Q. What is HIV?
A. HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the virus that causes AIDS. This virus may be passed from one person to another when infected blood, semen or vaginal secretions come in contact with an uninfected person's broken skin or mucous membranes.
In addition, infected pregnant women can pass HIV to their baby during pregnancy or delivery, as well as through breast-feeding. People with HIV have what is called HIV infection. Some of these people will develop AIDS as a result of their HIV infection.
Learn how HIV is transmitted so you can help prevent its spread in Cleveland and Cuyahoga County.
Q. How is HIV passed from one person to another?
A. HIV transmission can occur when blood, semen (cum), pre-seminal fluid (pre-cum), vaginal fluid, or breast milk from an infected person enters the body of an uninfected person.
HIV can enter the body through a vein (e.g., injection drug use), the lining of the anus or rectum, the lining of the vagina and/or cervix, the opening to the penis, the mouth, other mucous membranes (e.g., eyes or inside of the nose), or cuts and sores.
Intact, healthy skin is an excellent barrier against HIV and other viruses and bacteria. These are the most common ways that HIV is transmitted from one person to another:
- by having sex (anal, vaginal or oral) with an HIV-infected person;
- by sharing needles or injection equipment with an injection drug user who is infected with HIV;
- from HIV-infected women to their babies before or during birth, or through breast-feeding.
Cleveland and Cuyahoga County residents who are concerned about testing positive for HIV can get the facts here on treatment possibilities and health care options.
Q. What if I test positive for HIV?
A. See a licensed health care provider, even if you do not feel sick. Try to find a health care provider who has experience treating HIV. There are now many medications to treat HIV infection and help you maintain your health. It is never too early to start thinking about treatment possibilities.
Have a TB (tuberculosis) test. You may be infected with TB and not know it. Undetected TB can cause serious illness, but it can be successfully treated if caught early.
Smoking cigarettes, drinking too much alcohol, or using illegal drugs (such as methamphetamines) can weaken your immune system. There are programs available that can help you stop or reduce your use of these substances.
Have a screening test for other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Undetected STDs can cause serious health problems. It is also important to practice safe-sex behaviors so you can avoid getting STDs.
Not having (abstaining from) sex is the most effective way to avoid transmitting HIV to others. If you choose to have sex, use a latex condom to help protect your partner from HIV and other STDs. Studies have shown that latex condoms are very effective, though not 100%, in preventing HIV transmission when used correctly and consistently.
Cleveland and Cuyahoga County residents may have questions about AIDS and can get the facts by reading these FAQs below.
Q. What is AIDS?
A. AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.
Acquired means that the disease is not hereditary, but develops after birth from contact with a disease causing agent (in this case, HIV).
Immunodeficiency means that the disease is characterized by a weakening of the immune system.
Syndrome refers to a group of symptoms that collectively indicate or characterize a disease. In the case of AIDS this can include the development of certain infections and/or cancers, as well as a decrease in the number of certain cells in a person's immune system.
A diagnosis of AIDS is made by a physician using specific clinical or laboratory standards.