National Institutes of Health: HIV AIDS and Older People

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National Institute on Aging

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HIV, AIDS, andOlder People

Grace was dating again. George, a close family friend she had known for a longtime, was starting to stay overnight moreand more often. Because she was past childbearing age, Grace didn’t think about using condoms. And becauseshe had known George for so long,she didn’t think to ask him about hissexual history. So, Grace was shocked when she tested positive for HIV.

What Is HIV? What Is AIDS?

Like most people, you probably haveheard a lot about HIV and AIDS.You may have thought thatthese diseases weren’t yourproblem and that onlyyounger people have toworry about them.But anyone atany age can getHIV/AIDS.

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HIV (short for

human immunodeficiency virus

) is a virus that damagesthe immune system—the systemyour body uses to fight off diseases.HIV infection leads to a much moreserious disease called AIDS (

acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

). When theHIV infection gets in your body, yourimmune system can weaken. Thisputs you in danger of getting otherlife-threatening diseases, infections,and cancers. When that happens,you have AIDS. AIDS is the last stageof HIV infection. If you think youmay have HIV, it is very importantto get tested. Today there are drugsthat can help your body keep theHIV in check and fight against AIDS.

What Are the Symptomsof HIV/AIDS?

Many people have no symptomswhen they first become infectedwith HIV. It can take as little as a fewweeks for minor, flu-like symptoms toshow up, or more than 10 years formore serious symptoms to appear.Signs of HIV include headache, cough,diarrhea, swollen glands, lack of energy, loss of appetite and weightloss, fevers and sweats, repeatedyeast infections, skin rashes, pelvicand abdominal cramps, sores in the

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How Do People Get HIVand AIDS?

Anyone, at any age, can get HIV andAIDS. HIV usually comes from havingunprotected sex or sharing needleswith an infected person, or throughcontact with HIV-infected blood.No matter your age, you may beat risk if:

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You are sexually active and do not use a latex or polyurethane condom.

You can get HIV/AIDS from hav-ing sex with someone who has HIV.The virus passes from the infectedperson to his or her partner inblood, semen, and vaginal fluid.During sex, HIV can get into yourbody through any opening, suchas a tear or cut in the lining of thevagina, vulva, penis, rectum, ormouth. Latex condoms can helpprevent an infected person fromtransferring the HIV virus to you.(Natural condoms do not protectagainst HIV/AIDS as well as thelatex and polyurethane types.)

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You do not know your partner’s drugand sexual history.

What you don’tknow can hurt you. Even thoughit may be hard to do, it’s veryimportant to ask your partner

Getting Tested for HIV/AIDS

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It can take as long as 3 to 6 monthsafter the infection for the virus toshow up in your blood.

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Your health care provider can testyour blood for HIV/AIDS. If youdon’t have a health care provider,check your local phone book forthe phone number of a hospitalor health center where you canget a list of test sites.

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Many health care providers who testfor HIV also can provide counseling.

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In most states the tests are private,and you can choose to take the testwithout giving your name.You can now also test your blood athome. The “Home Access Express HIV-1Test System” is made by the HomeAccess Health Corporation. You canbuy it at the drug store. It is the onlyHIV home test system approved by theFood and Drug Administration (FDA)and legally sold in the United States.Other HIV home test systems and kitsyou might see on the Internet or inmagazines or newspapers have notbeen approved by FDA and may notalways give correct results.

mouth or on certain parts of thebody, or short-term memory loss.

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about his or her sexual historyand drug use. Here are somequestions to ask: Has your partnerbeen tested for HIV/AIDS? Has heor she had a number of differentsex partners? Has your partnerever had unprotected sex withsomeone who has shared needles?Has he or she injected drugs orshared needles with someone else?Drug users are not the only peoplewho might share needles. For ex-ample, people with diabetes whoinject insulin or draw blood to testglucose levels might share needles.

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You have had a blood transfusion or operation in a developing countryat any time.

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You had a blood transfusion in theUnited States between 1978 and 1985.

Is HIV/AIDS Differentin Older People?

A growing number of older peoplenow have HIV/AIDS. About 19percent of all people with HIV/AIDSin this country are age 50 and older.This is because doctors are findingHIV more often than ever before inolder people, and because improvedtreatments are helping people withthe disease live longer.But there may even be manymore cases than we know about.Why? One reason may be that doc-tors do not always test older people

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Facts About HIV/AIDS

You may have read or heard things that are not true about how you get HIV/AIDS.Here are the FACTS:

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You cannot get HIV through casual contact such as shaking hands or hugging aperson with HIV/AIDS.

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You cannot get HIV from using a public telephone, drinking fountain, restroom,swimming pool, Jacuzzi, or hot tub.

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You cannot get HIV from sharing a drink.

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You cannot get HIV from being coughed or sneezed on by a person with HIV/AIDS.

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You cannot get HIV from giving blood.

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You cannot get HIV from a mosquito bite.

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