FAQs : BCAR : Educate Prevent Service

HIV is an abbreviation for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. This viral infection attacks and weakens your immune system. Over time, sometimes many years, HIV can develope into AIDS.

For more information about HIV, please visit: www.aidsinfo.nih.gov

You can also call the Center for Disease Control and Prevention National Hotline:

English: 800 342 AIDS [2437] - 24 hrs
Spanish: 800 344 7432 - 8a-2p EST

TDD Service for the Hearing Impaired: 800 243 7889 - 10a-10p EST Mon

What is AIDS?

AIDS [Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome] is a life-threatening illness that can develop if you have HIV. If you are HIV-positive and your body loses the ability to fight off serious infection, then you have AIDS.

Where can I get basic information about HIV | AIDS?

Any AIDS agency, such as BCAR, public health department or Planned Parenthood should be able to give you information about HIV | AIDS. You can also get information from the Department of State Health Services and the Center for Disease Control. You can reach BCAR by email: info@bcartx.org

Your local public library will also be a source of basic information as will your family physician.

Department of State Health: www.dshs.state.tx.us
Center for Disease Control: www.cdc.gov
Planned Parenthood: www.plannedparenthood.org

How do you get infected with HIV?

You can get infected with HIV through the sharing of needles or works [drugs, body piercing and tattoos] with someone who is infected and / or having unprotected [no condom] sex [anal, vaginal or oral] with someone who is infected. A new mom whos is infected can infect her baby throught breast-feeding as well.

There are only four body fluids that transmit HIV from one person to another: blood, seminal fluid, vaginal fluid and breast milk. In order for someone to become infected one the body fluids must leave the body of the infected person and get inside the body of the uninfecte person. Just getting your body fluid on your skin is not sufficient for transmitting HIV, UNLESS you have a cut or other opening in your skin that will allow HIV to enter your body.

Saliva [spit] does not transmit HIV, but it is possible to become infected through unprotected oral sex.

You cannot get HIV through air or from casual contact. HIV is NOT spread by:
-Living, working or going to school with someone with HIV infection.
-Shaking hands, hugging or kissing.
-Sneezing or coughing.
-Sharing food, plates, cups or silverware.
-Toilets, tubs or swimming pools.
-Mosquitos or other insects
For more information, please visit: Yahoo Health!

How can I tell if someone is infected with HIV?

The only way to tell if someone is infected is for that person to get tested. There are no defining symptoms of HIV infection. You can NOT tell if someone is infected by the way they look, how they feel, where they work, where they live, where they go to school, where they shop, how much money they make, where they go to church, etc.

For more information, please visit: www.redcross.org

What are the symptoms of HIV?

There are no defining symptoms of HIV infection. However, symptoms resembling the flu may be the first sign of HIV infection. Many infected persons do not seek medical help for these symptoms. The HIV virus can still spread, even if the person doesn't know that they are infected. Sometimes it can take as many as 10 years or more before advance symptoms develop.

If you are involved in high-risk behaviors, do yourself and partner a favor - GET TESTED!