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What is HIV/AIDS and what is the difference between HIV and AIDS?
How is HIV transmitted?
Who is at risk?
How is HIV/AIDS diagnosed?
Can HIV testing be done anonymously?
Will people be able to tell I am HIV-positive just by looking at me?
How many people have HIV/AIDS?
How long does an HIV-positive person usually live?
Is there a cure for HIV or AIDS?

What is HIV/AIDS and what is the difference between HIV and AIDS?

HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It is a virus that attacks the immune system -- the body's natural defense against infection -- and affects its ability to fight disease. Once the body's immune system is weakened, untreated HIV can lead to a condition known as AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

If someone is diagnosed with HIV, the person is referred to as "HIV-positive" -- meaning the person's blood test shows the presence of either the type 1 (HIV-1) or type 2 (HIV-2) virus. Type 1 is most common in the United States and Europe. If left untreated, both types of HIV will ultimately result in AIDS.

Think of HIV infection on a spectrum or line: Initial HIV infection is at one end, and AIDS is at the opposite end. Most people fall somewhere in the middle of this spectrum and have normal CD4 or T-cell counts. CD4 counts are used to assess the condition of the immune system. A person who has developed antibodies to HIV is said to be HIV-positive.

Once a person's CD4 cell count falls below 200 cells/mm³, the diagnosis is now called AIDS and once this occurs, an AIDS diagnosis is documented and never changes, even if the person's CD4 cell count returns to normal levels.

Having been assigned the diagnosis of AIDS doesn't necessarily mean you should physically feel a certain way.

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How is HIV transmitted?

• Sexual contact.
  HIV is most commonly spread by sexual contact with an infected partner. The virus can enter the body through the lining of the vagina, vulva, penis, rectum or mouth during sexual activity.
• Blood transfusions.
  Individuals who received a blood transfusion before 1985 -- before the introduction of blood screening and heat-treating techniques to kill HIV contamination in blood products -- are at a greater risk for contracting HIV. It is important to note the risk of contracting HIV from a blood transfusion today is extremely rare.
• Sharing needles.
  HIV is often spread among injection drug users who share needles that carry small amounts of contaminated blood from another user who is infected.
• Pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding.
  A mother infected with HIV can transmit the virus to her baby during pregnancy, birth or breast feeding. The risk of transmission is lowered if a mother takes the medication Retrovir® - zidovudine or azidothymidine (AZT) - during pregnancy. HIV can also be transmitted through breast milk.
• Occupational hazards.
  Those working in healthcare settings or working with high-risk populations can become infected by accidental needle sticks or exposure to infected blood, though this is rare.

There is no evidence that HIV is transmitted through:

• Saliva, sweat, tears, urine or stool (solid waste)
• Hugging, shaking hands or social kissing
• Casual contact, such as sharing eating utensils, towels and bedding, swimming pools, drinking fountains or toilet seats
• Bites from insects such as mosquitoes or bedbugs

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Who is at risk?

People at the highest risk for acquiring HIV include:

• Anyone who has unprotected sex or multiple sex partners, regardless of sexual orientation
• Injection drug users who share needles
• Newborn babies whose mothers are HIV-positive
• People with the blood disease hemophilia who were given "clotting factor" preparations between 1977 and April 1985
• Anyone who received a blood transfusion before April 1985
• Anyone with a sexually transmitted disease

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How is HIV/AIDS diagnosed?

Because most people newly infected with HIV do not show any symptoms, only a blood test can confirm an HIV infection. The blood test detects HIV antibodies, or disease-fighting proteins the body produces in response to infection. These antibodies usually do not reach detectable levels until an average of 25 days after infection. It can take six months to a year to generate antibody quantities large enough to show up in standard blood tests.

