Facts about HIV, AIDS and
Prepared by The Department of Education & Professional Development, UTMB Correctional Managed Care
The Texas Legislature passed a law (Chapter 81, Subchapter H or the Health and Safety Code) requiring state agencies, including TDCJ and UTMB, to comply with the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations on bloodborne pathogens. This article is intended to provide assistance in this training required by OSHA.
HIV / AIDS
HIV - Human Immunodeficiency Virus is a virus that kills your body’s “CD4 cells.” These CD4 cells help your body fight off infection and disease. AIDS - Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome is a disease that develops when HIV destroys your body’s immune system. Your body’s immune system normally helps you fight off illness, but when your immune system fails, you can become very sick and even die. Anyone can get HIV. HIV is most commonly spread:
- By having unprotected (without a condom) anal, oral, or vaginal sex with someone who has HIV. The virus can be in an infected person’s blood, semen, or vaginal secretions and can enter your body through tiny cuts or sores in your skin, or in the lining of the vagina, penis, rectum, or mouth.
- By sharing needles or syringes to inject drugs or sharing drug equipment used to prepare drugs for injection with someone who has HIV.
- By sharing items that may contain blood of an infected person such as a razor or toothbrush.
- From a blood transfusion or clotting factor received before 1985.
- From HIV infected mothers to their babies during pregnancy, birth, or through breast milk.
Doing any of these unsafe practices is called a risk factor. Having sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s) such as syphilis, genital herpes, chlamydia, or gonorrhea can make it easier for a person to get HIV during sex with infected partners.
Many people have no symptoms when they first become infected with HIV, but others may have flu-like symptoms within one or two months after exposure to the virus. More serious symptoms may not appear for 10 years or more after HIV first enters the body. Symptoms may include fever, headache, tiredness, and enlarged lymph glands in the neck and groin.
The term AIDS applies to the most advanced stages of HIV infection. Some symptoms of the infections common to people with AIDS include coughing, shortness of breath, seizures, severe headache, severe diarrhea, vision loss, nausea, cramps, vomiting, extreme fatigue, or coma.
YOU CANNOT GET HIV:
- By being around or working with someone who has HIV.
- From sweat, tears, saliva, urine, feces, drinking fountains, or toilet seats.
- From insect bites or stings.
Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver that may cause permanent liver damage, liver failure, or liver cancer. Many people with hepatitis B or C do not have early symptoms, but can still develop liver failure. Some symptoms of hepatitis include dark urine, clay-colored stools, or yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes. There are many types of hepatitis. The most common types in TDCJ are hepatitis B and hepatitis C. These are virus infections that can be transmitted in the same ways that HIV is transmitted.
A person who has been exposed to the HIV virus should get an HIV test within 6 weeks to 12 months after exposure. A person with any risk factors for hepatitis should be tested at least once and periodically after that if they continue to practice unsafe behaviors.
DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT
A doctor can usually diagnose HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C by testing a person’s blood for the presence of antibodies (disease-fighting proteins). Antibodies do not generally reach detectable levels in the blood for one to three months after infection, and it may take up to six months for the antibodies to show up in standard blood tests.
During the past 10 years, researchers have developed drugs to fight HIV infection, its associated infections and cancers in people who are newly infected with HIV as well as people with AIDS. There is no vaccine for HIV. While there are treatments available for hepatitis B and hepatitis C, not everyone needs treatment. If you are infected you should talk with a medical provider about treatment options.
Other steps to avoid infection of HIV and hepatitis include:
- DO avoid contact with blood or blood products.
- DON’T have sex with anyone who has HIV or hepatitis, or someone with an unknown health history.
- DO wash your hands after going to the bathroom and before handling food.
- DON’T share nail clippers, razors, needles, or toothbrushes.
- DON’T use recreational IV drugs. Never share needles. DO get help from a drug treatment program.
- DO be cautious when getting tattoos or body piercings.
- DON’T drink alcohol in excess. If you already have hepatitis avoid further liver damage and DON’T use any alcohol.
- DO GET TESTED for HIV and/or hepatitis even if you have no symptoms.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, contact a member of your facility health care provider team.
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