HIV/AIDS IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY

By:Teyonna Nixon

Stephanie BowlsFaithe Cross

Angelica Ramos

WHAT IS HIV HIV is a human immunodeficiency

virus that causes AIDS. A member of a group of viruses

called retroviruses, HIV infects human cells and uses the energy and nutrients provided by those cells to grow and reproduce.

WHAT IS AIDS AIDS is a acquired immunodeficiency

syndrome disease in which the body's immune system breaks down and is unable to fight off certain infections, known as "opportunistic infections," and other illnesses that take advantage of a weakened immune system.

AIDS is not a disease it is a syndrome.

THE START OF HIV The origin of HIV was found in

wild chimpanzees living in southern Cameroon.

People that started hunting chimpanzees were the first one to contract the virus.

Since SIV was found in chimps there is a possibility that other species could be the natural reservoir of both HIV and SIV.

With this they released the Chimpanzees Biomedical Research program in 1986. Bred multiple of chimpanzees so they can do test to compare the infection in HIV in chimpanzees and HIV in humans.

THE INFECTION IN CHIMPANZEES V. THE

INFECTION IN HUMANS

Chimpanzees do not contract AIDS from the HIV infection they typically shed the virus in time no longer testing positive.

HIV replicates the chimpanzees bodies but chimpanzees infected with HIV does not become sick with any symptoms.

THE INFECTION IN CHIMPANZEES V. THE INFECTION IN HUMANS cont’d

Differences between human and chimpanzee HIV infection include: Humans become immunodeficient and do not maintain normal

levels of critical immune factors, CD4 and T lymphocytes. Chronically infected chimpanzees maintain normal levels and do not become immunodeficient.

Humans develop opportunistic infections and cancers associated with HIV. Chimpanzees do not.

Because of these significant disparities, HIV studies with chimpanzees have failed to produce a vaccine, treatment, or cure for AIDS. In fact, all vaccines that have proven safe and efficacious in chimpanzees (as well as other nonhuman primates) have failed in humans, with the latest (in 2007) actually increasing a human’s chance of HIV infection. Admittedly, the HIV virus is very difficult to study but using the wrong tool – the chimpanzee – has not helped scientists in their pursuits.

WAYS THAT A PERSON CAN CONTRACT HIV/AIDS

There are many way that an individual can contract HIV/AIDS:

Unprotected Sex Blood Transfusion The use of (needles, syringes, cookers, cotton) Prenatal Transmission Blood Transfusion/Blood ProductEtc.

WHO IS AT GREATER RISK FOR HIV/AIDS

There is no one who is at greater risk HIV doesn’t discriminate, you and your actions determine whether you become infected with HIV or not.

HIV IN WOMEN Early epidemics show that a few women

and adolescents were diagnosed for HIV/AIDS.

Today women account for one quarter of HIV/AIDS in the US.

Women are at least twice as likely to contract HIV through vaginal sex with infected males as vice versa.

64% of these women are black.

TEENS WITH HIV/AIDS Half of the HIV infections occur in

teens between the ages of 13-24

TEENS WITH HIV/AIDS Age of Persons With HIV Infection or AIDS Diagnosed During 2004

High School Students Reporting Ever Having Had Sexual Intercourse, 2003

High School Students Reporting Sexual Intercourse for the First Time Before Age 13, 2003

Children with HIV Between 1992-2002 almost 1092 new

infections were detected African Americans newborns are much more

likely infected then children of other race Mother’s that do not get good medical care Blood transfusions are not screen Breastfeeding from a nursing mother to her

infant Infected with HIV do not gain weight and

grow slowly

HIV Symptoms It takes five to seven years for the first mild

symptoms to appear Many people begin with mild symptoms such as: - skin rashes - night sweats -slight weight loss - mouth blisters - diarrhea

Getting tested Depending where the test is done, it

takes anything from a few minutes to a few weeks

Types of test- standard blood test- oral mucosal transudate test- urine HIV antibody test- rapid HIV antibody test- home testing kit

Preventions Abstain from sex or delay first sex Condomise, which means using female

and male condoms correctly Being faithful to one partner or having

fewer partners

Treatments There are more than 20

approved antiretroviral drugs but not all are licensed or available in every country

Some combinations of antiretrovirals are more effective than others

There are a few drugs, particularly protease inhibitors, which have to be taken with food to improve absorption rates

Some other drugs have to be taken on an empty stomach