HIV FACTS
What is HIV?
HIV stands for "Human Immuno-deficiency Virus".
HIV is a virus that cannot be cured. Once HIV gets into your body, it will stay in your body for the rest of your life. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.
AIDS stands for "Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome".
AIDS is the syndrome caused by HIV. A diagnosis of AIDS is made by a doctor when a person's white blood cell count is under 200 and when the person has an opportunistic infection. Some examples of opportunistic infections are thrush, K.S. (a type of skin cancer), and pneumonia.
AIDS is not the cause of death in people with HIV. An opportunistic infection as a result of the weakened immune system is the cause of death.
What does HIV do to the body?
HIV attacks your white blood cells (aka T-cells) that fight infection in your body. The virus turns your white blood cells into HIV production factories producing more HIV throughout your body. The result is you are unable to fight infections as well as you could with a healthier immune system.
What are the Symptoms of HIV Infection?
- Rapid weight loss
- Continuous unexplained fatigue
- Night sweats
- Swollen glands
- Sores or rashes in the mouth or on the body
- An opportunistic infection (such as thrush, K.S., pneumonia)
- Diarrhea (for more than 2 weeks)
Symptoms may be similar to symptoms you have when you get the flu, and in fact are very common for several illnesses. The best way to find out if you have HIV is to get tested!
You can get HIV from the following body fluids:
- Blood
- Semen
- Vaginal fluids
- Breast milk
- Pre-ejaculate (pre-cum)
You can get HIV from the following behaviors:
- Having vaginal, oral, and anal intercourse without a condom or dental dam
- Sharing needles
- From mother to child during pregnancy, birth, and breast feeding
You cannot get HIV from:
- Kissing, sweat, tears
- Outercourse
- Hugging
- Food/Sharing utensils
- Toilet seats
- Giving blood
HIV PREVENTION
You can prevent HIV by:
- Using condoms and dental dams when involved in vaginal, oral, or anal intercourse
- Using clean needles and works when injecting drugs or anything else
How to use a condom:
- Tear open the package very carefully. Rough handling, jewelry or fingernails can damage the condom. Do not use the condom if the package is damaged in any way.
- Put the condom on the head of the penis.
- Pinch a half-inch space at the tip of the condom to leave room for semen before rolling the condom over the penis.
- Roll the condom all the way down to the base. Add plenty of lubricant on the outside of the condom. Water-based lubricants only!
- After ejaculation (coming), hold on to the condom when you pull out. Make sure to hold on to the rim of the condom so that the condom does not slip off.
- Discard the used condom.
- Do not re-use a condom. Use a new condom each time you engage in a sexual activity.
Important things to know about condoms:
- Use only water-based lubricants (it should say "water-based" on the package) such as K-Y jelly. Oils in hand lotions, massage oils, Vaseline, etc. can weaken condoms
- If you are allergic to latex, use plastic (polyurethane). Do not use natural skin condoms - these do not protect you from HIV
- Teeth and fingernails may weaken condoms - be careful
If you have more questions about HIV/AIDS, please contact Midwest AIDS Prevention Project at 1-888-A-CONDOM or e-mail us at: voa@aidsprevention.org.
HIV & SUBSTANCE USE
Alcohol and other drugs can put you at an increased risk of getting HIV and other sexual transmitted infections. Being under the influence of substances can:
- Increase the chance that you will engage in high-risk behaviors, have sexual intercourse without a condom or share dirty needles while injecting drugs
- Make you clumsy and careless in using condoms, dental dams and lubricants
- Reduce your sexual inhibitions so you are more likely to have sex under unfavorable conditions
Alcohol and other drugs can also have a negative effect on your body by:
- Making the immune system weak
- Decreasing the body's antibody production (antibodies fight infection)
- Increasing the speed with which HIV reproduces in the body
Click here for information about commonly used drugs, their effects, and the dangers involved with using them.
HIV STATISTICS
- 15,500 people with HIV living in Michigan
- 11,940 of the 15,500 are HIV infected men
- 8,530 of the 11,940 men became infected through male-to-male sex
- 4,190 of HIV infected men and women were diagnosed between the ages of 13-29.
- 570 people living in Macomb County are HIV infected
- 1,620 people living in Oakland County are HIV infected
- 1,500 people living in Wayne County (outside of Detroit) are HIV infected
- 6,880 people living in the city of Detroit are HIV infected
- 1 in 4 HIV infections will occur with someone under the age of 25
- 1 in 9 gay or bisexual men in Michigan is HIV infected
- 9 gay or bisexual men are infected with HIV each week in Michigan
(Statistics provided by the Michigan Department of Community Health)
