It is not for nothing that the human immunodeficiency virus has such a name, because it is a purely human pathology that is not dangerous for other mammals. There are, however, a couple of variations of this virus, which, according to special studies, affect African monkeys (HIV-2) and possibly chimpanzees (HIV-1), but they have nothing to do with humans, being transmitted only within the species. For the human race, the danger is precisely HIV infection, which opens the way into the body for many dangerous viruses and bacteria. Therefore, you should not treat it carelessly. But you can protect yourself from this terrible disease only by knowing how HIV infection is transmitted from person to person.
A little about HIV itself
Humanity learned about the immunodeficiency virus at the end of the twentieth century (1983), when at the same time this virus was discovered in two scientific laboratories. One of them was located in France (Louis Pasteur Institute), the other in the USA (National Cancer Institute). A year earlier, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), which, as it turned out later, was the final phase of HIV infection, received its current name.
When a new unknown retrovirus was isolated and given the name HTLV-III, it was also suggested that this virus could be the cause of such a terrible disease as AIDS. Further research confirmed this hypothesis, and humanity learned about a new danger that can kill without weapons.
How is HIV infection transmitted?
The human immunodeficiency virus is a terrible and insidious disease, for which there is currently no effective treatment. But there are a lot of different rumors around HIV. Some say that the virus itself is not so scary if you can live with it quietly for more than 10 years. The real danger, in their opinion, is only the last stage of the disease - AIDS, when various pathologies develop in the body, most of them having a complicated course.
Others are terrified of contracting HIV infection, believing that any contact with an infected person carries great danger. This leads to neurotic disorders and depression, because an infected person himself may not even suspect that he is a carrier, not to mention other people who do not notice any changes in the virus carrier. The presence of the virus in the body can only be determined diagnostically by conducting a special blood test for antibodies to HIV.
In principle, there is some truth in both opinions. But both a careless attitude towards the problem of HIV and excessive concern for one's health at the expense of human relationships and mental health are extremes that will not benefit either one or the other.
HIV has 3 main routes of transmission, which are worth paying close attention to, because it is in these cases that the risk of infection is especially high:
- During sexual intercourse (sexual or contact route of transmission),
- When manipulating blood (parenteral route),
- During pregnancy, labor and breastfeeding (vertical transmission of infection).
In other cases, the possibility of getting HIV is so small that even doctors do not consider these routes as dangerous.
Having learned how HIV infection is transmitted, you can take all measures to block any routes for infection to enter the body. One should not think that only those people who, due to their professional duties, are forced to come into contact with infected people or who are related to virus carriers in some way are at risk. You can become infected with the human immunodeficiency virus even if you have a virus-negative partner.
On the other hand, some couples, in which one of the partners is a virus carrier, live quite happily because they are careful in sexual contacts. Thus, consideration for others and caution are important conditions that help stop the spread of a terrible disease.
How is HIV infection transmitted from a man?
So, the greatest chance of introducing HIV infection into your body is observed during sexual intercourse. This applies to both heterosexual and homosexual couples. A man always acts as the introducing party in sex. And often it is men who are the “customers” of love affairs. Therefore, the risk of infection from a man is higher than from a woman.
This is also facilitated by the fact that the content of virus cells in sperm is almost 3 times higher than in the vaginal secretions of women. Even a minimal amount of sperm on the penis can introduce an infection into the female body, but removing it from there is very difficult due to the structural features of the female genital organs, which are located deep inside. Conventional douching after sexual intercourse does not guarantee the removal of the virus from the body.
Please note that sex with an HIV-positive partner does not necessarily result in infection. In order for the virus to become active, it must enter the bloodstream. It can enter the bloodstream only through damage to the skin and mucous membranes. Usually, during sexual intercourse, microcracks form on the vaginal mucosa, which do not pose a danger to the woman until some infection, for example, the human immunodeficiency virus, gets into her bowels. If there are no microdamages, and the woman has thoroughly cleaned the vagina after intercourse, infection may not occur.
The danger for women is posed by infectious and inflammatory processes in the vagina, which make the mucous membrane more vulnerable and permeable to all kinds of bacteria and viruses. The likelihood of violating the integrity of the mucous membrane during sexual intercourse is high with inflammation of the internal genital organs and sexually transmitted diseases. In the latter case, partners can simply exchange “sores,” which will only worsen the situation for both.
But so far we have been talking about classic sexual intercourse between a man and a woman. However, in our time, a certain perverted form of it is very actively practiced - anal sex, when the penis is inserted not into the vagina, but into the rectum through the anus. Some consider this method as an opportunity to protect against unwanted pregnancy without the use of contraceptives.
It must be said that such intercourse is not only unnatural, but also poses a great danger in terms of the spread of HIV infection. And all because the delicate tissue of the rectum and anus is susceptible to damage even more than the inner lining of the vagina, which is protected by the mucous secretion produced in it, which softens friction.
