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CBL, keep adhd shit out of here. adhd is a fake disorder and doesnt actually exist

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Have you got proof for that? Give me some evidence (from a trustworthy source) to back up your opinion.

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Yes, we know who you are.

You take the pieces of the dreams that you had
Because you don't like the way they seem to be going.

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CBL, keep adhd shit out of here. adhd is a fake disorder and doesnt actually exist

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Oh, I'd say it exists, but that it's overly diagnosed (which is something that CBL should address in their symptoms section), which is mainly the result of parents being unable to keep their childrens' attention (which is natrual to a degree - children do have shorter attention spans in general), getting pissed off about it, and instead of doing anything about it themselves, they bring their child to the doctor and expect, almost demand for, an ADHD diganosis and prescription to ritalin.

As a result, it discredits those who actually are suffering from ADHD.  It's definitely much rarer than all the diagnosises and ritalin prescriptions would have you believe.

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Quote: from prisoner of hss at 5:50 pm on June 11, 2008

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 CBL, keep adhd shit out of here. adhd is a fake disorder and doesnt actually exist

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Have you got proof for that? Give me some evidence (from a trustworthy source) to back up your opinion.

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What is Autism?
Autism Spectrum Disorders are a group of developmental disabilities, which are characterized by social impairments, communication problems, and unusual behaviors or interests.  Individuals with autism often have more difficulty learning, perceiving and reacting to new situations, understanding the thoughts and behaviors of others, and paying attention.  The level of functioning varies immensely, from severely restricted to extremely intelligent and high functioning.  The age of onset is very early, often in the first year of life.

Symptoms
It is important to keep in mind that the term Autism covers a broad range of disability.  The following symptoms are commonalities among the spectrum, however they do not all need to be present.  In addition, some may be more severe than others.
*Social Interaction problems
-Nonverbal problems, such as lack of eye contact, facial expressions, and body language
-Failure to establish close relationships
-Lack of interest in other people
-Lack of empathy or theory of mind
*Communication problems
-Delay in learning to talk, or inability to talk (50% of Autistic people do not speak)
-Problems starting or carrying on a conversation
-Echolalia and repetitive language
-Inability to understand humor or deception
*Limited Interest and Action
-Unusual focus on pieces instead of the whole
-Preoccupation with certain topics
-Obsessive routine and habit formations
-Stereotyped behaviors and repetitive movements

What Causes Autism?
The cause of Autism is not known for certain.  From examining the wide range of symptoms, the complexity of the disorder, and the fact that no two autistic people are the same, it is likely that there are multiple causes of the disorder.  From years of research, scientists and doctors have put together a list of factors that are likely linked to Autism, as well as disproved a number of other factors that have been blamed in the past.
    What COULD influence the development of ASD?
-Genetics: Researchers have found a number of genes that appear to have some correlation to the development of Autism.  Some influence the probability that the child will have the disorder, others influence brain development and neurological functioning, and others predict severity of the syndromes.  It is unclear whether or not these genetic differences are inherited or occur spontaneously; and it is entirely possible that both of the mentioned scenarios are true.
-Environment:   There is research being done that suggests prenatal or early infantile pollutants or viruses could influence the development of Autism.
-Damage to the amygdala has a strong correlation to the development of Autism.  It is unclear why, although some researchers suggest it is because this is the part of the brain that serves as a "detector" to incoming stimulus.
    What DOESN'T cause ASD?
-Other Autistic children.  Autism is not contagious.  Although a child who associates with an Autistic peer may copy some of their mannerisms, the child will not develop Autism.
-Diet: Just because many parents of Autistic children have their child on a Gluten and Casein-free diet does not mean this specific diet causes the disorder.  In fact, this diet had been shown to reduce the symptoms of Autism.  There are no other dietetic correlations known.
-Parenting: Bad parents do not cause Autism.  This idea was made infamous decades ago, by Bruno Bettelheim, who suggested that "cold and indifferent" mothers cause Autism.  However, research has found no correlation between parenting styles and instances of Autism.  Other family situations, such as financial strain or many siblings have also not been shown to lead to a higher rate of Autism.
-Technology:  Both cell phones and television have been the victim of the blame game, but no evidence suggests using either device causes Autism.
-Physical Injury: Trauma to the head and oxygen deprivation may cause symptoms similar to those displayed by Autistic children, but they by no means cause Autism.

