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What Does HIV and AIDS Stand For?

HIV stands for human immune deficiency syndrome wherein the body's immune system becomes compromised, leaving it vulnerable to other diseases that can lead to full-blown AIDS and death.
AIDS stands for acquired immune deficiency syndrome. The first AIDS case in the US was reported in June, 1981. Since that time, the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia, estimates 56,300 new cases of HIV were reported in 2006.
HIV and AIDS are transmitted through intimate sexual contact when bodily fluids such as semen, vaginal secretions are exchanged.
Safeguards against getting HIV or AIDS include using barrier methods of contraception such as condoms and dental dams or refraining from sexual intercourse where bodily fluids are exchanged. See Resources.

  1. Identification

    • Both HIV and AIDS can be detected through a blood sample that is tested for the antibodies the body makes in defense against viruses. It takes about three months for these antibodies to be read in a blood test.
      A new test, RNA, may detect HIV and AIDS antibodies in 9 to 11 days, but Planned Parenthood recommends people test again to confirm the results.
      It is possible to test too early and receive a negative result---that is not accurate.

    Significance

    • Teenagers and homosexual men have the greatest risk for contracting AIDS and HIV.
      Public health policy has changed considerably in the US and while public awareness about HIV and AIDS remains high, funding to middle and high schools has changed. The result is many students are taught abstinence-only sex education and not educated about contraception as a way to prevent the transmission of AIDS, HIV and other sexually-transmitted infections (STI).
      This trend is starting to change.

    History

    • AIDS was first reported in the US in 1981 with a straight couple who had a dental disease. Limited information at the time created a bit of hysteria and misinformation on how HIV and AIDS is transmitted. Since that time, new technology has been developed to better identify new HIV infections.
      During the late 1980s, US Surgeon General Edward Koop kicked off a strong public health campaign emphasizing the need to use condoms and practice sex safe to reduce the transmission of HIV and AIDS. That, along with the high profile volunteer charity work by world celebrities such as Princess Diana of England, helped to destimatize HIV and AIDS.
      College campuses famously had free condom distributions in the US at their on-campus community health centers and fashion designers even created special clothing lines made of wrapped condoms to further heighten public awareness.

    Considerations

    • The CDC monitors the reporting of new HIV and AIDS cases in the US. By doing so, it can learn if there are certain trends among certain groups of people. For example, if one group is moving from a diagnosis of HIV to AIDS in a shorter timeframe, the CDC can study if that group had less access to testing facilities or medication.
      Nearly every city has some kind of local community health center, such as Planned Parenthood, that can provide low-cost or free HIV and AIDS testing.
      HIV testing can be done anonymously with the person contacting a 800 number to learn his test results. This option was especially important during the early 1980s when receiving a positive test result for HIV and AIDS could result in job loss or social shunning.

    Misconceptions

    • Home self-test HIV and AIDS tests are advertised on-line and through other outlets. There is only one home self test that is FDA approved and tests for the presence of HIV-1. This particular test does not test for HIV-2, which is not as common as HIV-1.
      See your doctor for more guidance.

    Prevention/Solution

    • The only way to not get HIV or AIDS is to refrain from sexual activity that involves the exchange of bodily fluids. Using condoms or dental dams reduces but does not eliminate the risk of getting HIV or AIDS.
      Remaining in a monogamous sexual relationship where both partners are tested and practicing safe sex also greatly reduces the incidence of HIV and other sexually transmitted disease and infection.

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