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150 lines
9.0 KiB
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<div class="article">
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<p>Title : AIDS: The Facts</p>
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<p>Source : American Red Cross</p>
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<p> AIDS:
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Spread Facts
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Not Fear</p>
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<p>What Is AIDS?</p>
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<p>Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a serious condition that affects
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the body's ability to fight infection. A disgnosis of AIDS is made when a
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person develops a life-threatening illness not usually found in a person with a
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normal ability to fight infection. The two diseases most often found in AIDS
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patients are a lung infection called Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and a rare
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form of cancer called Kaposi's sarcoma. It is these diseases, not the AIDS
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virus itself, that can lead to death. To date, more than 50 percent of the
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persons with AIDS have died.</p>
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<p>What Causes AIDS?</p>
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<p>Researchers have discovered the cause of AIDS - a virus that is called either
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HTLV-III or LAV. This virus changes the structure of the cell it attacks.
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Infection with the virus can lead to AIDS or to a less severe condition known
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as AIDS-related complex (ARC). Some of those persons infected with the virus
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will develop symptoms of AIDS or ARC. Other people who carry the virus may
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remain in apparent good health. These carriers can transmit the virus during
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sexual contact, or an infected mother can transmit the virus to her infant
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before, during, or after birth (probably through breast milk).</p>
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<p>Who Gets AIDS?</p>
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<p>Since 1981, the Centers for Disease Control has been collecting information
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on AIDS. Approximately 95 percent of the persons with AIDS belong to one of the
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following groups:</p>
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<p>* Sexually active homosexual or bisexual men (73 percent)</p>
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<p>* Present or past abusers of intravenous drugs (17 percent)</p>
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<p>* Patients who have had transfusions with blood or blood products (2 percent)</p>
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<p>* Persons with hemophilia or other coagulation disorders (1 percent)</p>
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<p>* Heterosexuals who have had sexual contact with someone with AIDS, or at risk
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for AIDS (1 percent)</p>
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<p>* Infants born to infected mothers (1 percent)</p>
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<p>Approximately 5 percent of persons with AIDS do not fall into any of these
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groups, but researchers believe that they came in contact with the virus in
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similar ways. Some died before complete histories could be taken, while others
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refused to provide any personal information.</p>
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<p>What Are the Symptoms?</p>
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<p>Most individuals infected with the AIDS virus have no symptoms and feel well.
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Some develop symptoms that may include -</p>
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<p>* Fever, including "night sweats."</p>
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<p>* Weight loss for no apparent reason.</p>
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<p>* Swollen lymph glands in the neck, underarm, or groin area.</p>
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<p>* Fatigue or tiredness.</p>
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<p>* Diarrhea.</p>
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<p>* White spots or unusual blemishes in the mouth.</p>
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<p>These symptoms are also symptoms of many other illnesses. They may be symptoms
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of AIDS if they are unexplained by other illness. Anyone with these symptoms
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for more than two weeks should see a doctor.</p>
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<p>How is the AIDS Virus Spread?</p>
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<p>The AIDS virus is spread by sexual contact, needle sharing, or rarely through
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transfused blood or its components. Multiple sexual partners, either homosexual
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or heterosexual, and sharing needles by drug users increase the risk of
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infection with the virus.</p>
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<p>Is the AIDS Virus Spread Through Casual Contact?</p>
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<p>No. Casual contact with AIDS patients or people who carry the virus does NOT
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place others at risk for getting AIDS. The AIDS virus is NOT spread by-</p>
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<p>* Casual contact, such as hugging or hand shaking with an AIDS patient or a
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person carrying the virus.</p>
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<p>* Use of bathroom facilities, such as toilets, sinks, or bathtubs. Use of
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swimming pools.</p>
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<p>* Sneezing, coughing, or spitting.</p>
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<p>* Dishes, utensils, or food handled by a person with AIDS.</p>
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<p>The AIDS virus is not spread through normal daily contact at work, in school,
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or at home. No cases have been found where the virus has been transmitted by
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casual contact with AIDS patients in the home, workplace, or health care
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setting. This statement is based in part, on studies of more than 300
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households where people with AIDS were present. Not a single case of AIDS or
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transmission of the virus was found except from sexual contacts or from
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infected mothers to their infants. Many of those tested were children who had
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shared bottles, beds, toothbrushes, and eating utensils with infected brothers
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and sisters.</p>