Who is affected by Autism?
Anyone can be diagnosed with Autism.  The first symptoms of Autism usually are displayed between the ages of 18 months and 3 years.   Males are four times more likely than females to be diagnosed with Classical Autism, however other forms within the spectrum, such as Rett Syndrome is seen almost exclusively in females.

How common is Autism?
One in every 150-260 (estimates vary) people is Autistic, and the diagnosis of it is growing at a rate of 10-17%.  This is most likely due to an increased level of detection.  It is currently the fastest growing developmental disability.

Treatment
There is no diagnostic test for Autism.  Therefore, doctors must look at early behavioral patterns and continuous screenings in order to make a diagnosis.
Once diagnosed, there are several ways to go about treating Autism.  The method of treatment varies according to the type and severity of the disease, as well as the age of the patient.
-Behavioral and Educational Intervention:   Programs are available to provide structure, direction and organization for those with Autism.  Some of these programs include:

•Applied behavior analysis (ABA)
•Developmental, individual differences, relationship-based approach (DIR also called Floortime)
•Relationship development intervention (RDI)
•Treatment and education of autistic and communication- related handicapped children (TEAACH)
-Medicine: There is no known cure, however some medications may be prescribed to relieve symptoms.   Chelation has been shown to remove heavy-metal levels, and Secretin has been used to counterbalance biological  issues.  Alternative medicine has also been used to relieve some symptoms as well.
-Dietary Changes: Some parents have had success in giving their child vitamins, or cutting certain food allergens out of the diet.  None have been proven to consistently work.

Types of Autism

Asperger Syndrome
The most common characteristic of Asperger syndrome is a child's obsessive interest in a single object or topic to the exclusion of any other.  Unlike children with Autism, children with Auspergers usually develop early language skills, however they display many other characteristics of Autism, such as repetitive behavior, inappropriate social interaction and problems with nonverbal communication.  Children with Asperger syndrome are often  isolated because of their poor social skills, but may approach other people.  Often, normal conversation is made impossible by inappropriate or eccentric behavior, or by wanting only to talk about their singular interest. Children with Asperger syndrome usually have a history of developmental delays in motor skills.

Childhood Disintegrative Disorder
Childhood disintegrative disorder symptoms can appear by age two, but the average age is between three and four years. Until then, the child has age-appropriate skills in communication and social relationships.
Childhood Disintegrative Disorder is often associated with a loss of vocabulary that is much more dramatic than it is in autism. The diagnosis requires distinct losses involving motor, language, and social skills. Childhood disintegrative disorder is also accompanied by loss of bowel and bladder control, seizures and a very low IQ.

Rett Syndrome
People with Rett syndrome initially go through some normal development that lasts 6 to 18 months. After that, autism-like symptoms begin. The girl's mental and social development declines.  If she had verbal communication skills, they disappear.  Repetitive motions and behaviors become extremely severe.
Unlike classical Autism, scientists have located a single gene for Rett's syndrome, and are currently undergoing research to find a cure.

Pervasive Developmental Disorder
Refers to a form of Autism that is not fall into the category of Classical Autism, Asperger Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder or Rett Syndrome.

Sources:
1.  Autism Information Center: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/index.htm
2. Mayo Clinic, Children's Health Dept.: Autism.  http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/autism/DS00348/DSECTION=3
3.  Autism Society of America. http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_home


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I prove a theorem and the house expands:
the windows jerk free to hover near the ceiling,
the ceiling floats away with a sigh

What is Cerebral Palsy?
The term cerebral palsy refers to any of a variety of neurological disorders that appear in infancy or early childhood and permanently affect body movement and coordination, but remain constant over time. Although cerebral palsy affects muscle movement, it isn't caused by muscle or nerve problems. It is caused by abnormalities in parts of the brain that control muscle movements. Most children with cerebral palsy are born with it, although it may not be detected until later in life. Cerebral palsy is characterized by a lack of muscle coordination during voluntary movement, stiff muscles, exaggerated reflexes, walking impairments stiff or "floppy" muscle tone. A few children have cerebral palsy as a result of brain damage in the first few months or years of life, brain infections, or head injury.

