Sensitive question- can you help me?

I am a teacher and my form group are in year 10 (age 14-15). I have to deliver a lesson to them tomorrow on HIV and AIDS. S
ince I am not a science specialist I have no knowledge about HIV or AIDS apart from the basics I have been given. I would really appreciate any input from anyone who knows about the virus in a medical professional basis or from anyone directly affected by it, or close to anyone who has the virus. I think it is really important for them to ee the personal effects of the virus on individuals and I want to be able to answer their questions aout what life would be like to live with the virus. They are great kids and very open minded but I don't want them to judge or jump to conclusions about the virus or sufferers of it, and the best way for me to do this is to give them real facts and real life stories.
I appreciate that this is not the easiest of topics to discuss nd I appreciate any feedback, but I really do hope I get no offensive answers. If you can't help me then please do not respond.
Thank you in advance.

Just to reiterate I am not on here looking for information- that I can find for myself. What I do not have access to however is any first hand information from sufferers, medical professionals or people close to sufferers e.g parents, friends, children, partners. I can do my job properly but with a days notice to plan this I don't really have any other options.

Hi,

I have no direct experience of AIDS other than feline AIDS in a cat that I nursed through it till he was put to sleep.

But I think the following websites may give you what you are looking for:

This one has good, simple, and detailed information on HIV and AIDS.

http://www.herpes-coldsores.com/std/aids...

This one has a stories' section on women with HIV and men with HIV, which might help with the human, emotional aspect. I just browsed it and it brought tears to my eyes. Thought you might be able to print them out and read some to the kids. Just click where it says "Women with HIV" and "Men with HIV".

http://www.avert.org/stories.htm

All the very best and hope your class goes well!

I'd personally print a few pictures of just to show them how serious the virus is. I would also emphasise that its not curable.. only relatively controlable. http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=...

Try this website, it might give you some ideas.

http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/art...

With more time you could have got some leaflets from places that deal with it. I would also search the net, there are bound to be some true life stories.

All animals suffer from AIDS. Seriously, my cat has Aids and he has to go to the toilet an awful lot nowadays... :-(
His name is 'Mog'.

agree with lyn, at the age you are lecturing to i would suggest an emphasis on lifestyle advice, i.e how not to get it and how to treat those unfortunate enough to have it, it would probably be embarrassing but these kids are not as daft as you think, think back to when you were a child and i am sure you will agree that you had found out the facts of life a long time before any adult gave you the token rambling and embarrassing chat.........what you say could save a life!

For this age group, I would focus on how HIV is and is not transmitted, and let the kids know that they can touch, hug, or even kiss someone who has HIV without being infected themselves. Also talk to them about testing, and the fact that there are many treatments which can help people with HIV live longer, healthier, depending on the person's health prior to infection, the person's response to treatment (and whether or not they follow through with treatment), and their response to the virus itself. Different people may have very different experiences. People don't actually die from HIV, they die of the other infections they get after their immune system has been damaged. (These infections, such as pneumonia, colds, and flu, would not affect people with healthy immune systems, or they would only be minor problems.)
I hope that I've been helpful. Feel free to send me an email through YA if you have any other specific questions.

Hello,

I鈥檒l try my best to give you the 鈥淐orrect answers,鈥?some people on Yahoo don鈥檛 know what there talking about.

HIV/ ADI鈥檚 is A sexually transmitted dieses that is only contracted through sexual intercourse and or blood to blood contact. (Not from kissing)

HIV is completely harmless it鈥檚 only a blood type, although After 7 years of having HIV it then turns into Aids witch then lowers you immune system. (it kills the white blood cells)

After having ADI鈥檚 for about 2 years your Body is open to anything, even the common cold is a death sentence!

Now there鈥檚 medications to help slow done the affects of AIDs, what the medications do is load your system full of antiy-bodies witch make the white blood cells stronger and harder to kill.

Also when having sex always wear a condom because ADI鈥檚 is most commonly transmitted that way.

AID鈥檚 is most common amongst the gay community and drug users.

I hope this helps.

Signed,
You鈥檙e Good Friend.

-Ryan M