AIDS Resource Alliance

AIDS is a very serious disease. It is caused by HIV, a blood borne virus. AIDS occurs when HIV badly weakens the body’s immune system. Many people with HIV or AIDS look healthy and have no symptoms. You cannot tell by looking at a person if they are infected. In fact, many people with HIV/AIDS do not know themselves that they are infected.

For general information, guidelines on preventing transmission, and information on testing, call AIDS Resource at 570-322-8448.

 

What is HIV?

HIV is a disease that:

• Is caused by a blood borne virus (known as HIV)
• Reduces the body's ability to fight infections
• Often leads to AIDS, which may result in death

What is AIDS?

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome is a disease complex characterized by a collapse of the body’s natural immunity. Because of this failure of the immune system, patients with AIDS are vulnerable to unusual infections and illnesses that usually pose no threat to a person whose immune system is working normally.

What causes AIDS?

AIDS is caused by infection with a virus called Human Immunodeficiency Virus HIV). This virus is passed from one person to another through blood-to-blood and sexual contact. In addition, pregnant women can pass HIV to their babies during pregnancy or delivery, as well as through breast feeding. People with HIV have what is called HIV infection. Most of these people will develop AIDS as a result of their HIV infection.

What rights do persons with HIV/AIDS have?

They cannot be discriminated against:

• In employment
• In housing, public accommodations or education
• In delivery of services

HIV/AIDS - Transmission and Prevention

How is HIV transmitted?

• HIV can be passed through blood, semen, vaginal fluid, birth and breast milk, such as
  • through unprotected sex (vaginal, anal, and oral) with an infected person
  • through sharing contaminated needles (e.g. to inject drugs/vitamins/steroids or for tattoos and piercings)
  • from infected mother to baby during pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding
  • through direct exposure to infected blood or blood products

How is HIV NOT transmitted?

• Through casual contact, such as sharing glasses, holding hands or shaking hands
• Through normal work place environments
• Through eating in restaurants, insect bites, coughs or sneezes, perspiration, telephones or toilets
• It is not an airborne virus

How contagious is AIDS?

Unlike most transmissible diseases (colds, flus, measles, etc.), AIDS is not transmitted through sneezing, coughing, eating or drinking from common utensils, or merely being around an infected person. Casual contact with HIV infected persons does not place others at risk. AIDS is not transmitted through air, food, or water, or by touching any object handled, touched, or breathed on by a person with an HIV/AIDS infection.

Can use of a latex condom during sex reduce the risk of transmitting AIDS?

Studies have shown that latex condoms are highly effective in preventing HIV transmission when used consistently and correctly.  These studies looked at unifected people considered to be at very high risk of infection because they were involved in sexual relationships with HIV-infected people.  The studies found that even with repeated sexual contact, 98-100 percent of those people who used latex condoms correctly and consistently did not become infected.

How can I protect myself?

Use Condoms:

• Check the expiration date on the package
• Don’t use after that date
• Don’t use your teeth, nails or other sharp objects to open the package
• Don’t use damaged condoms
• Use only water-based lubricant, petroleum based will damage the latex of the condom

Is there a danger of contracting AIDS from donating blood or from a blood transfusion?

No. Blood banks and other blood collection centers use sterile equipment and disposable needles. The need for blood is always acute, and people who are not at increased risk for AIDS are urged to donate blood as they have in the past. The risk of contracting AIDS through a blood transfusion has been significantly reduced since the introduction of antibody screening of all blood donations. Blood found HIV antibody-positive is removed from the transfusion pool. The risk of contracting AIDS from a blood transfusion is extremely minimal.

Who should take precautions?

Everyone should evaluate their private lives and use precautions to reduce the likelihood of exposure to HIV. At work, those who handle blood or blood products should be knowledgeable of and follow established safety procedures known as universal precautions.

What is "very low" risk?

• Do not have sex
• Do not use injection drugs (including steroids)
• Never reuse or share syringes and equipment

What is "low risk"?

• Have sex with only 1 person and always use condoms
• Cleaning injection drug equipment with bleach and water (three times), be sure to end on water
• Using a new syringe, bottle caps, spoons, cookers, cottons, or other containers

What is "somewhat high" risk?

• Have sex with only 1 person but don't always use condoms
• Having sex with more than 1 person but always use condoms
• Sharing unclean needles and equipment or reusing water with the same group of people

What is "high" risk?

• Have sex with more than one person but don't always use condoms
• Sharing blood contaminated needles, spoons, cookers, cotton (or those not cleaned with bleach) with more than one person

 

AIDS Resource can do a personalized assessment of your risk and recommend ways you can reduce your risk of contracting HIV. Call us at 570-322-8448 for more information.

HIV/AIDS - Glossary

Act 148 of 1990

Pennsylvania’s state law, which addresses confidentiality of HIV-related information.

AIDS (Acquired ImmunoDeficiency Syndrome)

A diagnosis of AIDS is made by a physician using certain clinical or laboratory standards.

ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act)

A federal law that protects persons with disabilities from discrimination. Persons with HIV infection or AIDS, and persons thought to have or persons associated with someone with HIV/AIDS are covered by this law.

Blood-to-Blood Transmission

When a significant amount of blood from an infected person enters the bloodstream of an uninfected person. Often this occurs through shared contaminated needles or through needlestick injuries directly into the bloodstream.

Casual Contact

The type of close, everyday contact you have with others at work. You do not get HIV from casual contact.

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)

The virus that causes AIDS. HIV destroys the body’s ability to fight other diseases by weakening the immune system.

HIV Antibody Test

A test which indicates whether a person is infected with HIV. The test identifies antibodies to the virus rather than the virus itself. It takes from six weeks to six months from initial infection to when the test shows antibodies. This lag time is termed the “window period”, a period when the test does NOT show antibodies, but the person IS infected and CAN infect others.

Universal Precautions

Workplace precautions that are used whenever blood may be encountered which prevent the transmission of HIV and other blood borne diseases.