Symptoms
The symptoms of Cerebral Palsy are vast, and depend mainly on which form of CP is existing (different types discussed below. The most common symptoms within all forms are:
-Lack of voluntary muscle coordination during movement
-Exaggerated reflexes
-Walking or movement impairments, such as dragging a leg or foot, walking hunched over, or walking with an odd gait
-Poor muscle tone

What causes Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral Palsy is caused by abnormalities in the brain, which are primarily the result of brain damage, however the form and cause of the brain damage varies.
Acquired Damage: Approximately 10- 20% of children acquire CP after birth, usually from brain damage sustained early in life. In these cases, the disorder may result from brain infections (i.e. bacterial meningitis or viral encephalitis), head trauma (possibly from an accident or fall), or from inflicted injuries (as seen in shaken baby syndrome).
Congenital: The cause of CP that is present at birth is often unknown and many cases go undetected for months. Certain events during pregnancy, labor, and delivery can damage the young brain and cause cerebral palsy. This accounts for roughly 3-13% CP cases.
Infections during pregnancy: German measles (rubella), cytomegalovirus and toxoplasmosis have been shown to have the ability to damage the fetus's developing nervous system. Severe jaundice (hyperbilirubinemia) that occurs in early infancy can also cause similar damage.
Asphyxia Which can occur during labor, or during any long period of being oxygen deprived. Brain Hemorrhage: (or bleeding), can occur in the fetus during pregnancy or in newborns around the time of birth. These hemorrhages are a type of stroke that may be caused by broken, abnormal, or clogged blood vessels in or leading to the brain, or by respiratory distress.

Who is affected by Cerebral Palsy?
In the United States, more people have Cerebral Palsy than any other form of developmental disability. Two in every 1,000 babies are born with the disorder, however this statistic rises dramatically in the infant and toddler years.

Treatment
There is no cure for Cerebral Palsy, but treatment can often improve a child's level of functioning. Many children will go on to enjoy near-normal adult lives if their CP is properly managed. Generally speaking, the earlier treatment begins the better chance the child will have to learn how to lead a normal life and function at higher level. Treatment may include physical and occupational therapy, speech therapy, drugs to control seizures, relax muscle spasms, and alleviate pain; surgery to correct anatomical abnormalities or release tight muscles; braces and other orthotic devices; wheelchairs and rolling walkers; and communication aids such as computers with attached voice synthesizers.

Types of Cerebral Palsy

Spastic CP: The most common form of cerebral palsy. It causes the muscles to be stiff and permanently contracted.
Spastic diplegia: Affects the legs more than the arms. The legs will often turn in and cross at the knees. This causes a "scissors gait", in which the hips are flexed, the knees nearly touch, the feet are flexed, and the ankles turn out from the leg, causing toe-walking. Learning disabilities and seizures are less common.
Spastic hemiplegia (hemiparesis): May experience uncontrollable shaking of the limbs on one side of the body. Severe tremors can seriously impair movement. The arm is generally affected more than the leg. Learning disabilities, vision problems, seizures, and dysfunction of the muscles of the mouth and tongue are common.
Spastic quadriplegia: All four limbs are affected. There is dysfunction of the muscles of the mouth and tongue, seizures, other severe medical complications and increased risk for cognitive difficulties.
Athetoid (or dyskinetic) cerebral palsy: Characterized by slow, uncontrolled, writhing movements of the hands, feet, arms, or legs. Patients also may have abrupt, irregular, jerky movements, or slow rhythmic movements with muscle tone abnormalities and abnormal posture. The muscles of the face and tongue may be affected, causing grimacing and/or drooling. When the muscles that control speech are affected, the patient experiences abnormal speech formation. Hearing loss is commonly associated with this form of CP.
Ataxic cerebral palsy: Affects balance and depth perception. Those with ataxic CP have poor coordination and walk unsteadily, usually placing their feet far apart. Many have trouble with quick or precise movements. Some also have intention tremor, in which a voluntary movement, like reaching for an object, sets off trembling in the limb. The tremor becomes more intense as the person nears the target object.
Mixed CP: Combination of two or more types of cerebral palsy

Sources:
1.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Cerebral Palsy http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/cerebral_palsy/cerebral_palsy.htm
2.Neurology Channel: Cerebral Palsy. http://www.neurologychannel.com/cerebralpalsy/symptoms.shtml


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I prove a theorem and the house expands:
the windows jerk free to hover near the ceiling,
the ceiling floats away with a sigh

What is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in a person's mood, energy, and ability to function. Different from the normal ups and downs that everyone goes through, the symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe. One who suffers from Bipolar Disorder experiences periods of extreme "highs," which consist of euphoric moods, delusions and excessive energy; along with periods of severe depression and hopelessness.

