HIV destroys a certain kind of blood cells--CD4+ T cells (helper
cells)--which are 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. However, recently developed
sensitive tests have shown a strong connection between the amount of HIV in the
blood and the decline in CD4+ T cell numbers and the development of AIDS.
Reducing the amount of virus in the body with anti-HIV drugs can slow this
immune destruction.
How Is HIV Passed
From One Person to Another?
HIV transmission can occur when blood, semen (including pre-seminal fluid, or
"pre-cum"), vaginal fluid, or breast milk from an infected person enters the
body of an uninfected person.
HIV can enter the body through a vein (e.g., injection drug use), the anus or
rectum, the vagina, the penis, the mouth, other mucous membranes (e.g., eyes or
inside of the nose), or cuts and sores. Intact, healthy skin is an excellent
barrier against HIV and other viruses and bacteria.
These are the most common ways that HIV is transmitted from one person to
another:
-
by having sexual intercourse (anal, vaginal, or oral sex) with an
HIV-infected person
-
by sharing needles or injection equipment with an injection drug user who
is infected with HIV
-
from HIV-infected women to babies before or during birth, or through
breast-feeding after birth
HIV also can be transmitted through transfusions of infected blood or blood
clotting factors. However, since 1985, all donated blood in the United States
has been tested for HIV. Therefore, the risk of infection through transfusion of
blood or blood products is extremely low. The U.S. blood supply is considered to
be among the safest in the world.
Some health-care workers have become infected after being stuck with needles
containing HIV-infected blood or, less frequently, after infected blood contact
with the worker's open cut or through splashes into the worker's eyes or inside
their nose. There has been only one instance of patients being infected by an
HIV-infected health care worker. This involved HIV transmission from an infected
dentist to six patients. (For more information, see "Are
health care workers at risk of getting HIV on the job?" and "Are
patients in a dentist's or doctor's office at risk of getting HIV?")
Where Can I Get Tested
For HIV Infection?
Many places provide testing for HIV infection. Common testing locations
include local health departments, offices of private doctors, hospitals, and
sites specifically set up to provide HIV testing. To find a testing site near
you, visit the
CT Department of Public Health
web site or the National HIV Testing Resources
web site.
It is important to seek testing at a place that also provides counseling
about HIV and AIDS. Counselors can answer any questions you might have about
risky behavior and ways you can protect yourself and others in the future. In
addition, they can help you understand the meaning of the test results and
describe what AIDS-related resources are available in the local area.
The
CDC National AIDS
Hotline can answer questions about testing and can refer you to testing
sites in your area. The Hotline numbers are 1-800-342-2437 (English),
1-800-344-7432 (Spanish), or 1-800-243-7889 (TTY).
(Information on this page
was provided by the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
www.cdc.gov.)
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