Aids Outline

Aids Outline

AIDS is a devastating virus that affects the immune system, and has claimed thousands of lives. Understanding AIDS, the causes and the preventable measures that are associated with AIDS, and what you do when you acquire the virus, can help save the lives of millions of people, including you.

I. What do scientists know about AIDS?

A. You develop AIDS after you get infected by HIV, you can't just get AIDS. *

B. There are over 300,000 people living with AIDS. *

C. AIDS is the leading killer of African American males.***

D. AIDS was first reported to the U.S in 1981, and has become a worldwide epidemic.***

E. ANYONE can get AIDS. **

F. The AIDS virus is found in blood, semen, vaginal secretions, and breast milk. ****

G. Many people do not develop any symptoms when they first become sick. ***

H. There is no danger from casual contact with an infected person. **

I. The virus can't be transmitted in the air through coughing and sneezing. **

II. What exactly do you mean when you say AIDS?

A. AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. *

B. If you are infected with the deadly virus, you have less then 200 CD4+ cells. *

C. AIDS is the most advanced stage of the HIV virus ***

1. HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus *

III. How do you get AIDS?

A. There are 5 main ways of getting AIDS. *

1. Being born when the mother is infected with AIDS. *

2. Drinking the breast milk of an infected woman. *

3. Sharing a needle (shooting drugs) with someone who is infected. *

4. Having sex with an infected person. *

5. Blood transfusion with blood that is infected with AIDS. *

IV. How do I help prevent the spread of AIDS?

A. Use different needles when shooting drugs with someone who is infected. **

B. Use latex condoms when you are participating in sexual intercourse. **

C. After sexual intercourse, go to a public clinic to check if you are infected with AIDS.**

V. What do I do if I am infected with AIDS?

A. Even though there is no cure for AIDS get treatment as soon as possible,