Symptoms
*Periods of mania:
-Increased energy, activity, and restlessness  
-Excessively "high," overly good, euphoric mood
-Extreme irritability  
-Racing thoughts and talking very fast, jumping from one idea to another  
-Easily distracted; poor concentration and focus  
-Little to no sleeping  
-Unrealistic beliefs in one's abilities and powers  
-Poor judgment  
-Excessive money spending  
-A lasting period of behavior that is different from usual  
-Increased sexual drive  
-Abuse of drugs
-Provocative, intrusive, or aggressive behavior  
-Denial that anything is wrong  
>>A manic episode is diagnosed if elevated mood occurs with three or more of the other symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for 1 week or longer. If the mood is irritable, four additional symptoms must be present.
*Periods of depression:
-Lasting sad, anxious, or empty mood  
-Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism  
-Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness  
-Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed, including sex  
-Decreased energy, a feeling of fatigue  
-Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions  
-Restlessness or irritability  
-Sleeping too much, or insomnia  
-Change in appetite and/or unintended weight loss or gain  
-Chronic pain or other persistent bodily symptoms that are not caused by physical illness or injury  
-Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts  
>>A depressive episode is diagnosed if five or more of these symptoms last most of the day, nearly every day, for a period of 2 weeks or longer

What is the course of the disorder?
Episodes of mania and depression usually recur across the life span. Between episodes, most people with bipolar disorder are free of symptoms, but as many as one-third of people have some residual symptoms. A small percentage of people experience constant symptoms despite treatment.
People with bipolar disorder can lead healthy and productive lives when the illness is effectively treated. Without treatment, however, the natural course of bipolar disorder tends to worsen. Over time a person may suffer more frequent (more rapid-cycling) and more severe manic and depressive episodes than those experienced when the illness first appeared

What causes Bipolar Disorder?
Most current research suggests that there is no single cause of Bipolar Disorder. It is believed to be a combination of both biological and environmental factors.
Because it seems to run in families (the concordance rate is 80 percent for identical twins, as compared to only 16 percent for fraternal twins), researchers have been looking to isolate a gene or set of genes that influence the presence of Bipolar Disorder. The effect of different neurotransmitters also plays a key role. Some studies suggest that a low or high level of a specific neurotransmitter such as serotonin, norepinephrine or dopamine is the cause. Other studies indicate that an imbalance of these chemicals is the problem, and yet others predict that a change in the sensitivity of the receptors on nerve cells may be the issue.
There also seem to be environmental factors. For mental, emotional and environmental issues, stressful life events are thought to be the main element in the development of bipolar disorder. These triggers are different for everyone; as an event in one person's life may seem like a catastrophe, while to another it may be nothing. That being said, it seems that once the disorder has been triggered, life events have a much less significant impact. Severe episodes can occur without any environmental trigger.

Who is affected by Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder affects approximately 5.7 million adult Americans, or about 2.6% of the U.S. population age 18 and older every year. (National Institute of Mental Health). The median age of onset for bipolar disorder is 25 years but the illness can start in early childhood or as late as the 40's and 50's. An equal number of men and women develop bipolar illness and it is found in all ages, races, ethnic groups and social classes. More than two-thirds of people with bipolar disorder have at least one close relative with the illness or with major depression.