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<p>Is There a Test for AIDS?</p>
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<p>There is an AIDS virus antibody test that detects antibodies to the AIDS virus
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that causes the disease. The body produces antibodies that try to get rid of
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bacteria, viruses, or anything else that is not supposed to be in the blood
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stream. The test tells if someone has been infected with the AIDS virus. Most
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people with AIDS have a positive test and some people with a positive test
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will develop AIDS. The test does not tell who will develop AIDS.</p>
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<p>What Does a Positive Test Mean?</p>
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<p>It means that a person has been infected with the AIDS virus. It is estimated
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that more than one million Americans have been infected by the AIDS virus. Some
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of these people will develop AIDS. Others who have the virus may stay well,
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without any symptoms, but can transmit the virus to others.</p>
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<p>Why Do We Have a Test?</p>
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<p>The test was first used in blood donation centers to prevent the AIDS virus
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from getting into the blood supply. We have always used tests to make the
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blood supply as safe as possible. For example, all blood is tested for the
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hepatitis B virus. This is to make sure that the person does not get hepatitis
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B.</p>
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<p>Is the Blood Supply Safe?</p>
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<p>YES. The blood supply is well protected from the AIDS virus. People who may be
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at risk of having AIDS are told that they should not donate blood. For example,
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men who have had sex with another male since 1977 are told not to donate blood.
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Also, the test is used to screen all donated blood and plasma for signs of the
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virus that causes AIDS.</p>
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<p>Can I Get AIDS by Donating Blood?</p>
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<p>NO. All of the needles, syringes, tubing, and containers used by blood donation
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centers are sterile and are used only once and thrown away, so there is no
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chance of infection.</p>
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<p>Is the Test Available to the Public?</p>
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<p>YES. The test is available at a variety of test sites in most states. It is
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also available through private doctors and clinics. Information about where to
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get the test is available from state or local health departments, sexually
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transmitted disease clinics, doctor's offices, and community blood services.
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Anyone planning to take the test should get advice before the test and
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understand what the results may indicate. It is important to have counseling
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after the test.</p>
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<p>How Can I Protect Myself From AIDS?</p>
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<p>* Do not have sexual contact with AIDS patients, with members of the risk
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groups, or with people who test positive for the AIDS virus. If you do, use
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a condom and avoid sexual practices such as anal intercourse that may injure
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tissue.</p>
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<p>* Do not use IV drugs. If you do, do not share needles. Do not have sex with
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people who use IV drugs.</p>
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<p>* Women who are sex partners of risk group members or who use IV drugs should
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consider the risk to their babies before pregnancy. These women should have
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an HTLV-III antibody test before they become pregnant. If the become pregnant
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they should have a test during pregnancy.</p>
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<p>* Do not have sex with multiple partners, including prostitutes (who may also
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be IV drug abusers). The more partners you have, the greater your chances of
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contracting AIDS.</p>
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<p>What Should I Do if I Have a Positive Test?</p>
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<p>* Have a regular medical checkup and get counseling.</p>
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<p>* Do not donate blood, sperm, or organs.</p>
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<p>* Do not share drugs with others, and avoid exchanging bodily fluids during
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sexual activity (a condom should be used). Avoid oral-genital contact and
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intimate kissing.</p>
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<p>* Do not share toothbrushes. razors, or anything that could be contaminated
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with blood.</p>
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<p>* Consider postponing pregnancy.</p>
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<p>Further information about AIDS can be obtained from your Red Cross chapter,
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local or state health department, other community agencies, or the Public
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Health Service Hotline. The hotline number is 1-800-342-AIDS. Atlanta Area
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callers should dial 329-1290.</p>
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<p>______________________________________________________________________________</p>
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<p>Developed in cooperation with the Washington Business Group on Health, based
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upon Public Health Service/U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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pamphlet "Facts About AIDS"</p>
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<p>Funding provided by the American Council of Life Insurance and the Health
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Insurance Association of America.
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______________________________________________________________________________</p>
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<p>AIDS-1 Rev. May 1986</p>
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</div>
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</xml>
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