Transmission

Transmission of HIV

Sure, most people have heard of HIV, most likely in the same sentence or conversation as AIDS. And maybe they associate this virus with Africa, as this continent is currently struggling in a battle of population versus virus. But what exactly do these acronyms stand for, and what do those huge words mean?

HIV : human immunodeficiency virus- the virus that causes AIDS AIDS : acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

To learn a bit more about what AIDS is and symptoms associated with it, explore the following PDF: [|What Is AIDS?]

//From what has been revealed about this deadly disease so far, it's true that it sounds (and is!) a little bit scary. But, as many people once thought, HIV **DOES NOT** get passed on from one to another merely by touching or hugging. A popular theory when HIV first became known, many people wouldn't dare associate with those infected for fear of acquiring the virus themselves. People who had AIDS were denied jobs and basic services just because people were afraid to be around them. HIV was also commonly associated with gay men, and was sometimes thought to only be a problem of the gay population, because the first few cases in America were of gay men. The gay population, as well as anyone with AIDS were often discriminated against, and sometimes even now, people have major misconceptions about the HIV virus... //

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The truth about HIV virus transmission: //** The HIV virus can only infect a person if the virus has, in some way, entered the person's blood stream **//. This means that the virus cannot travel from one person to another merely by hugging or associating with someone, nor by sharing food and drinks as seen by the video above. However, it can be transmitted from any sort of contact with blood that may potentially get into the blood stream, or, most commonly, sexual intercourse. HIV is often associated with sex because that is one of the largest ways in which it is spread. Of course, it may simple be a matter of sharing blood if two people are wounded, or being born with it, as is discussed below. There are several ways in which one can acquire the HIV virus:
 * 1) Having sex with an infected partner (as the virus can be transmitted through the lining of the genitalia)
 * 2) HIV is commonly spread through drug users who share syringes and needles which have not been sterilized and are, thus, contaminated with the virus from those who are infected. Go to the page, "Problems in the Soviet Union" for more info. on this type of transmission.
 * 3) Women can transmit HIV to their babies during their pregnancy if the infected maternal cells reach the baby's circulation.
 * 4) HIV can be transmitted in health care settings with the use of contaminated fluids.
 * 5) Although this happens rarely, HIV can be spread from an infected patient to someone else if the infected patient donates blood for a blood transfusion. In order to prevent this from happening, one must be tested for diseases and viruses such as HIV before being permitted to donate blood. One may also be infected during a transplant, from an organ donated by an HIV positive patient. Again, these donors are tested to make sure there blood is 'clean.'
 * 6) Those that already have a sexually transmitted disease, or STDs, are more likely to acquire HIV from an infected partner.

So... when is it called AIDS? HIV is a virus that kills cells of the immune system, particularly disease fighting CD4 cells. Once the number of CD4 cells in the body drops to a certain number, the infected person is said to have AIDS. The process of HIV developing into AIDS may take months or years. In this time, it is possible that the infected does not even know he or she has HIV, as symptoms do not often occur, and are much like cold or flu symptoms if they do develop. During this time, however, the infected person ma still pass on the HIV virus, so they must still be careful. To read more about the development of AIDS from HIV and what diseases take advantage of the weakened immune system: [|AIDS from HIV] CASE STUDY- In the workplace Check out the following link to see how HIV was passed on to patients in the workplace. Be aware that this article was published in the New York Times in 1990, and many more precautionary measures are being taken today to make sure nothing of the sort happens today in the workplace. This article reveals one of the first known transmittances of HIV to occur in the workplace from a dentist to his patient. Now, there are certain requirements to job applicants where blood is common; sometimes, the applicant must take an HIV test, and must test negative to be allowed to work. [|The New York Times; AIDS in the Worlplace]