10 things to know about AIDS

Every year, an estimated 2,300 to 4,500 Canadians are infected with HIV, according to The Public Health Agency of Canada. Often, people don't have symptoms of Human Immunodeficiency Virus disease and may not immediately realize they've been infected.

To protect yourself, find out what causes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) and learn how to minimize your risks. Here are 10 things you need to know about AIDS and HIV.

1. What is HIV?
HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. The virus progressively deteriorates your immune system.

2. What is AIDS?
AIDS describes the most advanced stages of an HIV infection. The length of time between infection and onset of AIDS varies widely, but most people infected with HIV develop signs of HIV-related illness within five to 10 years.

The World Health Organization groups HIV/AIDS into four stages; with Stage I having no symptoms of HIV disease and Stage IV (including Kaposi's Sarcoma and toxoplasmosis of the brain) being the most advanced progression of the disease.

3. How HIV transfers from one person to another
One person transmits HIV infection to another when his infected semen, her vaginal secretions or his or her blood comes into contact with an uninfected person's broken skin or mucous membranes (mouth, eyes, nose, vagina, rectum, penis opening.)

4. The various ways to contract HIV
The following actions can spread HIV infection:
-Sharing a needle with someone who is infected with HIV
-Having sex with someone who is infected with HIV
-Contact with the blood of someone who is infected with HIV
-A woman with HIV can transmit the virus to her child during childbirth and breastfeeding.

5. Popular myths about AIDS
Despite the abundance of educational programs about HIV/AIDS, many misconceptions persist. You can't get AIDS by sharing cutlery, shaking hands, or eating food prepared by a person with HIV. And you can't get AIDS from a toilet seat.

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6. Your risk for contracting AIDS
While men who have sex with men continue to be the largest group reporting positive HIV results, women represent a growing number of positive HIV tests. In 2006, men having sex with men accounted for 39.6 per cent of HIV numbers; women accounted for 28 per cent.

Everyone who engages in potentially risky behaviour (like sharing needles or blood or having unprotected sex) is potentially in danger of becoming infected.

The Public Health Agency of Canada says that if you answer "yes" to any of these questions, you may be at risk for contracting HIV:
-Do you (or have you ever) have unprotected sexual intercourse (vaginal, anal or oral)?
-Do you (or have you ever) share needles or equipment for injecting drugs?
-Do you (or have you ever) use unsterilized needles for tattooing, skin piercing or acupuncture?
-Do you experience (or have you ever experienced) occupational exposure to HIV in a health care setting?

7. Whether or not there's a cure for AIDS
There is no cure for AIDS and no vaccine against HIV infection.

8. How to prevent AIDS
Sexual abstinence is one of the most surefire ways to avoid contracting AIDS. No form of protection provides a 100 per cent guarantee against contracting HIV, but using a condom can reduce the risk.

Never share needles. When undergoing acupuncture, body piercing or tattoos, make sure the equipment is sterile.

If you deal with blood or bodily fluids as part of your job, make sure you're adequately protected against the risk of exposure.

If you're pregnant or trying to get conceive, and think you may have been exposed to HIV, talk to your doctor.

9. AIDS treatment options
Although there is no cure for AIDS, treatment is available to help prevent the development of AIDS.

Currently, antiretroviral (ARV) therapy, which combines three or more drugs as treatment, has increased both the quality of life and life expectancy of those infected with HIV. It's important to talk to your doctor about options.

10. Where to learn more about AIDS

-Health Canada
-Canadian AIDS Society
-The Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange
-The Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research

Provincial/Territorial HIV/AIDS Hot Lines (to find an AIDS testing centre in your community):
-Alberta: 1-800-772-2437
-British Columbia: 1-800-994-4337
-Manitoba: 1-800-782-2437
-Newfoundland and Labrador: 1-800-563-1575
-New Brunswick: 1-800-561-4009
-Northwest Territories: 1-800-661-0844
-Nunavut: 1-800-661-0795
-Eastern Arctic: 1-800-661-0795
-Nova Scotia: 1-800-566-2437
-Ontario English: 1-800-668-2437
-Ontario French: 1-800-267-7432
-Prince Edward Island: 1-800-314-2437
-Quebec: 1-888-855-7432
-Hotline for women living with HIV/AIDS in Quebec: 1-866-240-0090
-Saskatchewan: 1-800-667-6876
-Yukon: 1-800-661-0408, x 8323

Knowledge is power: cut your risk of developing one of Canada's 5 most deadly diseases.

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