AIDS-WPS Office

AIDS
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a chronic, potentially

life-threatening condition caused by the human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV). By damaging your immune system, HIV interferes with
your body's ability to fight infection and disease.
HIV is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). It can also be spread by

contact with infected blood or from mother to child during
pregnancy, childbirth or breast-feeding. Without medication, it may
take years before HIV weakens your immune system to the point
that you have AIDS.
There's no cure for HIV/AIDS, but medications can dramatically slow

the progression of the disease. These drugs have reduced AIDS
deaths in many developed nations.
Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms of AIDS are caused by the deterioration of the immune

system and the decline of CD4+ T cells, which are the immune
system's key infection fighters. As soon as HIV enters the body, it
begins to destroy these cells. Some common symptoms include:
 Diarrhea that lasts for more than a week

 Dry cough
 Memory loss, depression and neurological disorders
 Pneumonia
 Profound, unexplained fatigue
 Rapid weight loss
 Recurring fever or profuse night sweats
 Red, brown, pink or purplish blotches on or under the skin or
inside the mouth, nose or eyelids
 Swollen lymph glands in the armpits, groin or neck
 White spots or unusual blemishes on the tongue, in the mouth, or
in the throat
Mode of Transmission
HIV can be transmitted via the exchange of a variety of body fluids

from infected people, such as blood, breast milk, semen and vaginal
secretions. HIV can also be transmitted from a mother to her child
during pregnancy and delivery. Individuals cannot become infected
through ordinary day-to-day contact such as kissing, hugging,
shaking hands, or sharing personal objects, food or water.
It is important to note that people with HIV who are taking ART and
are virally suppressed do not transmit HIV to their sexual partners.
Early access to ART and support to remain on treatment is therefore
critical not only to improve the health of people with HIV but also to
prevent HIV transmission.
Prevention of HIV/AIDS
Protecting yourself from HIV begins with understanding how the

virus is spread. The virus can be passed in only certain ways:
 During sex with a person infected with HIV
 By sharing a contaminated needle, such as through illicit drug use.
 From HIV mother to child either during pregnancy, labor or
breastfeeding.
 Through a contaminated blood transfusion
Donated blood in the United States has long been tested for HIV
(since 1985) and is considered very safe. Also, if a pregnant woman
knows she is HIV-positive, her medical team can now take special
steps to help prevent her baby from becoming infected.
Condom use
Consistent and correct use of the male latex condom reduces the risk
of sexually transmitted disease (STI) and human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV) transmission. However, condom use cannot provide
absolute protection against any STI.
Epidemiologic studies that compare rates of HIV infection between

condom users and nonusers who have HIV-infected sex partners
demonstrate that consistent condom use is highly effective in
preventing transmission of HIV. Similarly, epidemiologic studies have
shown that condom use reduces the risk of many other STIs.
However, the exact magnitude of protection has been difficult to
quantify because of numerous methodological challenges inherent in
studying private behaviors that cannot be directly observed or
measured.
Theoretical and empirical basis for protection
Condoms can be expected to provide different levels of protection

for various STIs, depending on differences in how the diseases or
infections are transmitted. Male condoms may not cover all infected
areas or areas that could become infected. Thus, they are likely to
provide greater protection against STIs that are transmitted only by
genital fluids (STIs such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, and
HIV infection) than against infections that are transmitted primarily
by skin-to-skin contact, which may or may not infect areas covered
by a condom (STIs such as genital herpes, human papillomavirus
[HPV] infection, syphilis, and chancroid).
TUBERCULOSIS
Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious infection that usually attacks your

lungs. It can also spread to other parts of your body, like your brain
and spine. A type of bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis
causes it.
Tuberculosis Signs and Symptoms
Latent TB doesn’t have symptoms. A skin or blood test can tell if you
have it.
Signs of active TB disease include:

 A cough that lasts more than 3 weeks
 Chest pain
 Coughing up blood
 Feeling tired all the time
 Night sweats
 Chills
 Fever
 Loss of appetite
 Weight loss
Mode of Tuberculosis Transmission
When someone who has TB coughs, sneezes, talks, laughs, or sings,

they release tiny droplets that contain the germs. If you breathe in
these germs, you can get it.
TB isn’t easy to catch. You usually have to spend a long time around
someone who has a lot of the bacteria in their lungs. You’re most likely
to catch it from co-workers, friends, and family members.
Tuberculosis germs don’t thrive on surfaces. You can’t get it from

shaking hands with someone who has it or by sharing their food or
drink.
Tuberculosis Prevention
To help stop the spread of TB:
 If you have a latent infection, take all of your medication so it

doesn’t become active and contagious.
 If you have active TB, limit your contact with other people.
Cover your mouth when you laugh, sneeze, or cough. Wear a
surgical mask when you’re around other people during the first
weeks of treatment.
 If you’re traveling to a place where TB is common, avoid
spending a lot of time in crowded places with sick people.

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AIDS

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a chronic, potentially

HIV is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). It can also be spread by

There's no cure for HIV/AIDS, but medications can dramatically slow

Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms of AIDS are caused by the deterioration of the immune

 Diarrhea that lasts for more than a week

HIV can be transmitted via the exchange of a variety of body fluids

Protecting yourself from HIV begins with understanding how the

Epidemiologic studies that compare rates of HIV infection between

Theoretical and empirical basis for protection

Condoms can be expected to provide different levels of protection

Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious infection that usually attacks your

Tuberculosis Signs and Symptoms

Signs of active TB disease include:

Mode of Tuberculosis Transmission

When someone who has TB coughs, sneezes, talks, laughs, or sings,

Tuberculosis germs don’t thrive on surfaces. You can’t get it from

To help stop the spread of TB:

 If you have a latent infection, take all of your medication so it

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