Two different types of antibody tests -- the enzyme immune assay (EIA) or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay -- are used to diagnose HIV infection using blood or saliva. If the EIA test is positive for the infection, the test is repeated on the same blood sample. If the second EIA test is positive, the results are confirmed using an even more specific test, called a Western blot test.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends all patients ages 13 to 64 be routinely screened for HIV at all healthcare settings, such as hospitals and clinics, unless a person declines. The CDC also suggests that HIV testing be performed once a year for people who are at high risk for acquiring HIV and as part of standard prenatal screenings for all pregnant women.

HIV testing is done in most healthcare providers' offices and health clinics when an experienced healthcare professional is available to help explain the test results.

Anonymous testing is also available at many sites. In addition, the Home Access® HIV test system, the only FDA-approved home HIV test, allows people to collect their own blood samples at home and mail them to a laboratory for testing. But, any positive tests obtained in this manner should be confirmed by further testing at a healthcare provider's office or clinic.

Babies born to mothers infected with HIV can be tested for the virus, but not until they are at least 15 months old. This is because a baby may continue to carry the mother's HIV antibodies for several months after birth until it can create its own antibodies. A baby undergoes several stages of HIV testing to confirm HIV infection.

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Can HIV testing be done anonymously?

There are many options for anonymous HIV testing. Anonymous testing is available from many healthcare providers including community based organizations. In addition, home testing allows people to collect their own blood samples at home and mail them to a laboratory for testing.

However, most states require "name reporting" of HIV infection with all states mandated by statutes to report the names of individuals diagnosed with AIDS (CD4 cell count below 200). This reporting is for statistics and tracking only.

Your name and identity remain confidential and protected by the state health department and the CDC. It is important for you to tell all former sex partners about your diagnosis so they can be tested. Most health departments will notify your contacts for you, allowing you to remain anonymous.

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Will people be able to tell I am HIV-positive just by looking at me?

When HIV first emerged in the early 1980s, some people became very thin from weight loss called wasting. Others developed visible skin disorders that made it clear they were sick. Today, due to currently available treatments, most people who are HIV-positive have no visible symptoms. However, some people with HIV experience a combination of symptoms that change their appearance.

Some people develop lipodystrophy syndrome and lose fat in their face, gain fat around their midsection and develop skinny arms and legs with prominent veins. This condition is usually accompanied by other conditions such as diabetes, obesity, elevated cholesterol and triglycerides, and heart disease. There is no known cure for lipodystrophy syndrome, though eating a low-fat diet and maintaining a regular exercise regimen seems to improve symptoms.

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How many people have HIV/AIDS?

In 2007, an estimated 33 million people had HIV/AIDS worldwide, including 2.7 million new infections and 2 million deaths. Most people living with HIV worldwide are unaware that they are infected.

Consider these statistics:

• As of 2007, 1.2 million Americans were living with HIV or AIDS. Of those, more than 468,000 are living with AIDS.
• In 2007, an estimated 14,561 Americans died of AIDS-related complications.
• The CDC estimates between 40,000 and 50,000 people are infected with HIV each year, but between 24 and 27 percent of those infected are undiagnosed and don't even know they have HIV.
• About 70 percent of newly diagnosed cases of HIV are among men; 30 percent are among women.
• Seventy-one percent of people newly diagnosed with AIDS and 64 percent of people living with AIDS are racial and ethnic minorities. They also represent 70 percent of HIV/AIDS-related deaths.
• African-American and Latino youth make up 87 percent of new AIDS diagnoses in people between 13 and 19 years old.

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How long does an HIV-positive person usually live?

Today, people diagnosed early will likely live normal life spans, though life will include more medical appointments and medications than would be needed by someone without HIV. Hearing an HIV diagnosis makes some people think of the time when HIV infection almost always resulted in death. Being educated about HIV care and treatment options will make it easier to understand the diagnosis isn't as bad as it used to be.

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Is there a cure for HIV or AIDS?

Although there are medication therapies to help manage HIV/AIDS, there is no cure.

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Information provided here does not constitute professional medical advice. Although it is intended to be accurate, neither Walgreen Co., its subsidiaries or affiliates, nor any other party assumes liability for loss or damage due to reliance on this material. If you have a medical question, consult your medical professional.