AIDS
develops from HIV infection when the person infected develops an
“opportunistic infection.” Opportunistic infections
are common infections (i.e. pneumonia or chonic yeast infection) that can prove
to be life-threatening for people with HIV because their immune
system no longer has the strength to fight them off.
|
|
There is NO cure for HIV infection. HIV infection is treated with a combination of anti-retroviral drugs, which target the different ways the virus infects healthy blood cells. These drugs are effective, however if the virus mutates, they will form a resistance to the medication and the drugs will no longer be useful. Like many medications, these drugs can have severe side effects that can cause other life-threatening illnesses.
|
|
HIV is not transmitted through
casual contact. HIV can be transferred only through the exchange
of bodily fluids, including blood, semen, vaginal fluid, or breast
milk. These fluids can be transferred through:
-
Unprotected sexual activity
-
Sharing used unclean needles or syringes (or other tools used
to pierce the skin)
-
Childbirth, in utero, and breast feeding
- Receiving transfusions of infected blood, blood products, organs,
or donated sperm
For more information, please see the Canadian AIDS Society’s HIV Transmission: Guidelines for Assessing Risk. |
| HIV prevention and harm
reduction is a continuum, that is, you can entirely eliminate the
risk of transmission through abstinence or take other precautions
to reduce risks, since abstinence isn’t always an option for
some people. Here are some ways of reducing the risk of HIV transmission
(note that these activities still include some risk of transmission
of HIV):
-
Practicing safe-sex by using latex or polyurethane condoms
Avoiding sharing sex toys -
Avoiding cunnilingus during times of higher susceptibility (i.e. during menstruation)
Stopping fellatio/intercourse before ejaculation Performing fellatio or cunnilingus with a condom or other latex
barrier Using new needles/syringes each time Taking pre-natal anti-HIV therapy - Refraining from breast-feeding
For more information, please see the Canadian AIDS Society’s HIV Transmission: Guidelines for Assessing Risk. |
|
While we know how HIV is transmitted
physically, increasingly, social determinants are being linked to
a person’s exposure to situations where HIV transmission is
more likely. The following are some of the social issues that are
being linked to higher risk for HIV:
Poverty Homelessness -
Stigma/discrimination
Addiction Violence -
Untreated mental health problems
-
Lack of employment opportunities
Powerlessness -
Lack of choice
-
Lack of legal status (i.e. undocumented refugees)
-
Lack of social support
|
|
If you think you might have been exposed to HIV,
speak to your health care provider or contact the AIDS Service Hotline
nearest you by clicking
here. |
| If you think you have been exposed
to HIV, you should get tested right away. Today’s tests are
quite sensitive and can detect HIV antibodies in as little as 12
to 15 days. However, prevention workers and public health officials still
recommend that a follow-up test be conducted after a three-month
window period. It is important to note that the window period is
for a single risk of exposure. If you are having multiple exposure
risks, we recommend that you talk to a health professional or HIV
educator to discuss ways that you can protect yourself, including
harm reduction methods mentioned above. |
|
Testing is the only reliable way
of determining whether or not you have HIV. Symptoms are unreliable
in diagnosing HIV because each person with HIV may have a different
combination of symptoms. As well, a certain set of symptoms may
also be correlated to another illness. Some warning signs may include:
Rapid weight loss Dry cough Recurring fever and profuse night sweats Profound and unexplained fatigue Swollen lymph glands in the armpits, groin, or neck Diarrhea that lasts for more than a week White spots or unusual blemishes on the tongue, in the mouth,
or in the throat Pneumonia -
Red, brown, pink, or purplish blotches on or under the skin
or inside the mouth, nose, or eyelids
Memory loss, depression, and other neurological disorders
|
|
|
