AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. AIDS is a disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). If this virus gets into your blood, there is a good chance you will get AIDS. You might not get sick for months or years, but you can still pass the virus on to others. Early treatment can help you stay healthy longer.

Anyone can get AIDS. The AIDS virus doesn't care what race you are or if you're a man or a woman, young or old. You can still get AIDS.

What is the difference between AIDS and HIV?

HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. Once infected, it may take anywhere from a few weeks to 15 years for AIDS symptoms to appear. After symptoms appear, the person usually progresses to having AIDS. To our knowledge, people who test positive for HIV will eventually develop AIDS.

What are the symptoms of AIDS?

Typical symptoms include fatigue, fever, chills, night sweats, swollen glands in the neck, armpits and groin, pink to purple spots on the skin, white spots and sores in the mouth, diarrhea without reason, weight loss of 10 pounds or more without reason, a dry heavy cough, and shortness of breath.

What behaviors increase my chances of getting AIDS?

You can get the AIDS virus by having sex with someone who has the AIDS virus. You can get AIDS by sharing needles to shoot drugs. A pregnant woman who is HIV positive can pass the infection to her unborn baby. Anyone who had a blood transfusion between 1978 and 1985 may be at risk.

How can I protect myself?

Abstinence (not having any type of sexual contact) is the safest. If you make a conscious choice to engage in high risk sexual activity, use a condom. Also use foam, cream, or jelly with 5% nonoxynol-9 in the condom. This chemical may kill the AIDS virus.

What is the AIDS test?

There is a simple blood test to determine whether a person has been infected by HIV. It takes approximately 6 months from the time of exposure to HIV for the antibodies to show up in the blood. If you test positive, it means that you are carrying HIV and can pass it on to others. The AIDS blood test is the only way to know if you are infected.

What types of close contact are safe?

HIV is NOT spread by touching, kissing, sneezing, coughing, or by sharing silverware, cups or plates with an infected person. You CAN NOT get the virus from swimming pools, bathtubs, showers, toilet seats, drinking fountains or insect bites. It is completely safe to donate blood.

Where can I get help?

If you think you may have the AIDS virus or have engaged in high risk activity, get a blood test. The test is safe and private.

• Add His Way Out Ministries to your prayer list.
• Ask your pastor to check out our website.
• Tell your friends about His Way Out Ministries and encourage them to visit this web site.
• Encourage your pastor to consider hosting a seminar or inviting His Way Out Ministries to speak at your church.
• Ask your church to consider adding His Way Out Ministries to its missions budget.
• Show our teaching DVD or Video: "Homosexuality and the Reality of Change" to your Sunday School class.

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