HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is transmitted in blood, semen, breast
milk, vaginal fluids and other body tissues/fluids containing blood.
How could I get HIV?
HIV is commonly spread by:
- Having unprotected sexual contact (oral, vaginal and anal) with someone
who has the virus
- Sharing needles or syringes with someone who has the virus
- Getting HIV-infected blood, semen, or vaginal secretions into open wounds
or sores
- Being punctured by a needle or surgical instrument contaminated with
the virus
- HIV can also be passed from a woman to her fetus during pregnancy, childbirth
and breastfeeding
HIV is not transmitted by simple casual contact such as kissing, sharing
water glasses, or hugging.
What are some common symptoms of HIV infection?
- Profound and unexplained fatigue
- Rapid weight loss
- Swollen lymph glands
- Diarrhea that lasts for more than a week
- Red, brown, pink or purplish blotches on or under the skin, or inside
the mouth, nose or eyelids
What is an AIDS diagnosis?
An individual is diagnosed with AIDS if they are HIV-positive and develop
- severe immunosuppression (CD4+ count less than 200)
- one of the AIDS-defining opportunistic illnesses such as PCP, tuberculosis,
toxoplasmosis, Kaposi sarcoma, HIV dementia, etc.
Once a person has been diagnosed with AIDS, s/he is always considered to
have AIDS, even if they recover from the AIDS indicator illness or their
CD4-cell
count goes up again.
Where can I be tested
for HIV?
Confidential HIV testing is available at the Campus Health Center (331- 2435),
Kent County Health Department (336-3602), Ottawa County Health Department
(662-3100), and the McAuley Health Center (913-8200). The Campus Wellness
Center is scheduled to offer HIV testing beginning January 2004.
For more information visit, www.infoweb.org, www.aids.com, www.hivandhepatitis.com and www.plannedparenthood.org.
