The following are known risk factors for HIV. You may be at increased risk of infection if any of the following apply to you:

AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is a fatal infection caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV for short). This virus attacks the body's immune (defence) system and over period of time destroys it. This leaves the body defenceless against infections by other germs and the growth of cancers. Up till the middle of 1996, more than 27.9 million people have been infected worldwide. Over 40% are women, and over 2 million are infants and children. Of these, 5.

People with weakened immune systems may be at risk for more severe illness if they are infected with MRSA, they should follow the same prevention measures and contact their healthcare provider if they think they have been infected.

There is no cure for HIV infection and AIDS. But there are medicines that can treat the infections and cancers which occur in AIDS. Drugs which attack the HIV virus are also available. These drugs can prolongs the lifespan of the infected persons. Research into vaccines may one day yield an effective medical prevention, but until that time the only effective preventions is not to allow the virus to enter your body.

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency ["im-you-no-de-fish-en-see"] Virus -- is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). HIV attacks and kills the cells in our bodies that keep us from getting diseases. This makes people with HIV get illnesses that healthy people do not get. When a person with HIV gets very sick from pneumonia, some kinds of cancer, and other life-threatening diseases, they are said to have AIDS. AIDS is a fatal disease. Here is more information on HIV/AIDS.

Once infected with HIV, a person may or may not experience any symptoms. People who do experience symptoms might have a flu-like illness within one or two months after infection. Symptoms can include fever, headache, tiredness and/or enlarged lymph nodes. These symptoms usually disappear within a week to a month and are often mistaken for the symptoms of more common viral infections, like a cold.

Because the procedure is coupled with the loss of blood and use is often made of one instrument for a number of operations, the risk of HIV/AIDS transmission is increased by the practice. Also, due to damage to the female sexual organs, sexual intercourse can result in lacerations of tissues, which greatly increases risk of transmission. The same is true for childbirth and subsequent loss of blood.

Yes. Cocaine abusers, especially those who inject, are at increased risk for contracting such infectious diseases as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV/AIDS) and hepatitis. In fact, use and abuse of illicit drugs, including crack cocaine, have become the leading risk factors for new cases of HIV. Drug abuse-related spread of HIV can result from direct transmission of the virus through the sharing of contaminated needles and paraphernalia between injecting drug users.

No. The operation is completely safe. All needles and blades are discarded after use and instruments are pressure sterilized, just as they are in a surgery room in a hospital. Will I need to take time off work? Many patients are able to resume work the next day and perform light sporting activities within one week. We do recommend that vigorous sports such as football, water skiing and weight lifting should be discontinued for at least two weeks.

If you can answer yes to any of the following questions, you may be at risk for HIV and should be tested. <top>

A notifiable disease is a disease that, by law, must be reported to the public health authority in the area in which the diagnosis is made. Please refer to the TERMS section under the term "NOTIFIABLE DISEASE" to obtain additional information for this question.

Groups such as the American Medical Association, the American Bar Association, and the American Pharmaceutical Association all recommend providing access to clean syringes to reduce disease risk among those who are unable to abstain from injecting drugs.

For injection drug users who cannot or will not stop injecting drugs, the following steps may be taken to reduce personal and public health risks: If possible, use sterile water to prepare drugs; otherwise, use clean water from a reliable source (such as fresh tap water). Use a new or disinfected container ("cooker") and a new filter ("cotton") to prepare drugs.

Enter and complete substance abuse treatment, including relapse prevention. For injection drug users who cannot or will not stop injecting drugs, the following steps may be taken to reduce personal and public health risks: If possible, use sterile water to prepare drugs; otherwise, use clean water from a reliable source (such as fresh tap water). Use a new or disinfected container ("cooker") and a new filter ("cotton") to prepare drugs.

Statistics show that the percentage of HIV infection in MSM (men who have sex with men) is usually substantially higher than in heterosexual men. Unprotected anal intercourse does carry a higher risk than most other forms of sexual activities. The lining of the rectum has less cells than that of the vagina, and therefore can be damaged and cause bleeding during intercourse. This can then be a route into the bloodstream for infected sexual fluids or blood.

There is evidence that HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, has been in the Asian region at least since 1978. The following are known risk factors

estimated 50% of all new HIV infections occur among people under 25, with the majority being infected by sexual contact with a person carrying the disease. (*9)

AIDS-HIV Risk Coverage is health insurance coverage for people working in the health care industry who might become infected with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) or AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) by coming into contact with patients or patients fluid specimens. Health Insurance may be paid monthly to cover expenses or it may be payable in a lump sum.

Homosexual activity may involve anal penetration of the passive partner by the penis of the other partner. The rectum has a less robust lining than the vagina and is more easily damaged. This provides easy access for HIV from the infected semen to a passive partner or the HIV infected blood from the torn rectal lining of a passive partner can enter the penis through any ulcers or abrasions on the penis of the other partner. i.

A person can have TB infection for years without any signs of disease. But if that person's immune system gets weak, the infection can quickly turn into TB disease. Also, if a person who has a weak immune system spends time with someone with infectious TB, he or she may become infected with TB bacteria and quickly develop TB disease. Because HIV infection weakens the immune system, people with TB infection and HIV infection are at very high risk of developing TB disease.

Copyright © 2002-2005 Health Information Publications. The information provided on this Web site has been developed exclusively by and for Health Information Publications and ehealthMD and may not be copied without written permission. The information provided is for general information only and is not intended to replace the advice of your health-care provider. This is original material developed by Health Information Publications, Copyright © 1990-2005

Call the California HIV/AIDS Hotline at 800/367-AIDS (English/Spanish). TDD: 888/225-AIDS. For more information about the hotline, click here.

Globally, 45 percent of adults living with HIV/AIDS are women. By region, this percentage varies considerably, from 57% in Sub-Saharan Africa, to 28% in East Asia and the Pacific. In 2004, 17.6 million women were living with HIV/AIDS worldwide.

of 2003, approximately 15 million children have lost one or both parents due to HIV/AIDS. By 2010, this number is expected to increase to 25 million. Learn more about USAID's efforts to improve the lives of children affected by HIV/AIDS.

HIV destroys a certain kind of blood cell (CD4+ T cells) which is crucial to the normal function of the human immune system. In fact, loss of these cells in people with HIV is an extremely powerful predictor of the development of AIDS. Studies of thousands of people have revealed that most people infected with HIV carry the virus for years before enough damage is done to the immune system for AIDS to develop.

I - Immuno-deficiency: because the effect of the virus is to create a deficiency, a failure to work properly, within the body's immune system. V - Virus: because this organism is a virus, which means one of its characteristics is that it is incapable of reproducing by itself. It reproduces by taking over the machinery of the human cell.