|
Type of
infection: |
Viral |
|
Infectious Organism: |
Human
Immunodeficiency Virus |
|
Location in the body: |
Blood,
semen, vaginal fluid, breast milk
|
|
Symptoms: |
Initially, usually no symptoms (you have it and don’t know it but can
pass it on to others); without treatment you can become very sick (AIDS)
|
|
Method
of spread: |
Sexual
activity (during oral, anal or vaginal sex microscopic exchange of blood
and other body fluids occurs)
I.V. drug
abuse (sharing needles)
Mother
to baby during pregnancy/birth and during breastfeeding
|
|
Consequences: |
The
body’s immune system is slowly attacked by the human immunodeficiency
virus leading to serious infection and cancer often resulting in death
(AIDS)
|
|
Number
of new cases per year: |
40,000 |
|
Total
number infected now: |
900,000
in the United States |
|
Tests
to see if you have it: |
Antibody screening test
DNA test
Viral titer
|
|
Treatment: |
None
available to get rid of the virus (no cure) but medicines can help slow
progression of the disease.
|
