ABOUT TSATF | SERVICES | COMMITTEES | EVENTS | INFORMATION | CONTACT Frequently Asked Questions on HIV/AIDS CLICK ON A TOPIC TO REVIEW THE INFORMATION General Questions: Questions and Answers: HIV is the Cause of AIDS What is HIV? What is AIDS? What causes AIDS? Where did HIV come from? How long does it take for HIV to cause AIDS? How can I tell if I'm infected with HIV? What are the symptoms? Does HIV Cause AIDS? Hoaxes and Rumors: I have read on the Internet several stories about people getting stuck by needles in phone booth coin returns, movie theater seats, gas pump handles, and other places. One story said that CDC reported similar incidents about improperly discarded needles and syringes. Are these stories true? Recently, a Weekly World News story made claims that CDC had discovered a mutated version of HIV that is transmitted through the air. Is this true? False Report: HIV Can Be Transmitted by Contact with Unused Feminine (Sanitary) Pads False Report: Texas Child Dies of Heroin Overdose After Being Stuck by Used Needle Found in Playground Testing for HIV: Where can I get tested for HIV infection? What are rapid HIV tests? Are there other tests available? How long after a possible exposure should I wait to get tested for HIV? If I test HIV negative, does that mean that my partner is HIV negative also? What if I test positive for HIV? I'm HIV positive. Where can I get information about treatments? How many people have HIV &AIDS? Why is CDC recommending that all pregnant women be tested for HIV? How safe is the blood supply in the United States? Transmission and Prevention: How is HIV passed from one person to another? Can I get HIV from kissing on the cheek? Can I get HIV from open-mouth kissing? Can I get HIV from performing oral sex? Can I get HIV from someone performing oral sex on me? Can I get HIV from having vaginal sex? Can I get HIV from anal sex? How effective are latex condoms in preventing HIV? Is there a connection between HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases? Why is injecting drugs a risk for HIV? How can people who use injection drugs reduce their risk for HIV infection? Can I get HIV from getting a tattoo or through body piercing? Are health care workers at risk of getting HIV on the job? Are patients in a dentist's or doctor's office at risk of getting HIV? Should I be concerned about getting infected with HIV while playing sports? Can I get HIV from casual contact (shaking hands, hugging, using a toilet, drinking from the same glass, or the sneezing and coughing of an infected person)? Can I get infected with HIV from mosquitoes?