The rectum in nature is intended for other purposes. It does not belong to the reproductive organs and does not produce a special lubricant that protects the walls from friction and damage. Therefore, during anal sex, there is a high probability of damage to the tissues of the anus and intestines due to strong friction, especially if intercourse is performed in a rough manner.
At the same time, the man, again, suffers less, because if there is no damage to the penis, then he is unlikely to be able to become infected from an HIV-positive partner. Moreover, penile hygiene is much easier than cleansing a woman’s internal reproductive organs. But if a woman had anal sex with an HIV-positive man, then her probability of infection is almost 100%.
Knowing how HIV infection is transmitted is also very important for homosexual couples, and we have many of them, because persecution of people with non-traditional orientation has long been a thing of the past. For homosexual couples, the main source of sexual satisfaction is anal sex, in which the risk of infection is incredibly high.
Oral sex with an HIV-positive man (the penis is inserted into the mouth of a partner or homosexual partner) can also pose some danger to partners. The fact is that various microdamages can also occur in the oral cavity, provoked by rough or spicy foods, inflammatory processes in tissues, etc. If infected sperm gets on the wounds, it risks transmitting the virus into the bloodstream, from where it can no longer be removed.
And even if there were no wounds on the mucous membranes of the mouth, they may end up in the esophagus and stomach. In such cases, the danger comes from swallowing sperm, which many women do not disdain, having read information about the beneficial composition of seminal fluid and its effect on youth and beauty.
As you can see, sexual transmission of HIV is quite common. It is not without reason that almost 70% of infections are attributed to this factor. Another interesting fact is that despite the fact that a woman is at greater risk during sexual intercourse, the prevalence of the virus among men and women is approximately the same. And the reason for this is promiscuity with a large number of partners, an increase in the number of homosexual couples, and the practice of group sex.
There is something to think about. But preventing HIV from entering the body during sexual intercourse is not so difficult if you use high-quality condoms every time, if you know that your partner is a carrier of the virus. And even if there is no information about the health status of your sex partner, you should not exclude the possibility of carrying the virus. But you should protect yourself from possible infection by insisting on protected sex using a condom.
You can only practice unprotected sex with a regular partner in whom you are 100% confident. But even here, one should not discount the possibility of infecting a partner in other ways (for example, through blood during surgery, if surgical instruments were not sufficiently disinfected, or after visiting a dentist). It would be a good idea to take an HIV test after each such intervention, but practice shows that this recommendation is implemented very, very rarely.
How is HIV infection transmitted from a woman?
Although the likelihood of contracting HIV from a representative of the fairer sex is less, it should not be ruled out either. After all, inflammatory pathologies of the genital organs, weakening their tissues, occur not only in women, but also in men. Therefore, after sex with an HIV-positive partner, a man with inflammation or mechanical trauma to the penis, leading to damage to its tissues, can also discover HIV in himself over time.
Therefore, we can say with confidence that sex with a condom protects not only the woman, but also the man from infection. And if we also take into account that men are polygamous by nature, i.e. cannot remain faithful to one partner for a long time, then by having sex without a condom, they endanger not only themselves, but also their regular partner. After all, for the woman they love, they themselves become the source of infection, even if for the time being without suspecting it.
This carelessness is especially dangerous for young couples who are still planning to have children. After all, an unsuspecting woman (don’t forget that the disease can manifest itself even after 10 or more years), seeking advice about pregnancy, may be horrified to learn that she is a carrier of the virus. Therefore, couples planning to replenish their family must be aware of how HIV infection is transmitted from man to woman and from woman to child.
You should always remember that either the same man or a woman can become infected from a man, but from a woman the virus can also be transmitted to her child, who is in the womb for a certain time. The virus can enter the fetal bloodstream during pregnancy (through the placental barrier) or during the baby’s passage through the birth canal, because babies have such delicate skin that any impact can cause microdamage on it, invisible to the eye, but sufficient for the penetration of virus cells, which are also microscopic in size. And if we take into account that the immune system of a newborn is still in the formative stage, then some babies die in the very first days and months after birth.
Even if the baby is born healthy, there is still a risk of HIV transmission from the mother through breast milk. For this reason, women who carry the virus have to give up breastfeeding their baby, which, of course, does not have the best effect on his natural immunity, but at the same time protects the newborn from an unwanted “gift” from a loving mother in the form of a terrible retrovirus.
Yes, let’s not hide it, previously the percentage of HIV-infected children born from mothers with the human immunodeficiency virus in their blood was much higher (about 40%). Today, doctors have learned to use chemical antiviral drugs (usually prescribed starting from the 28th week of pregnancy) to reduce the activity of HIV in the mother’s body and have reduced the intrauterine incidence to 1-2%.
This is facilitated by the practice of cesarean section in HIV-infected mothers, which prevents infection of the baby during childbirth, as well as the administration of antiviral drugs to newborns for several months after birth. After all, the sooner an infection is detected in the baby’s body, the easier it will be to fight it and the greater the chance that the child will live a long, happy life. If preventive measures are not taken, the child can be predicted to live for a maximum of 15 years.
