HIV & AIDS INFORMATION 
General Information:
HIV
stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
The HIV virus infects cells of the immune system. HIV uses cells of the
immune system to grow. When HIV has used one of these cells to grow, the
cell can no longer do its job, leaving your body without a part of its
immune system. Pieces of the HIV go all over the body. Even pieces of the
virus can cause damage.
Facts About HIV/AIDS:
* Aids is the second leading
cause of death among Americans ages
25-44. AIDS
is the leading cause of death for African-American
women.
*1 in 300 Americans is infected
with HIV
*1 in 92 American men ages
27-39 are HIV-infected
*1 in 60 Hispanic men ages
27-39 are HIV-infected
*1 in 33 Black men ages 27-39
are HIV-infected
*The yearly cost of anti-HIV
therapy can cost up to $16,000
*In 1995, 40,000-50,000 new
HIV infections occured in the United
States
*By the year 2000, 5-10 million
children will lose a parent to AIDS
Questions and Answers:
*What is AIDS?
Acquired
Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is a set of life
threatening conditions.
It occurs during the last stage of HIV
disease.
*What is HIV?
Human
Immunodeficiency Virus
*How do you get HIV?
*Have
unprotected sexual intercourse with someone who has the
virus.
*Share needles or
syringes with someone who has the virus.
*Receive transfusions
of blood products donated by someone who
has the
virus.
*Babies born to HIV-infected
women may become infected before
or during
birth, or through breast-feeding after birth.
*Can you get HIV/AIDS from
kissing an infected person?
*Casual
contact through closed-mouth or "social" kissing is not a
risk for
transmission of HIV. Because of the potential for contact
with blood
during "French" or open-mouth kissing, Center for
Disease
Control recommends against engaging in this activity
with a
person known to be infected.
*Is HIV found in saliva and
tears?
*HIV
has been found in saliva and tears in very low quantities from
some AIDS
patients.
*Can HIV/AIDS be transmitted
by biting and bloodsucking insects?
*Despite
intense efforts to detect them, supports the conclusion that
HIV is
not transmitted by insects.
*Are condoms effective when
engaging in sexual intercourse with an
infected person?
*The
proper and consistent use of the latex condoms when engaging
in sexual intercourse-vaginal,
anal, or oral-can greatly reduce a
person's risk
of acquiring or transmitting sexually transmitted
diseases, including
HIV infection.
Financial Help:
Information Centers:
*National AIDS Hotline-1-800-342-2437
*Project Inform's
National HIV Treatment Line-
1-800-822-7422
*The AIDS Treatment
Data Network-
1-800-734-7104
*HIV/AIDS Treatment
Information Service-
1-800-448-0440
Until
There's A Cure
1-800-88-UNTIL
Until
There's A Cure Foundation is a nonprofit organization which raises
funds and awareness for AIDS through the sale of THE BRACELET.
The AIDS Memorial Quilt:
*The
AIDS Memorial Quilt is the largest on-going
community
arts project in the world. Each of the
panels
in the quilt was made to remember the life
of a person
lost to AIDS. The quilt stands for
the sorrow,
anger, love and hope of people who
make panels.
A personal reflection of
a friend infected with HIV.
Thanks for visiting and any
contributions that are made to this site.
Let's Pray for a cure to this
virus and for those who are infected.
Send comments to:
ladybug@wesnet.com
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