AIDS has been with us for over 20 years. It has grown from a mysterious disease from Africa affecting a small number of people in the United States to an epidemic affecting virtually all areas of the U.S. and the world. AIDS has become an epidemic, especially in Africa. A lot of money is being spent on AIDS research and there is much work left to be done in finding an effective, safe method of prevention and treatment. That's the bad news. The good news is symptoms and death from AIDS can be postponed, in many cases for dacades, with modern treatments. But here is the best news. With our present state of knowledge, there is a way for a person to be sure she/he does not have AIDS. And most important there are ways for a person to be protected from AIDS in the future. Talking about AIDS makes people nervous because there are unknowns, AIDS is lethal, and AIDS involves sex. But, we have to talk about it.
The best defense now is knowledge and education.
FACT #1: AIDS can be transmitted only by the most intimate contact with an infected person (rectal or vaginal intercourse or oral-genital contact) or through contact with infected blood or blood contaminated needles. These are high-risk situations.
FACT #2: You can't get AIDS through casual contact such as social kissing, drinking from a fountain, eating off a contaminated plate, breathing the air, sitting on a toilet seat, sleeping in the same bed with an infected person or shaking hands. These are no-risk situations. Even family members don't pass AIDS virus to each other unless there is blood or sexual contact.
FACT #3: Most people who are presently infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) do not presently have AIDS. They look, act, feel and behave like everyone else. These people may develop AIDS in the future.
FACT #4: It is possible to do blood tests for the presence of antibodies to the HIV (AIDS virus). These tests do not diagnose AIDS, but rather identify people who carry the AIDS virus. These are people who likely will develop AIDS, and these people are contagious to others under certain circumstances. There is not a 100% reliable test and there is a delay period from the time a person becomes infected to the time they develop a positive blood test. Any one person can be tested twice, six months apart, and be 99+% sure about whether they had the AIDS virus or not at the time of the first test.
FACT #5: Blood testing is voluntary for the general population. Results of the HIV blood test are legally more confidential than routine blood tests.
FACT #6: The Humboldt County Public Health Department does anonymous HIV blood tests for people twelve and older. When the program started in 1987 they did about 100 HIV antibody blood tests per month. About 5% of the people tested then were positive for the virus that causes AIDS. In 1997, ten years later, they did about 200 tests a month and less than 1% were positive.
FACT #7: AIDS is not curable at the present time. There are some drugs that afford relief, probably for years for people who are HIV positive, but there is no cure. The prospects for a total cure in the next few years is quite dim. The long term prospects for a vaccine against AIDS and/or a cure is a bit brighter, but we are talking years if not decades.
WHAT TO DO!!
What you need to do depends on your history of possible exposure since 1980, present social habits and/or results of your HIV blood test. People can be divided into three groups.
GROUP I: The first group includes people with a negative HIV blood test or no exposure to risk situations as outlined in Fact #1 since 1980. These are people who have had no contact with possible AIDS contaminated blood. These people have had no sexual intercourse or intercourse with only one person who has also had intercourse with only one person. If you are in the first group you need to strictly avoid the risk factors as outlined in Fact #1. Absolutely avoid IV street drugs. If you choose to have sex, know for sure your partner's sexual habits and/or HIV antibody blood test results. You have to talk about it.
GROUP II: The second group includess people with AIDS or a positive HIV blood test. People positive for HIV need advice and care from a physician or clinic experienced in treating this infectious disease. There are many medications that need to be prescribed and taken properly for best results. For people infected with the AIDS virus (HIV) it is important to follow good health practices. Eat well and avoid smoking and obesity. Also, guard against transmitting the virus now and in the future. Certainly you must avoid donating blood or organs or sperm. Avoid sharing needles for IV drug use. Limit sexual contact to kissing, fondling and masturbation. Having intimate sexual contact with a person not having HIV (the AIDS virus) puts that person at risk even with the use of condoms. There is no such thing as totally safe sexual intercourse. Some experts feel that sexual contact with another AIDS positive person is acceptable and other experts feel there is reason to avoid intimate sex with anybody because of the possibility of reactivation of the virus if it is in a resting phase. Avoid pregnancy, or if pregnant tell your doctor you are HIV positive. There are medications to take to lessen the chance of passing the virus to your baby. Consider adoption if you want to have children now.
GROUP III: Group III includes people who have had some risk situations (see Fact #1 above) since 1980. You should siriously consider being tested. Taking anti-AIDS drugs in a carrier state will delay the development of AIDS symptoms. If you are sexually active or you want to donate organs or blood or have children, you should determine your HIV status with a blood test to be sure you won't pass the virus to others. If you've had risk exposure in the last six months you should avoid further exposure and be retested again after six months. If your second blood test is negative place yourself in Group I above. If your blood test is positive place yourself in Group II above.
CONCLUSION: The AIDS epidemic is not a scare tactic of sexual prudes, religious zealots, law enforcement or medical personnel. It is fact. AIDS is a controllable epidemic. You can be safe by applying the information given above. The population at greatest risk for AIDS is people who do not have this information or do not use it. This includes many adolescents and young adults who may now find themselves in high-risk situations. Talk about AIDS with your friends and relatives, including your children. AIDS is a good springboard for a broader discussion of sex or drugs. If you are having a " facts of life" talk, AIDS needs to be mentioned.
For reliable updated information about AIDS call the CDC National AIDS Hotline at 1-800-342-2437. Or go to the CDC National Prevention Information Network for more information on the Web. The HIV blood test is available from your physician at a charge or free and anonymous at the Humboldt County Public Health Department (445-6205).
Ted Humphry, M.D.
822-2441
this information last updated 10/01