Here are some Frequently Asked Questions about HIV/AIDS...
because you can't spread the word if you don't know what questions people are asking!

Why worry about HIV/AIDS?

HIV/AIDS has recently been predicted to be the #3 killer in the world within the next twenty years! It has already been the cause of death for millions and if there is not a decline in its numbers will continue to do so. It is not just a problem in places like Africa- which is what we tend to hear most about in the media- but it is a substantial problem in European countries, Canada and the United States too.

It's easy to think that AIDS is something for other people to worry about and not teens. But the group most likely to contract HIV/AIDS is actually between the ages of 15 and 25, and in 2005, it was estimated that there was 2.3 million people under the age of 15 living with HIV. So it is a threat that needs to be taken seriously. To be able to protect yourself and to spread the word, you need to know the facts, and know how to avoid becoming infected.

What is the difference between HIV and AIDS?

HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. AIDS is a serious condition in which the body's defenses against some illnesses are broken down. This means that people with AIDS can get many different kinds of diseases which a healthy person's body would normally fight off quite easily.

How long does it take for HIV to cause AIDS?

The length of time between being infected with HIV and being diagnosed with AIDS depends on a bunch of different things. There are lots of drugs that can be used to help people with HIV, and most doctors believe that a most people can be treated for a very long time. Many people do not know exactly when they were infected with HIV, and the length of time between this happening and them being diagnosed with AIDS can be very different.

How do you get infected?

HIV is passed through the sexual fluids or blood of an infected person, so if infected blood or sexual fluid gets into your body, you can become infected. This usually happens by either having sexual contact with an infected person or by sharing needles used to inject drugs with an infected person. Babies can also be born infected if their mothers are also infected with HIV. Also, an almost nonexistent number of people become infected by having medical treatment using infected blood transfusions.

HIV cannot simply be caught by kissing, hugging or shaking hands with an infected person, and it can't be transmitted by sneezes, or touching objects an infected person has used.

The only way to stay safe is to choose not to have sex, or if you're going to have sex, practice it safely by using a condom. Drug users should not share needles or syringes for any kind of injection drug use.

Is there a cure?

There is no cure for HIV. HIV is a virus, and no cure has been found for any type of virus. Recently, doctors have been able to control the virus once a person is infected, which means that a person with HIV can stay healthy for longer, but they have not managed to get rid of the virus in the body completely.

How can someone get tested?

You may find it helpful to talk to an adult - perhaps a parent, school nurse or teacher may be able to advise you where you can have a test. Or you can check with the National HIV Testing Resource which is a part of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention for information about where you can get tested.

Source

http://www.avert.org/young.htm