Treatment
Most people with bipolar disorder can achieve substantial stabilization of their mood swings and related symptoms with proper treatment. Because bipolar disorder is a recurrent illness, long-term preventive treatment is strongly recommended and almost always indicated. A strategy that combines medication and psychosocial treatment is recommended for managing the disorder over time.
In addition, keeping a chart of daily mood symptoms, treatments, sleep patterns, and life events may help people with their disorder. This chart also can help the doctor track and treat the illness most effectively.
Medications: Medications usually are prescribed to help control bipolar disorder. Several different types of mood stabilizers are available. In general, people with bipolar disorder continue treatment with mood stabilizers for extended periods of time (years). Other medications are added when necessary, typically for shorter periods, to treat episodes of mania or depression that break through despite the mood stabilizer.
-Lithium, the first mood-stabilizing medication is often very effective in controlling mania and preventing the recurrence of both manic and depressive episodes.  
-Anticonvulsant medications also can have mood-stabilizing effects and may be especially useful for difficult-to-treat bipolar episodes. Anticonvulsant medications may be combined with lithium, or with each other, for greater benefits.  
Research has shown that people with bipolar disorder are at risk of switching into mania or hypomania, or of developing rapid cycling, during treatment with antidepressant medication.15 Therefore, "mood-stabilizing" medications generally are required, alone or in combination with antidepressants, to protect people with bipolar disorder from this switch..
-Atypical antipsychotic medications are being studied as possible treatments for bipolar disorder. Evidence suggests clozapine may be helpful as a mood stabilizer for people who do not respond to lithium or anticonvulsants.
>>>Side Effects
Unfortunately, the drugs used to treat Bipolar Disorder, like many other drugs, may have some side effects. The most common of these include weight gain, nausea, tremor, reduced sexual drive or performance, anxiety, an emotional "flat effect", hair loss, movement problems, or dry mouth.

Types of Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar I disorder: Involves episodes of severe mood swings, from mania and depression.
Bipolar II Disorder: A milder form, involving milder episodes of hypomania that alternate with depression.
Cyclothymic Bipolar Disorder: Cycling from hypomania to mold/moderate depression.
Mixed Bipolar Disorder: Both mania and depression occur at the same time. The person feels grandiose, with racing thoughts, all this energy -- but is also irritable, angry, moody and down.
Rapid-cycling Bipolar Disorder: Characterized by four or more mood episodes that occur within a 12-month period. Some people experience multiple episodes within a single week, or even within a single day. Rapid cycling tends to develop later in the course of illness. A rapid-cycling pattern increases risk for severe depression and suicide attempts.

Sources:
1. National Institute of Mental Health: Bipolar Disorder. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder/complete-publication.shtml
2. Web MD: Bipolar Disorder. http://www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder/guide/bipolar-disorder-overview-facts  

Post edited at 11:27 pm on June 18, 2008 by greatescape11

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I prove a theorem and the house expands:
the windows jerk free to hover near the ceiling,
the ceiling floats away with a sigh

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lol ya....I have all this information down from a project I had to do a while back....I'll keep em coming.  All I have to do is change them into LW format and make a few additions/tweaks.

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Fantastic! =)

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Yes, we know who you are.

You take the pieces of the dreams that you had
Because you don't like the way they seem to be going.

People with Down's syndrome have an extra chromosome in some or all of their body's cells, resulting in certain physical characteristics and some level of learning difficulty. Down's syndrome affects one in every 1000 babies in the UK.

this condition is caused by an extra chromosome when the child is developing in the womb, down's syndrome has physical features as well as the affects of it. the physical include; a flattened face; coarse, straight hair; and a fold of skin at the inner edge of the eye; flattening at the back of the head; low birth weight and short stature.

the syndrome can cause;
1.Poor immunity is common, so people with Down's syndrome are prone to chest infections, coughs and colds.
2.Eye problems, such as short- or long-sightedness or cataracts affect half of children with Down's syndrome by the age of four.
3.Hearing problems, ranging from mild to complete deafness, affect over half of people with Down's syndrome.
4.Thyroid problems, including low or high levels of the thyroid hormones, affect one in 10 people with Down's syndrome
5.Poor immunity is common, so people with Down's syndrome are prone to chest infections, coughs and colds.
6.Problems with the digestive system may cause diarrhoea or constipation; babies may have feeding problems and may not gain weight normally.
7.Dementia affects people with Down's syndrome at an earlier age: four out of ten 50-59 year-old with Down's syndrome have dementia.

The condition can be detected by prenatal testing. this condition is more like in woman who conceive at age 35 or over and is therefore better for them to have the testing, however the test which includes a giant needle being inserted into the stomach, can also increase the chance of miscarriage.

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i love cookies :D and my friends too :D

Hmm.....time flies.  I wont get around to posting everything I guess.  Hold on, I've got one pretty close to ready..

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I prove a theorem and the house expands:
the windows jerk free to hover near the ceiling,
the ceiling floats away with a sigh

What is HIV?
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a retrovirus (a type of virus that replicates as a part of the cell's DNA) that primarily attacks the human immune system. As helper-T cells, macrophages and dendritic cells are attacked, the body slowly becomes more susceptible to opportunistic infections.

