What is HIV?
HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired ImmunoDeficiency Syndrome).
Where did HIV come from?
There are many theories about the origin of HIV-1 and HIV-2. The first known case was found in a blood sample collected from man from Kinshasha, Democratic Republic of Congo in 1959. Genetic analysis of this blood suggests that the origin of HIV came from a single strain of HIV-1 in the 1940s or 50s.
In the U.S. the virus is known to have existed since the mid 70s. Symptoms of rare types of what are now known as opportunistic infections began manifesting themselves between 1979-1981.
HIV was first isolated by scientists in 1983. The virus was at first called HTLV-III/LAV (human T-cell lymphotropic virus-type III/lymphadenopathy- associated virus) by an international scientific committee, since it was the 3rd retrovirus found after HTLV-1 and -2. This name was later changed to HIV (human immunodeficiency virus).
What is AIDS?
A diagnosis of AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is made by a physician. An HIV-infected person may be diagnosed with AIDS if he or she meets certain clinical criteria. Criteria include becoming sick with an illness defined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as an AIDS-indicator illness (illnesses that take advantage of the body's weakened immune system) and/or by taking a blood test that shows that the person's immune system is severely damaged.
How long does it take for HIV to cause AIDS?
According to the CDC, prior to 1996, scientists estimated that about half the people with HIV would develop AIDS within 10 years after becoming infected. This time varied greatly from person to person and depended on many factors, including a person's health status and their health-related behaviors.
Since 1996, the introduction of powerful anti-retroviral therapies has dramatically changed the progression time between HIV infection and the development of AIDS. There are also other medical treatments that can prevent or cure some of the illnesses associated with AIDS, though the treatments do not cure AIDS itself. Because of these advances in drug therapies and other medical treatments, estimates of how many people will develop AIDS and how soon are being recalculated, revised, or are currently under study.
As with other diseases, early detection of infection allows for more options for treatment and preventative health care.
How common are HIV and AIDS?
According to the CDC, in 2000, an estimated 850,000-950,000 people in the United States were living with HIV and approximately one fourth of these people did not know they were infected.
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) estimates that there are 42 million people in the world living with HIV and 3.2 million of those are children under the age of 15. Over half of all adults living with HIV/AIDS are women. In 2002, approximately 5 million people were newly infected with HIV.
Since the beginning of the global epidemic, UNAIDS estimates that 24.8 million people have died from complications of AIDS.
How is HIV transmitted?
HIV can be transmitted through the blood, sexual fluids (semen, preseminal fluid, or vaginal fluid) or breast milk of an HIV-infected person. People can get HIV one of these fluids enters the body by way of the mucous membranes (the soft, moist skin found in any opening of the body) or the blood stream. The disease can be passed during unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex with a HIV-infected person. An HIV-infected mother can transmit HIV to her infant during pregnancy, delivery or while breastfeeding. People can also become infected with HIV when using injection drugs through sharing needles and other equipment (or works) including cookers and cottons with someone who is infected.
How effective are latex condoms in preventing HIV?
Studies have been done to test how well latex condoms work for preventing HIV transmission. This research has shown that latex condoms are highly effective at protecting a person from transmitting or becoming infected with the virus. The studies were done on HIV-negative individuals at high-risk for the disease because there partners were HIV-positive. Latex condoms used consistently and correctly were effective 98-100% of the time.
While not having sex or to having sex with a long-term mutually monogamous partner who is not infected with HIV or other STDs is the only way to protect yourself completely, latex condoms used consistently and correctly are highly effective in preventing HIV and many other STDs. Click on the following link to find out more information about latex condoms in the ASHA Position Statement: Male Latex Condoms as a Public Health Intervention.
How can I tell if I'm infected with HIV?
The only way to tell you have HIV is be tested for the virus. You cannot rely on symptoms to tell if you or someone you know is infected. The symptoms of HIV are similar to many other illnesses and many people have no symptoms at all.
The symptoms of AIDS are also similar to other diseases. If a person is infected with HIV, the only way to tell if they have progressed to AIDS is to be diagnosed by a doctor using the CDC defined criteria.
Where can I get tested for HIV?
There a many places to get HIV testing, including local health departments, private doctors, hospitals and sites set up specifically to test for HIV. It is important find a testing site that offers HIV counseling as well as the test. HIV counselors can provide you with important information about the test, discuss your risks for HIV, answer your questions about your risk for HIV and how to protect yourself and others in the future. They also can provide information about other resources available in the area.
Some locations may have rapid tests that can tell if you are infected within 30 minutes, while in other locations it may take up to 2 weeks to get results. Check with the test site to find out what type of HIV tests they have.
There are also home collection kits that allow you to take your own blood sample and send it in to be anonymously tested. The only test approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for home collection is Home Access. You can purchase this test in most drug stores, but it is also available for purchase online at http://www.homeaccess.com, or by calling 1-800-CONFIDE (1-800-266-3433). Many other tests are advertised on the internet, but Home Access is the only approved device for this use in the United States.
For a test site near you, visit the National HIV Testing Resource at www.hivtest.org or call. For service in English or en español you can call either: 1-800-CDC-INFO or 1-800-342-2437. The lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing TTY Service call 1-888-232-6348.
