How could I become infected with HIV?
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus
(HIV) is not spread as easily as a cold or flu. You
can only get HIV if infected blood or sexual fluids enter into your
system. It can't be contracted from mosquito bites, coughing
or sneezing, sharing household items, or swimming in the same pool
as someone with HIV.
There are no documented cases of HIV have been caused by sweat,
saliva or tears. However, even vert small quantities of blood in
your mouth might transmit HIV during kissing or oral sex. Blood
can come from flossing your teeth, or from sores caused by gum disease,
or by eating very hot or sharp, pointed food.
For infection to occur, the virus has to get past the
body's defenses - these include skin and saliva. If your
skin is not broken or cut, it protects you against infection from
blood or sexual fluids. Saliva can help kill HIV in your mouth.
However if HIV-infected blood or sexual fluid gets inside
your body, you can get infected. This could occur
through an open sore or wound, during sexual activity, or if you
share equipment to inject drugs.
HIV could also be spread from a mother to her child during
pregnancy or delivery -this is called "vertical
transmission." Babies can also be infected by drinking
an infected woman's breast milk. Adults exposed to breast milk of
an HIV-infected woman could also be exposed to HIV.
You can't spread HIV if there is no HIV infection.
If you and your partners are not infected with HIV,
there is no risk of being infected with HIV. However an
"undetectable viral load" does NOT mean "no HIV infection."
If there is no contact with blood or sexual fluids, there is no
risk. HIV needs to get into the body for infection to occur.
The greatest risk occurs when blood or sexual fluid touches the soft, moist areas (mucous membrane) inside the rectum, vagina, mouth, nose, or at the tip of the penis. These can be damaged easily, which gives HIV a way to get into the body.
Some men are under the impression that they can’t transmit HIV
if they pull their penis out before they reach orgasm. This isn’t
true, because HIV can be in the fluid that comes out of
the penis before orgasm.
How to protect yourself and others?
Unless you are 100% sure that you and the people you are with do not have HIV
infection, you should take measures to prevent getting infected.
You can avoid any risk of HIV if you practice abstinence (not
having sex). You also are highly unlikely to get infected
if your penis, mouth, vagina or rectum doesn't touch anyone else's
penis, mouth, vagina, or rectum. Safe activities include
kissing, erotic massage, masturbation or hand jobs (mutual masturbation).
Having sex in a monogamous (faithful) relationship is
safe if:
- Both of you are uninfected (HIV-negative)
- You both have sex only with your partner
- Neither one of you gets exposed to HIV through
drug use or other activities.
Oral sex has a lower
risk of infection than anal or
vaginal sex, especially if there are no open sores
or blood in the mouth. You can reduce the risk of infection
with HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases by
using barriers like condoms, and using flavoured or
unlubricated condoms if having oral sex (lubricated condoms taste
unpleasant). Traditional condoms go on the penis, and a new type
of condom goes in the vagina or in the rectum.
Some chemicals called spermicides
can prevent pregnancy but they don't prevent HIV. They might even
increase your risk of getting infected if they cause irritation
or swelling.
Some people who
are HIV-infected don't see the need to follow safer
sex guidelines when they are sexual with other infected people.
However, it still makes sense to "Always play safe." If
you don't, you could be exposed to other sexually transmitted
infections such as herpes or syphilis. If you already
have HIV, these diseases can be more serious.
Also, you might get "re-infected" with a different strain
of HIV. This new version of HIV might not be controlled
by the medications you are taking. It might also be resistant to
other HIV antiviral drugs. There is no way of knowing how risky
it is for two HIV-positive people to have unsafe sex. Following
the guidelines for safer sex will reduce the risk.
Drug Use
If you're on drugs, you might forget to use protection during sex.
If you use someone else's equipment (needles, syringes, cookers, cotton
or rinse water) you can get infected by tiny amounts of blood. The
best way to avoid infection is to not use drugs.
If you use drugs, you can prevent infection by not injecting
them. If you do inject, don't share equipment. If you must
share, clean equipment with bleach and water before every use.
Vertical Transmission
With no treatment, about 25% of the babies of HIV-infected women would
be born infected. The risk drops to about 4% if a woman takes AZT
during pregnancy and delivery, and then her newborn is given AZT.
The risk is 2% or less if the mother is taking combination
antiviral therapy. Caesarean section deliveries probably
don't reduce transmission risk if the mother's viral load is below
1000.
Babies can get infected if they drink breast milk from
an HIV-infected woman. Women with HIV should use baby formulas
or breast milk from a woman who is not infected to feed their babies.
Contact with Blood infected by HIV is one of many ways
that HIV can be transmitted. Be careful if you are
helping someone who is bleeding. If your work exposes you to
blood, be sure to protect any cuts or open sores on your skin,
as well as your eyes and mouth. Your employer should provide
gloves, facemasks and other protective equipment, plus training
about how to avoid diseases that are spread by blood.
What If I've Been Exposed?
Act Quickly! If you think you have been exposed to HIV, talk
to your health care provider or the public health department, and
get tested. If you are sure that you have been exposed, call
your doctor immediately to discuss whether you should start taking
anti-HIV drugs. This is called "post exposure prophylaxis" or PEP.
You would take two or three medications for several weeks.
These drugs can decrease the risk of infection by up to 80%,
but they have some serious side effects, and must be started within
hours or days.
Summary
To get infected with HIV, infected blood, sexual fluid, or mother's milk
has to get into your body. HIV-infected pregnant women can
pass the infection to their new babies.
To decrease the risk of spreading HIV:
- Use condoms during sexual activity
- Do not share drug injection equipment
- If you are HIV-infected and pregnant, talk with your
doctor about taking anti-HIV drugs
- If you are an HIV-infected woman, don't breast feed
any baby
- Protect cuts, open sores, and your eyes and mouth from
contact with blood
If you think you've been exposed to HIV, get tested and ask
your doctor about taking anti-HIV medications
IMMEDIATELY.
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