CAUSES AND

EFFECT: PREVENTION

 *Use a new condom every time

cause: you have sex.
*HIV infection is caused by the human
immunodeficiency virus. You can  *Use a new condom every time
get HIV from contact with infected blood,
semen, or vaginal fluids. Most people get
you have anal or vaginal sex. ...
the virus by having unprotected sex with
someone who has HIV. Another common
 *Consider the drug Truvada. ...
way of getting it is by sharing drug needles
with someone who is infected with HIV.
 *Tell your sexual partners if you
have HIV. ...
EFFECT:
*HIV attacks the immune system, which is
 *Use a clean needle. ...
the body's defence against disease. If a
person's immune system is severely
 *If you're pregnant, get medical
damaged by the virus, they will care right away. ...
developAIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency
Syndrome). This means they are likely to *Consider male circumcision
get infections and illnesses that their body
would normally fight off.

SYMPTOMS:
Stage 1: Acute HIV Infection
Within 2 to 4 weeks after infection with
HIV, about two-thirds of people will have
a flu-like illness. This is the body’s
natural response to HIV infection.
Flu-like symptoms can include:
 Fever
 Chills
 Rash
 Night sweats
 Muscle aches
 Sore throat
 Fatigue
 Swollen lymph nodes
 Mouth ulcers
These symptoms can last anywhere from
a few days to several weeks. But some
people do not have any symptoms at all
during this early stage of HIV.
Stage 2: Clinical Latency
In this stage, the virus still multiplies, but at very low
levels. People in this stage may not feel sick or have any
symptoms. This stage is also called chronic HIV
infection. AWARENESS OF
Without HIV treatment, people can stay in this
stage for 10 or 15 years, but some move through this
stage faster.
SEXUAL
important to see your health care provider DISEASES-
regularly to get your level checked.
Stage 3: AIDS
If you have HIV and you are not on HIV treatment,
eventually the virus will weaken your body’s immune
system and you will progress to AIDS (acquired
immunodeficiency syndrome). This is the late stage of
HIV infection.
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are
 Rapid weight loss infections that spread from person to
person through sexual activity, including
 Recurring fever or profuse night sweats
anal, vaginal, or oral sex.
 Extreme and unexplained tiredness
 Prolonged swelling of the lymph glands in the HIV is an
armpits, groin, or neck STD. Chlamydia, gonorrhea, human
 Red, brown, pink, or purplish blotches on or papillomavirus (HPV) infection,
and syphilis are examples of other STDs.
under the skin or inside the mouth, nose, or
eyelids
Having an STD can make it easier to get
 Memory loss, depression, and other neurologic
HIV. For example, an STD can cause a
disorders sore or a break in the skin, which can make
it easier for HIV to enter the body. Having
HIV and another STD may increase the
Each of these symptoms can also be related to other
illnesses. The only way to know for sure if you have HIV
risk of HIV transmission.
is to get tested.Many of the severe symptoms and
To prevent STDs, including HIV, choose
illnesses of HIV disease come from the opportunistic
less risky sexual behaviors and
infections that occur because your body’s immune use condomscorrectly every time you have
system has been damaged. See your health care provider sex.
if you are experiencing any of these symptoms.