The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends that teenagers ages 16 to 18 undergo regular Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) testing.  This is highly suggested for those who live in an area where more than one-tenth of one percent of the population is HIV positive.

 In the past, HIV testing was only recommended to teens who are sexually active. Doctors now suggest that adolescents of any age who are tested for any sexually transmitted diseases (STD) such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, and human papillomavirus should also be tested for HIV.

 Teens tested for HIV and other STDs at a young age give their parents peace of mind about their child’s safety. If a child has HIV, parents should be aware in order to prevent the disease from becoming serious.

When HIV is caught at a young age, it is easier to control the virus and keep it at bay so that it does not spread throughout the body.

“You can get HIV the same way as you can get infected with STD,” said Dr. Byron Brace from Butte County Public Health Department in Oroville.

If one does not engage in sexual activity, there are still other ways of contracting HIV. A fist fight, for example, that results in an open wound with blood to blood contact is one of the quickest ways to acquire the virus.  The most common way to get HIV is through drug use by sharing needles. It is not possible for one to get HIV through hugging, kissing, or shaking hands.

People who have HIV are able to live normal lives because of medical improvements in the last couple of decades, but there are many side effects with taking these medicines.

If one is sexually active then he or she should make sure to be tested for HIV. It is possible to take the test without parental permission by calling a health clinic, as many offer this service. There are two different procedures to test for HIV, via blood and via oral saliva.

According to Brace, one of the most common places where people acquire HIV is in jail or juvenile hall.

“I test the people at the juvenile hall and none of them have come out positive with HIV yet,” said Brace.

There are many places that offer HIV testing, including the Public Health Clinic in Chico and Oroville, Chico Family Health, and Table Mountain Clinic in Oroville. One can also be tested at his or her doctor’s office.

“Teens and those in their early 20s are most likely to get HIV because they are more sexually active,” said PV health teacher David Crawford.

A weak immune system, which makes one more prone to illness, is a lifelong side-effect of having HIV.