Basic Facts About HIV/AIDS

What is AIDS?

• AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. AIDS is the advanced stage of the disease caused by a virus called HIV.

H uman
I mmunodeficiency
V irus

• The virus attacks and damages the body's immune and nervous systems.
  
• Everyone can be affected by HIV/AIDS.
  Male, female, young, old.

Is there a cure for HIV infection?

• Not yet ...
  
• Progress has been made, but prevention is still our only defence.

I can get infected by:

• having unprotected vaginal and/or anal sex with someone already infected;
  
• sharing needles for injecting drugs like cocaine, heroin or steroids with someone already infected;
  
• tattooing, skin piercing or acupuncture with unsterilized needles;
  
• receiving infected blood or blood products (Since November 1985 in Canada, all blood and blood products are tested for HIV antibodies);
  
• during pregnancy, at birth or through breastfeeding, an infected mother can pass the virus to her child.

I can't get infected by:

• casual, everyday contact
  
• shaking hands
  
• hugging, kissing
  
• coughing, sneezing
  
• giving blood
  
• using swimming pools, toilet seats
  
• sharing bed linen, eating utensils, food
  
• mosquitos and other insects, animals

How do I know if I am infected?

• Over time, the body produces antibodies to fight the HIV virus. A blood test can tell if you have these antibodies which show you are infected.
  
• It can take up to six months after infection for these antibodies to show.

What happens if I am infected?

• After infection, people may not feel or look sick for years. However, they can still pass HIV to others.
  
• Over time, the nervous and immune systems become damaged and HIV infected people become sick with different illnesses.
  
• For people living with advanced HIV infection or AIDS, their immune and nervous systems are weak. They get diseases, such as infections or cancers, which can kill them.

How do I protect myself?

No risk:

• abstinence
• if you and your partner are not infected and you only have sex with each other

Some risk:

• safer sex activities
• safer needle use

What are safer sex activities?

Safer sex activities prevent contact with semen, vaginal fluids or blood. Talk to your partner about safer sex before having sex.

• use a latex condom correctly every time you have sex
  
• use only water-based lubricants. Oil-based lubricants such as petroleum jelly should never be used because they may weaken the condom and cause it to break.

What is safer needle use?

• don't share needles if you are injecting drugs
  
• use needle exchange programs where used needles can be exchanged for new ones, or
• rinse your used needles twice in water, twice in bleach for 30 seconds, and twice in water again.
  

The Funeral Directory would like to thank the Canadian HIV/AIDS Clearing House for kindly permitting us to use this information on our site