What is AIDS, and how is it different from HIV?
AIDS is the set of symptoms and infections resulting from the infection of HIV. The condition results in chronic development of infections and tumors. Being HIV-positive is not the same as having AIDS. Many people are HIV-positive but don't get sick for many years. As HIV disease continues, it slowly wears down the immune system, which is what eventually triggers the onset of AIDS.

What are the symptoms of HIV/AIDS?
HIV
**As stated above, there are not many symptoms associated with an HIV infection. Some people may notice mild symptoms upon infection including:
-Flu-like symptoms
-Fever
-Headache
-Tiredness
-Swollen Lymph glands
**As HIV progresses and the immune system weakens, more severe symptoms may begin to appear. This could take a few months, or many many years.
-Weight Loss
-Fatigue
-Frequent fevers and sweats
-Reoccurring yeast infections
-Persistent skin rashes, or dry flaky skin
-Short-term memory loss
-Mouth, genital or anal sores from herpes infection.
AIDS
**AIDS is the most severe stage of the disease. The definition of AIDS includes having 200 CD4+ cells per micro liter of blood, along with 26 conditions that are common in advanced HIV disease but that rarely occur in healthy people. Some of the main ones include:
-Cough and shortness of breath  
-Seizures and lack of coordination
-Difficult or painful swallowing  
-Mental symptoms such as confusion and forgetfulness  
-Severe and persistent diarrhea
-Fever  
-Vision loss  
-Nausea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting  
-Weight loss and extreme fatigue  
-Severe headaches with neck stiffness  
-Coma  
-Various cancers such as Kaposi sarcoma, cervical cancer, and cancers of the immune system known as lymphomas
-Round, brown, reddish or purple spots that develop in the skin or in the mouth.

What causes HIV/AIDS?
As mentioned earlier, the syndrome is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which attacks the body's immune system. The specific actions of the disease progress as follows.

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Normally, white blood cells and antibodies attack and destroy foreign organisms that enter your body. This response is coordinated by white blood cells known as CD4 lymphocytes. These lymphocytes are also the main targets of HIV, which attaches to the cells and then enters them. Once inside, the virus inserts its own genetic material into the lymphocytes and uses them to make copies of itself.
2.When the new copies of the virus break out of the host cells and enter the bloodstream, they search for other cells to attack. In the meantime, the old host cells and some uninfected CD4 cells die from the effects of the virus. The cycle repeats itself again and again. In the process, billions of new HIV particles are produced every day. Eventually, the number of CD4 cells in the body decreases, leading to severe immune deficiency, which means your body can no longer effectively fight off viruses and bacteria that cause disease.

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How is HIV spread?
HIV is a contagious virus. It is transmitted through the exchange of bodily fluids (blood, vaginal secretion, semen). There are three main methods of transmission.
Sexual Transmission: You can become infected by having vaginal, anal or oral sex with an infected partner whose blood, semen or vaginal secretions enter your body. You may also become infected from shared sexual devices. The virus is present in the semen or vaginal secretions of someone who's infected and enters your body through small tears that can develop in the rectum or vagina during sexual activity. Due to a higher amount of tearing during anal sex, it is more likely to develop HIV through this form of intercourse.
Blood Contact: Direct contact with whole blood, platelets, packed red blood cells and/or plasma can all result in the transmission of HIV. The infected blood must enter through an opening or tear in the body (meaning it could spread through an open wound, but not skin-to-blood contact). This type of infection has been known to occur with blood transfusions (although much less frequently, as blood is now screened for HIV), sharing of needles and syringes, accidental needle pricks, and unprotected medical treatment for someone with HIV.
Mother-to-child: A mother infected with HIV/AIDS can spread the virus to her child during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding. The chances of the virus being transmitted during pregnancy can be greatly reduced with several drugs, however these are often not available to the poor or to impoverished nations. In addition, Cesarean-section births can reduce the risk of transmission during the birthing process. Again, this option is often not available to everyone.

