The only way to determine whether you are infected is to be tested for HIV infection. You can’t rely on symptoms to know whether or not you are infected with HIV. Many people who are infected with HIV don’t have any symptoms at all for many years. Similarly, you can’t rely on symptoms to establish that a person has AIDS. The symptoms associated with AIDS are similar to the symptoms of many other diseases. AIDS is a diagnosis made by a doctor based on specific criteria established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Worldwide: UNAIDS estimates that as of December 2000, there were an estimated 36.1 million people living with HIV/AIDS (34.7 million adults and 1.4 million children under 15). Since the epidemic began, an estimated 21.8 million people have died of AIDS (17.5 million adults and 4.3 million children under 15). An estimated 5.3 million new HIV infections occurred in 2000. During 2000, HIV- and AIDS-associated illnesses caused deaths of an estimated 3 million people, including 500,000 children under the age of 15. In the United States: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are between 800,000 and 900,000 people living with HIV. Through December 2000, a total of 774,467 cases of AIDS have been reported to the CDC; of this number, 448,060 persons (representing 58% of cases) have died. Latest U.S. AIDS Trends Download the most recent CDC HIV/AIDS Surveillance Reports

The most recent presentation on the origin of HIV was presented at the 6th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunitistic Infections (Chicago, January 1999). At that conference, research was presented that suggested that HIV had “crossed over” into the human population from a particular species of chimpanzee, probably through blood contact that occurred during hunting and field dressing of the animals. The CDC states that the findings presented at this conference provide the strongest evidence to date that HIV-1 originated in non-human primates. The research findings were featured in the February 4,1999 issue of the journal, Nature. We know that the virus has existed in the United States, Haiti and Africa since at least 1977-1978. In 1979, rare types of pneumonia, cancer and other illnesses were being reported by doctors in Los Angeles and New York. The common thread was that these conditions were not usually found in persons with healthy immune systems. In 1982 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officially named the condition AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). In 1984 the virus responsible for weakening the immune system was identified as HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus).

Having a sexually transmitted disease (STD) can increase a person’s risk of becoming infected with HIV, whether or not that STD causes lesions or breaks in the skin. If the STD infection causes irritation of the skin, breaks or sores may make it easier for HIV to enter the body during sexual contact. Even an STD that causes no breaks or sores can stimulate an immune response in the genital area that can make HIV transmission more likely.

Currently, the average time between HIV infection and the appearance of signs that could lead to an AIDS diagnosis is 8-11 years. This time varies greatly from person to person and can depend on many factors including a person’s health status and behaviors. Today there are medical treatments that can slow down the rate at which HIV weakens the immune system. There are other treatments that can prevent or cure some of the illnesses associated with AIDS. As with other diseases, early detection offers more options for treatment and preventative health care.

HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. H – Human: because this virus can only infect human beings. I – Immuno-deficiency: because the effect of the virus is to create a deficiency, a failure to work properly, within the body’s immune system. V – Virus: because this organism is a virus, which means one of its characteristics is that it is incapable of reproducing by itself. It reproduces by taking over the machinery of the human cell.       A – Acquired: because it’s a condition one must acquire or get infected with; not something transmitted through the genes I – Immune: because it affects the body’s immune system, the part of the body which usually works to fight off germs such as bacteria and viruses D – Deficiency: because it makes the immune system deficient (makes it not work properly) S – Syndrome: because someone with AIDS may experience a wide range of different diseases and opportunistic infections.

AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. An HIV-positive person receives an AIDS diagnosis after developing one of the CDC-defined AIDS indicator illnesses. An HIV-positive person can also receive an AIDS diagnosis on the basis of certain blood tests (CD4 counts) and may not have experienced any serious illnesses. A positive HIV test does not mean that a person has AIDS. A diagnosis of AIDS is made by a physician according to the CDC AIDS Case Definition. Over time, infection with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) can weaken the immune system to the point that the system has difficulty fighting off certain infections. These types of infections are known as opportunistic infections. Many of the infections that cause problems or that can be life-threatening for people with AIDS are usually controlled by a healthy immune system. The immune system of a person with AIDS has weakened to the point that medical intervention may be necessary to prevent or treat serious illness.

