HIV/AIDS FACTS
AND STUDY GUIDE
HIV/AIDS: HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is the name of the virus that causes AIDS
VIROLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY:
 How HIV lives in the body: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) enters the body through
specific body fluids (blood, semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk) and gains access to the
bloodstream. Once in the bloodstream, HIV targets the T-helper lymphocytes, or T-cells, also
known as CD4+ cells (T-cells are an essential part of the immune system; without them, the
body cannot effectively fight most diseases and infections). HIV enters the T-4 cell (the host)
through the outer coating, called CD4+, and reproduces itself. As the virus reproduces, it
destroys its host CD4+ cell and finds other CD4+ cells into which it can move and set up
“virus factories.”
 How HIV destroys the immune system: Over time, CD4+ cells are methodically destroyed.
A normal CD4+ cell count in a healthy adult is 800-1000 T-cells per cubic millimeter
(microliter) of blood. Persons diagnosed with AIDS will have a CD4+ count of less than 200
per cubic milliliter, and some may have a CD4+ (T-cell) count of close to zero. At such low
CD4+ cell counts, the immune system can no longer protect the body from infection.
 Opportunistic Infections and Conditions: People diagnosed with AIDS will often have one
or more opportunistic infections or conditions. These are usually uncommon infections or
cancers that do not affect healthy people with strong immune systems. Examples include:
pneumocystis pneumonia, Kaposi’s sarcoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, candidiasis, wasting
syndrome and tuberculosis.
TRANSMISSION- HOW YOU GET HIV:
HIV can be transmitted by any type of sexual contact (anal, penis-to-rectum, vaginal, penis-to-vagina; or
oral, mouth-to-penis, vagina or rectum), by blood-to-blood contact, including shooting drugs and sharing
needles, or by a woman to her baby either before or during birth or through breastfeeding. HIV is not
transmitted through any type of casual contact, nor by insects or animals.
 Body fluids: HIV can live only in certain fluids of the human body. These fluids are blood,
semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk. Saliva, sweat, urine and tears do not spread the
virus because they do not enough white blood cells for the virus to grow and survive.
 How the virus spreads: In order for the virus to spread, it must be present in a person’s
bloodstream and then be passed into the bloodstream of another person. This can occur
through specific “high risk” behaviors, detailed below.
 Risk behaviors: People are at risk for HIV infection when they participate in behaviors
where the exchange of body fluids is possible. Two risky behaviors are: having unprotected
sex with an infected person and sharing contaminated needles.
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Unprotected sex, or sex without a latex barrier such as a condom, can let HIV enter the
bloodstream. Vaginal, anal and oral sex can all transmit HIV. In an infected man, the semen
(male sexual fluid) has a high amount of HIV. Semen can pass HIV from one person to
another during unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex. The virus can go through the lining of
the vagina, anus or mouth into a person’s bloodstream. Sharing needles to inject intravenous
(IV) or intramuscular (IM) drugs is a high-risk behavior that can pass HIV directly from one
infected person to someone who is not infected. People who use needles of any kind, legal or
illegal, must use new needles or clean those that have already been used. Cleaning needles
involves soaking them in bleach, then rinsing them in water several times before each use.
Other Ways HIV is spread: Pregnant women with HIV can pass the virus to their unborn or
newborn babies during pregnancy, delivery or while breast-feeding. An infected mother’s
blood and milk can carry HIV. If a woman is pregnant or thinks she might be pregnant, she
should be tested for HIV. An infected pregnant woman can greatly reduce the chance that her
baby will be born infected by taking antiretroviral medications, after consultation with her
doctor and with a doctor’s prescription.
Blood transfusions: Since 1985, all donated blood and blood products have been screened
for HIV. The risk of HIV infection through a blood transfusion is almost zero. Donating
blood poses no risk, because blood is drawn using sterile needles that have never been used.
How HIV is not spread: HIV is not spread through casual contact such as kissing, hugging,
shaking hands with or using dishes or utensils used by someone with HIV. Objects (e.g. toilet
seats and doorknobs) and animals (e.g. cats, dogs, and mosquitoes) do not transmit HIV.
THE DISEASE PROCESS-WHAT HAPPENS:
 Infection: A person can be exposed to HIV and not become infected. It is possible to have
sex with an infected individual and not get infected. It is also possible that infection can
occur from a single contact with an infected person.
 Sexual contact and blood-to-blood contact are the most common ways for enough virus to
get into the bloodstream in order for infection to occur.
 Time: The time from infection with HIV until opportunistic diseases and infections appear
can be ten years or more. Since each individual is different and people get infected with
varying amounts of virus during exposure, this “incubation” period (being infected without
having signs and symptoms of disease) can last from two to fifteen years. With the
availability of antiretroviral drugs, infected individuals may be able to live even longer
without symptoms.
