HIV and Athletes

1
HIV and Athletes

• By
• Jenny Kriesel, Kirby Raasch, LeAnn Hayes

2
Question?

• Tom, an incoming freshman at your high school,
  wants to be a member of the track team. Tom is
  HIV positive. What are the possible health
  ramifications to him and to his teammates and
  opponents?

3
What is HIV/AIDs?

• http//www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/aids/actionqt.html
• HIVHuman Immunodeficiency Virus
• AIDsAcquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• AIDs is the resultant disease of HIV
• Humans are not the natural host of HIV
• Still undetermined how it crossed over into humans

4
Athletes with HIV

• Earvin Magic Johnson
• Greg Louganis
• Tommy Morrison
• Arthur Ashe

5
How HIV is contracted

• Sexual Contact
• Blood
• Transfusions
• Contaminated Injection Equipment
• Needles
• Infected Mother to her child during the prenatal
  period including breast feeding

6
Signs and Symptoms

• Fatigue
• Weight Loss
• Fever
• Breathing Problems
• Headaches
• Enlarged Lymph Nodes
• Hepatomegaly (enlargement of the liver)
• Diarrhea
• Skin Rashes/Itch

7
Management and Treatment

• No cure, but manageable
• Educate the infected athlete
• Continued checkups
• Antiretroviral drugs
• Monitor health conditions

8
Health Ramifications to Athlete

• Physical
• Stress
• Weakened Immune System
• Psychological
• Stress
• Counseling

9
Health Ramifications to Teammates and Opponents

• Possibility of coming in contact with infectious
  blood
• Confidentiality
• Cannot be contracted through sweat, saliva, and
  tears

10
Prevention between Athletes

• Educate athletes, coaches, and athletic trainers
• Disposal plan for infectious wastes
• Remove a bleeding athlete from competition
  immediately
• Equip all staff with protective equipment
• Be prepared for possibility of exposure

11
Conclusion

• Tom should be allowed to run on the track team
  because the risks to him, his teammates, and
  opponents are low because of the type of sport
  and lack of physical contact between him and
  other players.
• Tom should be monitored and take proper
  precautions because there is still a slight risk.