HIV/AIDS INFORMATION

Health and Human Services

What is HIV?

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus
HIVis the virus that causes AIDS
HIV may be passed from one person to another when infected blood, semen, or vaginal secretions come in contact with an uninfected person’s broken skin or mucous membranes. These can include the mouth, eyes, nose, vagina, rectum and opening of the penis
Infected pregnant women can pass HIV to their baby during pregnancy or delivery, as well as through breast-feeding
People with HIV have what is called HIV infection. Some of these people will develop AIDS as a result of their HIV infection

How is HIV Transmitted?

HIV is spread by sexual contact with an infected person, by sharing needles and/or syringes (primarily for drug injection) with someone who is infected, or, less commonly (and now very rarely in countries where blood is screened for HIV Antibodies), through transfusions of infected blood or blood clotting factors. Babies born to HIV-infected women may become infected before or during birth or through breast-feeding after birth.

What is AIDS?

AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
The word Acquired means the disease is not hereditary but develops after birth from contact with a disease causing agent (in this case, HIV)
The word Immunodeficiency means that the disease is characterized by a weakening of the immune system
The word Syndrome refers to a group of symptoms that collectively indicate or characterize a disease
In the case of AIDS this can include the development of certain infections and/or cancers, as well as a decrease in the number of certain cells in a person’s immune system
An official AIDS diagnosis is done by a physician using specific clinical or laboratory standards

What causes AIDS?

AIDS is caused by infection with a virus called human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This virus is passed from one person to another through blood-to-blood and sexual contact. In addition, pregnant women can pass HIV to their babies during pregnancy or delivery, as well as through breast feeding. People with HIV have what is called HIV infection.

HIV SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Often people who are HIV infected have few or no symptoms. Other times, symptoms of HIV are confused with other illnesses such as the flu. If a person were to have symptoms they would include:

Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, groin or under the arms
Diarrhea
Unexplained weight loss
Fatigue
Fever, chills or sweats (especially at night)
Visual changes
Frequent pneumonias or shortness of breath
Rash
Flu-like symptoms

The Bureau of HIV/STD/VH offers the following prevention and intervention services:

Counseling, testing and referral services
Health education and risk reduction service

Houston HIV/STD Testing Locations

View Houston HIV/STD Testing Locations in a larger map

HIV Awareness Days

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day	February 7 annually
National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day	March 10 annually
National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day	March 20 annually
National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day	May 19 annually
National Caribbean American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day	June 8 annually
National HIV Testing Day	June 27 annually
National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day	September 27 annually
National Latino AIDS Awareness Day	October 15 annually
World AIDS Day	December 1 annually

The City of Houston Quarterly HIV/AIDS Update - current version

Local Testing Intiatives:

State:

Additonal Links