Can I test myself at home?
There are home collection kits that allow you to take your own blood sample and send it in to be anonymously tested. The only test approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for home collection is Home Access. You can purchase this test in most drug stores, but it is also available for purchase online at http://www.homeaccess.com, or by calling 1-800-CONFIDE (1-800-266-3433). Many other tests are advertised on the internet, but Home Access is the only approved device for this use in the United States.
How long after a possible exposure should I wait to get tested for HIV?
The most common HIV tests look for antibodies to the virus. CDC states that most people infected with HIV will have detectable antibodies within 3 months of exposure to HIV, the average being 25 days. Rarely, it can take up to six months. Testing early has many benefits. People who know whether they are infected or not can take precautions to protect themselves and others in future. HIV-infected individuals can benefit from early treatment.
If I test HIV negative does that mean my partner is HIV negative also?
No. The test for HIV can only tell you if you have been infected or not. Transmission of the virus does not necessarily occur every time exposure occurs. The only way for an individual to tell if he/she has been infected with HIV is to be tested. If you are unsure of your partner's status, you may want to consider talking to him/her about it and using protection (latex condoms or dental dams) to reduce your risk.
What if I test HIV positive?
There are many things you can do to help protect your health if you test positive for HIV. Seeking health care early and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help a person stay healthy. Some specific things you can do if you're positive for HIV are:
- See a doctor, even if you feel well. If possible, see a doctor who is familiar with treating people with HIV. Health care providers can inform you on what tests and drug treatment are right for you. There are many new drugs available that can help to slow down the damage that HIV does to the immune system. They can also advise you on other issues, like vaccines, as well as things to avoid in order to keep you healthy.
- Get tested for tuberculosis (TB). Because a person can have an inactive type of bacteria, you may be infected with TB and not know it. TB can be a serious disease for someone who is infected with HIV, but it is curable if detected early.
- Smoking cigarettes, drinking too much alcohol or using illegal drugs can weaken a person's immune system. People can help maintain their immune system health by stopping or reducing their use of these substances. There are many programs that can help you quit if you need to.
The CDC (1-800-CDC-INFO) can provide you with more information what to do if you test positive for HIV. They can also provide you with referrals to doctors, treatment programs and other services for HIV-infected individuals.
I'm HIV positive. Where can I go for information about treatments?
For more information, call the CDC at 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636). This service is available in English or en español. For TYY service, please call 1-888-232-6348. These services are open 24 hours, 7 days a week and can offer general information to help you discuss HIV treatments as well as other treatments with your doctor. If you do not have a doctor or would like information on how to find an HIV-knowledgeable doctor, the Hotline specialists can provide you with referrals in your area.
For more specific information about treatments and clinical trials, contact AIDSinfo in English & Spanish at 1-800-448-0440. For TTY users: 1-888-480-3739. For international callers: 1-301-562-1098. Open Monday through Friday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time.
How safe is the U.S. blood supply?
The U.S. blood supply is one of the safest in the world. Infection through blood transfusion and other blood products is rare. Since 1985, the blood supply has been ELISA tested for HIV. According to the CDC, an estimated 1 in 450,000 to 1 in 660,000 donations per year are infectious for HIV but are not detected by current antibody screening tests. In 1995, blood banks also began testing with P24 tests along with ELISA, to detect infection with HIV during this window period. As technology advances, the blood supply will become even safer.
Why does the CDC recommend that all pregnant women be tested for HIV?
Currently there are medications and medical interventions that can reduce the risk of transmission of HIV from mother to child. A large percentage of infected infants become infected late in pregnancy or during delivery, so getting tested and starting treatment early in pregnancy can reduce the risk of a HIV-infected mother transmitting the disease to her unborn child and slow down the progression of HIV disease in the mother.
How can I reduce the risk of transmission of HIV from injecting drug use?
Sharing needles puts injecting drug users (IDUs) at risk for many blood-borne diseases, including hepatitis B and C, as well as HIV. The most effective way to reduce your risk is to stop using drugs. There are many programs available to help a person quit. If an individual cannot or will not stop using injecting drugs, then it is recommended that a person never reuse or share works (cookers, cottons, syringes, needles, water.) New needles, from a reliable source, should be used every time. Swabbing the sight with alcohol can help prevent other types of infections. Safely dispose of needles after using.
If new equipment is not available, syringes should be boiled in water or disinfected with bleach to reduce the risk of transmission. Call the CDC at 1-800-CDC-INFO for more information on preventing transmission of HIV and other diseases through injecting drug use.
Recommendations for cleaning needles and syringes
According to the CDC, those who continue to reuse or share works or injection equipment should be aware that this practice carries a high risk for acquiring and transmitting HIV. Injection equipment is not made to be reused. Boiling needles and syringes for 15 minutes is one way to sterilize equipment between uses. However, boiling may alter the shape and utility of plastic needles and syringes.
Cleaning injection equipment with disinfectants, such as bleach, does not guarantee that viruses such as Hepatitis B, C, and HIV will be destroyed. Disinfectants do not sterilize equipment. However, consistent and thorough cleaning of injection equipment with disinfectants such as bleach can reduce transmission of HIV if equipment is shared.
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