Hiv leaflet

Can HIV be treated?

There is no cure for HIV infection but there are life-long medical treatments available that can improve quality of life and prolong life expectancy of those with HIV.

PREVENTION is the best PROTECTION More than 35 million people worldwide are living with HIV* YOU can help stop the spread of HIV by: Making others aware of the information in this leaflet.

Lha Charitable Trust is a grass-roots, 12AA & 80G non-profit and one of the largest Tibetan social work organizations based in Dharamsala, India. We aim to provide vital resources for Tibetan refugees, the local Indian population, and people from the Himalayan regions.

HIV & AIDS The Facts

Being tested for HIV. Taking precautions to prevent exposure to HIV. Not discriminate against people living with HIV.

Understanding how HIV is transmitted and knowing your HIV status is very important

for protecting yourself and others! *Centre for Disease Control and Prevention

For more information, advice and support contact the details below: Published and Distributed by: Lha Charitable Trust Temple Road P.O. McLeodGanj Dharamsala-176219 Dist. Kangra Himachal Pradesh

office@lhasocialwork.org +91 (0) 1892-220992 09816689222 (for urgent matters only) http://www.lhasocialwork.org April 2014

ལྷ་སྤྱི་ཚོགས་ཞབས་ཞུ་དང་ཤེས་ཡོན་ལེ་གནས་ཁང་། LHA CHARITABLE TRUST INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL WORK & EDUCATION

What is HIV?

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Human – Virus that affects humans Immunodeficiency –Virus breaks down the body’s immune system (the system that fights infection) Virus – A type of germ If left untreated HIV infection can lead to AIDS.

What is AIDS?

How is HIV passed on?

HIV is passed on through bodily fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids, rectal secretions or breast milk.

Ways HIV is passed on:

Syndrome –A group of symptoms related to one illness.

A person with HIV is considered to have developed AIDS when the immune system is so weak it can no longer fight off a range of diseases with which could normally cope.

NEVER share needles syringes or other injecting drug equipment.

ALWAYS take HIV medication if you have been infected.

Sharing infected needles, syringes or other injecting drug equipments.

ALWAYS talk openly about HIV and seek advice if you need it.

From infected mother to baby during pregnancy, birth and through breast-feeding

Signs and Symptoms of HIV

Receiving HIV infected blood or blood products during transfusion.

How is HIV ''NOT'' passed on?

Immunodeficiency - Breakdown of Immune system to a point where is does not work properly anymore

ALWAYS wear a condom during vaginal or anal sex.

Sex without a condom.

AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.

Acquired – Developed after birth by exposure (not born with it).

How to protect against HIV?

HIV is NOT spread by: Touching, shaking hands, hugging or dry kissing.

Sharing towel or clothings.

Sharing utensils or drinking glasses.

From public toilets, showers, pools or drinking fountains.

Some people infected with HIV have no signs and symptoms at all.Some experience flu-like symptoms a few days or weeks after infection.

These may include fever, rash, swollen glands, sore throat, mouth or throat ulcers and aching muscles or joints.

How do you know if you have HIV? To be certain if you have HIV you must be tested. The HIV test is a simple test through blood or oral fluid and can be carried out at the local hospitals.

If the test is negative, and you haven’t been exposed to HIV risk factors for 3 months, then you can be confident that you’re not infected with HIV. If your test is positive, you will need to get a follow-up test, which the testing site will arrange.