THE RESOURCES...where to get tested
FREE HIV and STD Testing
CARES offers free & confidential walk-in and appointment HIV & STD testing Monday through Friday, 9:00am - 5:00pm, and Thursday, 9:00am - 7:00pm. Call 916.443.3299 or email testing@caresclinic.org for more information, and visit us at 1500 21st St. Sacramento, CA 95811.
What is HIV?
HIV, or the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, is the virus medical researchers believe causes AIDS. Since the vast majority of researchers believe that HIV is the sole cause of AIDS, we often refer to HIV as "the AIDS virus."
Like other viruses, HIV attacks cells in the body. But what makes HIV different is that the immune system can never fully get rid of HIV because the virus attacks the immune system itself--the very mechanism that would normally get rid of a virus.
Today there are medical treatments that can slow down the rate at which HIV weakens the immune system and that can prevent or cure some of the illnesses associated with advanced HIV disease. As with other diseases, early detection offers more options for treatment and preventive care.
What is AIDS?
The term AIDS applies to the most advanced stages of HIV infection. AIDS severely weakens the body's ability to fight infections and certain cancers. People diagnosed with AIDS may have opportunistic infections, which are caused by microbes such as viruses or bacteria that usually do not make healthy people sick. The immune system of a person with AIDS is threatened to the point that medical intervention may be necessary to prevent or treat serious illness.
Ways in which HIV is Transmitted
HIV is transmitted in the following ways:
- Unprotected sexual contact; vaginal, anal or oral sex
- Direct blood contact; including injection drug needles, blood transfusions, accidents in health care settings or certain blood products
- Mother to baby; before or during birth, or through breast milk
FREE HIV and STD Testing
CARES offers free & confidential walk-in and appointment HIV & STD testing Monday through Friday, 9:00am - 5:00pm, and Thursday, 9:00am - 7:00pm. Call 916.443.3299 or email testing@caresclinic.org g for more information, and visit us at 1500 21st St. Sacramento, CA 95811.
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