How do you know if you have HIV/AIDS?

Why?

It is important to know that a person who is infected with HIV:

· May have no signs or symptoms.
· May not have any serious illness for a long time.
· Can infect others during this time.
· Gradually gets sicker and sicker and eventually dies.

How?

Read each of the three stories below. Then use the chart on the previous page, “What happens with HIV infection”, to help you answer the questions under each story.

Story A

Figure

1. How did Roberto become infected? ____________________________________________
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2. How did Carmencita become infected? _________________________________________
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3. Why does Carmencita have no symptoms? ______________________________________
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4. How long might it be before she gets AIDS? _____________________________________
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5. What should Carmencita do now? _____________________________________________
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Story B

Figure

1. How did Jose become infected? ______________________________________________
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2. Why does he have these symptoms? __________________________________________
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3. Can he spread HIV to others? How? ___________________________________________
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4. What is likely to happen next? ________________________________________________
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Story C

Figure

1. Why would you suspect that Georginia has AIDS? ________________________________
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2. What should she do to find out if she is infected with HIV? __________________________
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3. At about what age was it possible that Georginia got the HIV infection? ________________
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4. If she was infected at that age, how long has she been infectious (able to spread HIV)?
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5. What symptoms does Georginia have?__________________________________________
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6. What is likely to happen next? ________________________________________________
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