Due to Your Potential Exposure, Until the Recommended Testing Is Complete, It Is Important

Due to your potential exposure, until the recommended testing is complete, it is important to protect others:

If you start to have symptoms of infection of HIV, or hepatitis, tell your family physician and the local public health centre.
Use condoms with your partner(s) every time.
Do not donate any body substance (blood, bone marrow, etc).
Do not share toothbrushes, razors or needles.
Avoid getting pregnant – inform your family physician if you become pregnant.
Use gloves to clean up blood spills and keep any open wounds covered.
Use 1 part bleach to 9 parts water to clean up blood spills.

For further information:

HealthLink Alberta call toll free:

Know the

Facts

If you may have been exposed to:

HIV

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis C

HIV FACTS

What is HIV?

HIV stands for “human immunodeficiency virus”. The virus weakens the immune system that normally protects the body against infections and cancers. Even the best treatments available have difficulty controlling HIV infection. There is no cure at this time.

What is AIDS?

AIDS stands for “acquired immunodeficiency syndrome”. AIDS occurs when the immune system becomes damaged and breaks down over time, making it easier to get different kinds of illnesses and cancers.

Where is HIV found?

HIV is found in body fluids: blood, semen, vaginal fluids and breast milk of HIV infected women.

How does HIV get into your body?

For you to get HIV, the body fluid of an infected person must enter your body through thin skin such as mucous membranes or into wounds. This can happen in these ways:

During unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex;
Injections though the skin when sharing needles for injecting drugs or by needle stick injuries;
Babies can get HIV from drinking infected breast milk.

What is the risk I’ll become positive?

Injection drug use- 0.7 %

Needlestick – 0.3%

Sexual intercourse - varies 0.1%-30%

Bloody splash into eyes/mouth – 0.1%

What are the symptoms of HIV?

HIV infected individuals can live for years without symptoms. People may also develop “flu-like” symptoms 2-4 weeks after exposure. These symptoms may go away. People may also experience unexplainable weight loss, feeling tired, fever, night sweats, joint/muscle pain, rashes, diarrhea, vomiting, lack of appetite, sore throat, swollen glands, and yeast infections.

Should you get tested?

Being tested for HIV is an important decision for your health. If you are infected, the sooner you know, the sooner you can get treatment and help. You can also make sure that you do not pass HIV on to others. Many people who have HIV infection have no symptoms or signs of illness. You can look and feel completely well and could pass the virus to a partner unknowingly.

HEPATITIS B FACTS

What is Hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is an infectious virus that is carried in the blood and body fluids and affects the liver.

Where is Hepatitis B found?

Hepatitis B is found in body fluids: blood, semen, vaginal fluids.

How does Hepatitis B get into your body?

For you to get Hepatitis B, the body fluid of an infected person must enter your body through thin skin such as mucus membranes or into a wound. This can happen in these ways:

During unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex.
Injections through the skin when sharing needles for injecting drugs or by needle stick injuries.
Contact with infected blood or with body fluids that might have blood in them (including sports injuries, helping a friend bandage a cut, or cleaning up of other body fluids).
Hepatitis B can be spread to infants during the birthing process.

What is the risk I’ll become positive?

Needlestick – 30% - 60% (without immunization or intervention)

Sexually – risk not quantified

Sexual risk in order (highest to lowest risk)

Receptive anal is highest
Insertive anal is next
Vaginal intercourse is next
Oral-anal contact

What are the symptoms?

There may be no symptoms or mild illness, or flu like symptoms. Symptoms include: tiredness, poor appetite, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, joint pain, dark colored urine, light colored stools, and yellowing of eyes and skin.

Should you get tested?

Being tested is important, the sooner you know if you are infected, the sooner you can get treatment.

Being immunized with the Hepatitis B vaccine can prevent Hepatitis B.

For more information on this vaccine

phone HEALTHLink Alberta

at 1 800 408 5465, or

your local Public Health Centre.

HEPATITIS C FACTS

What is Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is an infectious virus that is carried in the blood and affects the liver.

Where is Hepatitis C found?

Hepatitis C is found in blood and might be present in other bodily fluids contaminated with blood.

How does Hepatitis C get into your body?

Hepatitis C is usually spread through contact with blood containing the virus. Examples of how the virus may be spread are listed below, however, some people never find out how they became infected.

Receiving a transfusion of blood or blood products before 1990.
Sharing needles to inject drugs.
Receiving a tattoo,a piercing, acupuncture or electrolysis with an unsterilized needle.
Sharing a straw to snort drugs. Small amounts of blood on the straw may spread the virus.
Accidental sticks with used needles or other accidental exposure to blood.
Sharing tools which can draw blood, such as razors, nail clippers, scissors or toothbrushes.
Having unprotected sex. The risk is higher in people with multiple sexual partners or in homosexual males. Sexual acts that can injure body tissues and allow contact with infected blood increase the risk of virus being spread.
Hepatitis C can be spread to infants during the birthing process.

What is the risk I’ll become positive?

Needlestick – 1.8% on average

Sexually – risk not quantified

Risk increases if source has HIV as well

What are the symptoms?

Should you get tested?

Being tested for Hepatitis C is an important decision for your health. The sooner you know if you are infected the sooner you can receive treatment. Many people with Hepatitis C have no symptoms or signs of illness. You can look and feel completely well and could pass the virus to another person unknowingly.

Whether you have been tested or not, always practice safer sex (use condoms). Do not share needles or equipment used to inject drugs or steroids. Do not share personal care items like toothbrushes and/or razors.

Due to Your Potential Exposure, Until the Recommended Testing Is Complete, It Is Important