 Definition of Aids: According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a
person is considered to have AIDS when he or she has both a positive HIV test and either a
CD4+ cell count of less than 200 cells per cubic millimeter or an AIDS-defining
opportunistic infection or condition.
TESTING – HOW TO FIND OUT IF YOU HAVE HIV:
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Most individuals can get a blood or oral fluid test for antibodies to HIV. The body produces antibodies to
destroy a foreign invader – in this case, HIV. Antibody blood tests are done confidentially or
anonymously (see below) at any Florida health department. There are also tests available that can detect
the virus in a person’s blood.
 Who should be tested: Anyone who thinks they might have put themselves at risk for HIV
should consider being tested, including pregnant females and children of HIV-infected
females. HIV antibody testing detects antibodies in the blood. The antibodies show that the
virus is present in the body and that the immune system is trying to fight it.
 Availability of testing: Confidential and anonymous testing is available to anyone who
requests it at any county health department in Florida. In most situations, HIV antibody
testing is available only by informed consent—that is, a person must give their permission
before being tested. Testing is available in health departments, doctor’s offices and other
private and non-profit clinics and agencies. Health departments offer testing at a minimal
charge, and no fee is charged for those who cannot afford it.
 Confidential and Anonymous testing: Test results are kept private in two different ways:
confidentially and anonymously. Confidential testing means that the person’s name and test
results are kept in their private medical file. Anonymous testing means each person is given a
number when being tested, and the person can only be identified by that number. No name is
recorded.
   HIV and AIDS reporting: Positive HIV test have been reportable in Florida since July of
1997. AIDS cases have been reportable since 1981. All AIDS and HIV cases are reported to
the Department of Health are kept completely confidential.
PREVENTION – HOW NOT TO GET HIV:
The ABC’s of Prevention
 Abstinence: No drugs and no sex, means no infection. Abstinence from risky behaviors, such
as unprotected sex and drug use, is the only sure way to protect yourself from HIV.
 Being with one person or mutual monogamy: Having sex with only one person who is not
infected means no infection. Mutual monogamy means that two individuals have sex with
each other, but not with anyone else. If you choose to have sex, be with one partner and know
your partner’s HIV infection status. Monogamy will not protect a couple if either person is
shooting drugs or sharing needles with other drug users.
 Condoms or safer sex: Since abstinence and mutual monogamy are not prevention options
for some people, precautions must be used during sex. If a person has more than one partner
or doesn’t know their partner’s HIV status, latex or polyurethane condoms, used properly,
can help protect a person from HIV and other STDs. Latex or polyurethane condoms act as a
barrier to body fluids.
Condoms need to be used from start to finish during vaginal, oral and anal sex. Condoms
should be unrolled all the way onto the penis, leaving a space at the top. Each condom should
be used only once and never beyond the expiration date. Condoms can only protect from HIV
infection if used properly and every time a person has sex. Use only water-based lubricants
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with latex condoms. When used properly, female condoms provide an option for females who
want to prevent HIV or other STDs.
Drugs: If needles and syringes are not shared during drug use, no infection will occur. It is
possible to disinfect the needles and syringes with ordinary bleach before sharing. Bleach
should be drawn into the needle and syringe three times and shaken each time. Then, water
should be drawn into the syringe three times to rinse out the bleach. If needles and syringes
are used, it is best to properly discard them after each use.
Standard Universal Precautions: Standard Universal Precautions are infection control procedures.
Health care workers, barbers, cosmetologists, emergency workers or any other professional who may
come into contact with another person’s body fluids should assume all patients/clients are infected with
HIV. Precautions such as wearing latex gloves, sterilizing instruments and washing hands are essential for
preventing HIV transmission.
NEW DRUGS, NEW HOPE AND NEW CONCERNS:
Several classes of antiretroviral drugs are available for people infected with HIV/AIDS. These drugs work
at different stages of the viral reproductive cycle by preventing HIV from being successfully assembled
and released from the infected T-cell.
“Drug cocktails”, which consist of protease inhibitors combined with other drugs, such as AZT, are
collectively known as highly active antiretroviral therapy, or HAART. The goal of treatment is to suppress
HIV replication, thereby raising the CD4+ cell count. The individual can then avoid getting potentially
deadly opportunistic infections and conditions because the body is able to defend itself against them.
HAART is largely responsible for a drop in the number of U.S. HIV-related deaths between 1996 and the
present. This has given renewed hope to individuals living the HIV and AIDS.
However, concerns have arisen from the fact that these regimens may not work forever. Eventually,
HAART loses its effectiveness for patients, and drug-resistance strains of HIV can develop. If resistant
strains are transmitted, HAART may not work for newly infected patients, even if they have never been
treated for HIV/AIDS. AIDS remains an incurable disease, and HIV remains a puzzle.
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