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10 things to know about AIDS
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Don't be in the dark when it comes to HIV and AIDS -- arm yourself with the knowledge you need to protect yourself.
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By Dee Van Dyk
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Every year, an estimated 2,300 to 4,500 Canadians are infected with HIV, according to The Public Health Agency of Canada. Often, people don't have symptoms of Human Immunodeficiency Virus disease and may not immediately realize they've been infected.
To protect yourself, find out what causes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) and learn how to minimize your risks. Here are 10 things you need to know about AIDS and HIV.
1. What is HIV?
HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. The virus progressively deteriorates your immune system.
2. What is AIDS?
AIDS describes the most advanced stages of an HIV infection. The length of time between infection and onset of AIDS varies widely, but most people infected with HIV develop signs of HIV-related illness within five to 10 years.
The World Health Organization groups HIV/AIDS into four stages; with Stage I having no symptoms of HIV disease and Stage IV (including Kaposi's Sarcoma and toxoplasmosis of the brain) being the most advanced progression of the disease.
3. How HIV transfers from one person to another
One person transmits HIV infection to another when his infected semen, her vaginal secretions or his or her blood comes into contact with an uninfected person's broken skin or mucous membranes (mouth, eyes, nose, vagina, rectum, penis opening.)
4. The various ways to contract HIV
The following actions can spread HIV infection:
-Sharing a needle with someone who is infected with HIV
-Having sex with someone who is infected with HIV
-Contact with the blood of someone who is infected with HIV
-A woman with HIV can transmit the virus to her child during childbirth and breastfeeding.
5. Popular myths about AIDS
Despite the abundance of educational programs about HIV/AIDS, many misconceptions persist. You can't get AIDS by sharing cutlery, shaking hands, or eating food prepared by a person with HIV. And you can't get AIDS from a toilet seat.
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