Quick Start: Find a Testing Location Near You What is HIV Antibody Testing? Why Should I Be Tested? – The Benefits of Knowing How Is HIV Spread? Who Should Be Tested? When Should I Be Tested? What About My Privacy? Confidential or Anonymous. Where Can I Get Tested? I’ve Taken the Test. What Happens Now? What Do My Test Results Mean? Should I Take the Test Again? Still Have Questions about HIV Testing? What is HIV Antibody Testing? HIV testing determines whether or not you are infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). This virus destroys the body’s ability to fight off illness, and is the cause of AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). more from New Mexico AIDS InfoNet Why Should I Be Tested? – The Benefits of Knowing Immune system monitoring and early treatment can greatly improve your long term health. Knowing you are positive may help you change behaviors that would put yourself and others at risk. You will know whether or not you can infect others. Women and their partners considering pregnancy can take advantage of treatments that potentially prevent transmission of HIV to the baby. If you test negative, you may feel less anxious after testing. courtesy of San Francisco AIDS Foundation How Is HIV Spread? Anal, vaginal, or oral sex without a condom. If you have another sexually transmitted disease, you chances of contracting HIV during sex are much higher. Direct blood or mucous membrane contact with an infected person’s blood. From an infected mother to her child, during pregnancy, birth, or breast feeding. Sharing needles or equipment for drug use. Who Should Be Tested? Testing is recommended if: You think you may have been exposed to the HIV. If you’re not sure, take this anonymous survey. You are sexually active (3 or more sexual partners in the last 12 months) You received a blood transfusion between 1977 and 1985, or a sexual partner received a transfusion and later tested positive for HIV. You are uncertain about your sexual partner’s risk behaviors. You are a male who has had sex with another male at any time since 1977. Any of your male sexual partners has had sex with another male since 1977. You have used street drugs by injection since 1977, especially when sharing needles and/or other equipment. You have a sexually transmitted disease (STD), including pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). You are a health care worker with direct exposure to blood on the job. You are pregnant. There are now treatments that can greatly reduce the risk that a pregnant woman who has HIV will give the virus to her baby. You are a woman who wants to make sure you are not infected with HIV before getting pregnant. Even if you have no risk factors for HIV infection, you may still want to get tested to ease your own mind. This also encourages everyone to be more responsible about HIV transmission. When Should I Be Tested? After a possible HIV exposure: An HIV test will not detect the presence of the HIV virus immediately after exposure. Statistics show that 96% (perhaps higher) of all infected individuals will test positive within 2 to 12 weeks. In some cases, this may take up to six months.Think about this: if you got a negative test at six weeks, would you believe it? Would it make you less anxious? If so, go for it. But to be certain, you will need to be tested again at six months. more from San Francisco AIDS Foundation Periodic Testing: Many people continue to engage in some degree of risky behavior, and choose to be tested for HIV periodically (every six months, every year, or every other year.)Since the window period for developing a positive test result can be as long as six months, it would rarely make sense to be tested more often than this.There are clear benefits to early medical attention for infection with the HIV virus. There is little agreement on how early this must be. But if you wait longer than two years, treatment of the disease may be less effective. If you are beyond the six month window period from a possible HIV transmission event and were reported HIV negative by an accurate HIV test (and you are not subsequently put at risk for HIV), you can consider yourself HIV negative. There is no need to retest. However if it eases your anxiety, you may wish to take the test again periodically. more from San Francisco AIDS Foundation What About My Privacy? Confidential or Anonymous. Anonymous testing means that absolutely no one has access to your test results since your name is never recorded at the test site. Confidential testing sometimes means identifying yourself in some manner to the test site, with their assurance that this information will remain private.Anonymous test sites are highly recommended because: The quality of the education and counseling that is provided is very good. The testing is usually free. The testing is reliable and automatically includes confirming tests. It protects you from risks of discrimination or adverse impact, especially in applications for insurance. Sometimes even taking an HIV test, regardless of the result, might cause an insurance application to be refused. Anonymous testing sites never give written results. Some sites who do anonymous testing also do confidential testing, which may also include written results. At least 11 states do not currently provide anonymous testing. courtesy of San Francisco AIDS Foundation Where Can I Get Tested? You can arrange for HIV testing at an established testing center, or at your doctor’s office. Test results are usually available within one to two weeks. Home test kits allow you to mail in a sample, and receive your results sometime later via telephone. Testing Centers Click here for NATIONAL HIV TESTING LOCATIONS If you would like to talk to someone and have any questions, you can contact the CDC National AIDS Hotline at (800) 342-2437 (24 hrs/day, 365 days/year). Home Testing – Is It For

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