HIV/AIDS
What is HIV/AIDS?
What are the symptoms of HIV?
• HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that can destroy
the cells of your immune system. It robs your body of its ability
to fight other infections and illnesses
Most individuals experience flu like symptoms 2–6 weeks after
exposure. These symptoms usually subside a few weeks later.
• Without treatment, HIV can make your immune system weaker
resulting in Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). AIDS
is the advanced stage of HIV infection
• Joint or muscle pain
How is HIV spread?
• Sore throat
• Having unprotected vaginal, oral or anal sex with someone who
is infected
• Fatigue or lack of energy
• Headaches
• Sharing needles or other drug equipment (i.e. cookers and crack
pipes) with someone already infected
• Rapid, unexplained weight loss (up tp 25 lbs. in 1 month)
• Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
• Tattooing, skin piercing or acupuncture with unsterilized needles
that have been in contact with the virus
How do you test for HIV?
• Receiving infected blood or blood products before November
1985. In Canada, since then, all blood and blood products are
tested for HIV antibodies
• During pregnancy, childbirth or through breastfeeding, an
infected mother can pass the virus to her child
HIV is spread through the following body fluids: blood, semen,
vaginal fluids, rectal fluids and breast milk.
HIV cannot be spread by:
• Sweat, spit, tears, clothes, phones, toilet seats or drinking
fountains
• Mosquitoes or other insects that have made contact with
infected blood
• By touching or hugging someone who is HIV positive or by
working, living or having nonsexual contact with someone who
is HIV positive
• High fever or sweating—especially at night
• Skin rash over whole body
• Swollen glands (lymph nodes)
• The HIV test is a blood test. HIV antibodies are found in the
blood when someone has been exposed to the virus. HIV
antibodies can take up to three months to show up in the blood
after someone has been infected
• The period after exposure but before antibodies are present is
called the window period
• A negative test result during the window period should be
repeated again at three months
• If antibodies are detected in your blood, this means you are HIV
positive, but does not mean that you have AIDS. The goal of
treatment is to stop you from developing AIDS
How is it treated?
There is currently no cure for HIV/AIDS. However, treatment is
available. People with HIV/AIDS need to be monitored by an HIV
Specialist.
Considerations and possible complications
After infection, people may not feel or look sick for years; however
they can still pass on HIV to others.
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How to reduce your chances of getting HIV
• Use a condom/dental dam every time you have sex, even if you
are using another form of birth control
• Talk to your partner about getting tested together
• Do not share needles or other equipment (cotton, spoons, water)
for injecting drugs.
For needle exchange programs within the region visit:
http://chd.region.waterloo.on.ca/en/clinicsclassesfairs/
needleexchange.asp
• Do not share sex toys
• Ensure that acupuncture, tattoo, piercing and aesthetic
establishments use clean, sterile equipment. Ask questions
(e.g. Are needles or ink shared? Is reusable equipment
sterilized?)
• Do not share personal equipment such as razors,
toothbrushes, tweezers, personal blood taking devices (i.e.
blood glucose monitor), manicure or pedicure equipment (e.g.
nail clippers)
Additional Resources:
Wong, T. (2006) Canadian Guidelines on Sexually Transmitted
Infections 2006 Edition, www.publichealth.gc.ca/sti
CATIE HIV & AIDS Basic Facts 2010, www.catie.ca
Sexual Health/Harm Reduction Program
For information, clinic times and needle exchange
services call 519-883-2267
All clinical and counselling services are free and confidential.
No health card is required to receive services.
Questions?
Call Region of Waterloo Public Health Sexual Health Program or
your doctor.
Scan this code with
your smartphone for
more information
about sexual health
clinics and services.
Region of Waterloo Public Health
Sexual Health/Harm Reduction Program
519-883-2267
www.regionofwaterloo.ca/ph
n
519-883-2000
n
TTY 519-575-4608
n
Fax 519-883-2241