>>>HIV is NOT transmitted through:
-Skin to skin contact, such as hugging, shaking hands or other forms of basic touching
-Coughing or breathing on someone

Treatment for HIV/AIDS
There is currently no cure for HIV/AIDS, however there are a number of things one can do to enhance the quality of life, put off the onset of AIDS, and prolong life.
Antiretroviral drugs: Antiretroviral drugs inhibit the growth and replication of HIV at various stages of its life cycle. There are six classes of the drug available.
-Nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) inhibit the replication of an HIV enzyme called reverse transcriptase.  
-Protease inhibitors (PIs) interrupt HIV replication at a later stage in its life cycle by interfering with an enzyme known as HIV protease. This causes HIV particles in your body to become structurally disorganized and noninfectious.  
-Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) bind directly to the enzyme reverse transcriptase
-Nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NtRTIs) interfere with the replication of reverse transcriptase and prevent the virus from inserting its genetic material into cells.
-Fusion inhibitors suppress resistant strains of HIV. Fusion inhibitors stop the virus from replicating by preventing its membrane from fusing with the membrane surrounding healthy cells
-Integrase inhibitors blocks replication of the HIV integrase enzyme, which keeps HIV DNA from inserting itself into human DNA
CCR5 antagonists: A new class of drugs used to treat a particular type of HIV infection called CCR5-tropic HIV-1. It is the first drug that targets a human protein rather than components of the HIV virus itself.  

Other lifestyle changes can also cause a lessening of symptoms and prolong immune system deterioration, although these changes vary from person to person. Stopping smoking and other drug use, exercise and a healthy diet have all had a positive impact on the lives of some patients.

Who gets HIV/AIDS?
AIDS was first identified by the CDC in 1981, and is not considered to be a pandemic. In 2007, there were 30-36 million people worldwide with the disease, and 2-2.5 million AIDS deaths. Every 13 seconds, someone contracts HIV.
SEE: "AIDS clock" http://www.unfpa.org/aids_clock/
The presence of HIV/AIDS is highest among:
-Impoverished areas
-People who use drugs, especially intravenous ones
-People with no access to sexual barriers (i.e. condoms)
-Areas where violence (especially rape) is high.
-Areas with insufficient medical facilities
-Homosexuals**
-Refugee camps

**Although GLBT community has a higher rate of HIV/AIDS than the heterosexual community, the difference is much less than that for other factors, such as poverty. The prevalence of HIV/AIDS within the GLBT community is often exaggerated, as well as used as a form of prejudice and harassment.

Prevention
Since there is currently no cure for HIV/AIDS, it is essential that care is taken to prevent the spread of the virus. There are a number of ways to do this.
>Preventing Sexual Transmission<
-Abstain from sex, or delay first sex
-Stay faithful to sexual partners
-Have sexual partners tested for HIV
-Use barriers, such as male and female condoms
>Preventing Blood Transmission<
-Avoid sharing needles and syringes
-Always wear gloves and barriers when contacting an open wound of another person
-Check that blood transfusions have been screened
-Use your own blood (this is an option; check with your doctor about it if you are interested)
>Mother-Child<
-Consult a doctor if you are HIV-positive and considering having children
-Do not breastfeed without consulting a doctor if you are HIV positive

Resources for those dealing with HIV/AIDS
United States
National AIDS Hot-line
English: 1-800-342-AIDS
Spanish: 1-800-344-7432

National AIDS Information Clearinghouse
Phone: 800-458-5231

American Foundation for AIDS Research
733 3rd Avenue
12th Floor
New York, NY 10017
Phone: 212-682-7440

AIDS testing resource:
http://www.hivtest.org/

Canada
Canadian HIV/AIDS Information Centre
(formerly Canadian HIV/AIDS Clearinghouse)
613-725-3434
E-mail: aidssida@cpha.ca
Web site: http://www.clearinghouse.cpha.ca  

Canadian AIDS Society
http://www.cdnaids.ca/web/casmisc.nsf/cl/cas-gen-0002!OpenDocument&language=english

World Vision Canada
http://www.worldvision.ca/Pages/Home.aspx

United Kingdom
NHS Direct
0845 46 47

The National AIDS Helpline  
0800 567 123

Local HIV/AIDS Service Organizations
http://www.avert.org/hiv-uk.htm

Sources:
1. AIDS.ORG http://www.aids.org/
2. Center for Disease Control: AIDS http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/
3. Mayo Clinic Annual Health Report

Post edited at 2:57 pm on July 1, 2008 by greatescape11

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I prove a theorem and the house expands:
the windows jerk free to hover near the ceiling,
the ceiling floats away with a sigh