Preparing for the arrival of a new little family member is always a very exciting moment for a woman, but it is a pleasant excitement. For an HIV-infected pregnant woman, the joy of motherhood is overshadowed by concern about the fate of her baby, who may acquire a terrible disease from birth. And this anxiety will not leave the woman for the entire 9 months, even if she diligently follows all the doctor’s instructions and undergoes routine examinations.
An even greater responsibility lies with women who knew about their illness even before conceiving the baby. They should think and weigh everything several times before deciding to give life to a child. After all, along with life, they can reward the baby with a dangerous illness, predicting (albeit not always) a sad fate. The expectant mother must discuss all the risks associated with HIV infection with her doctor and, if the decision is positive, strictly adhere to all medical recommendations.
It is worth thinking in advance about who will help the infected mother care for and raise the child. Still, constant contact with a child who does not yet know how to protect himself from danger poses, albeit a small, risk of infecting the baby. And the life of an HIV-positive mother may not be as long as she would like. Even before the birth of the child, everything must be done so that later he will not be left alone in this life.
As for men, representatives of the oldest profession also pose a great danger to them. You need to understand that a woman of easy virtue can have quite a lot of clients, no one requires certificates of health, which means that among the sexual partners of the prostitute there may well be HIV-infected men. A prostitute can give such a gift in the form of HIV infection to any subsequent client with whom she will have vaginal or anal sex.
Men should not take risks by having sexual contact with a woman during menstruation. Firstly, this is not an urgent need, secondly, it is unhygienic and, thirdly, it is quite dangerous in terms of blood contact with the penis if there is a possibility that the woman is a carrier of HIV infection. Still, the blood is saturated with virus cells much more than vaginal secretions, which means that the likelihood of infection increases markedly. Is the game worth the candle?
How is HIV infection transmitted through kissing?
This question is of particular interest to young couples, who today practice not only light superficial kisses, but also deep sensual ones. And we have already written that some of the virus cells are found in many human physiological fluids, including saliva contained in the oral cavity. It is this moment that worries lovers, because a kiss is the most sincere expression of love for a person.
Lovers should not be especially worried, even if one of the partners turns out to be HIV-positive. Such a manifestation of love as a kiss is quite acceptable in this situation. Saliva contains such a tiny number of viral cells that the answer to the incorrect question of how HIV infection is transmitted through saliva is “virtually not at all.”
Theoretically, the possibility of infection in this way remains due to the very minuscule amount of HIV cells in saliva, but in life there have never been confirmed cases of infection through saliva. You need to understand that this is not just a way to reassure lovers, but statistical information. There are special centers that study the virus and how it spreads. Medical scientists are concerned about the ever-increasing number of patients with HIV, so for each specific case, complete information is collected about where and how the infection occurred. All this is necessary in order to develop effective preventive measures that will help stop the spread of the human immunodeficiency virus across our home planet.
During such studies in the United States, a case of HIV transmission during a kiss was recorded. But the carrier of the infection, as it turned out, was not saliva, but blood that appeared at the site of the bite (apparently it was made in a fit of passion).
A simple loving kiss without damaging the tissues of the oral cavity cannot harm a healthy person, so lovers can safely practice such kisses. It’s another matter if bleeding wounds are found in the mouths of both partners, which is observed with periodontitis, stomatitis, tonsillitis and some other pathologies of the oral cavity. Any open wound in an HIV-infected person is a source of infection, while the same injuries in a healthy person carry a risk of infection.
Parenteral route of transmission of HIV infection
If the vertical route of transmission of the virus is typical only for women who decide to give birth to a child, then both women and men can be equally infected through contact and parenteral routes. We have already considered all the nuances of the contact route of infection. It's time to pay attention to HIV transmission through blood.
There are 2 risk factors here, mainly associated with medical instruments. Firstly, these are surgical supplies, which must be strictly sterile. Insufficient disinfection of an instrument that was previously used in manipulations with an HIV-infected patient is a risk factor for infecting another patient.
Moreover, this applies not only to surgery, but also to dental offices, beauty salons, manicure and pedicure practitioners, where clients are not asked for a certificate at all about the absence of HIV in the body. In the event of an accidental cut, particles of the blood of an infected person remain on a scalpel or other device used in surgery, dentistry, or cosmetology. If the instrument is not properly treated (washed with water and that’s enough, but you need to treat it with alcohol or boil for at least 1-2 minutes), the virus cells remaining on it can easily enter the body of a healthy person through various lesions on the skin.
Although the probability of infection in this case is small, it also cannot be discounted. To protect yourself from parenteral infection during medical or cosmetic procedures, you must insist on using disposable instruments that are removed from the package in front of the patient. Fortunately, now disposable tools are not a problem. At least in private medical centers that value their reputation and income.
Another unlikely way to infect a patient with the human immunodeficiency virus is to give him the blood of an HIV-infected person. This can only happen in an emergency situation, when there are no blood supplies, and seconds count. In this case, blood can be taken from an untested person only on the basis of group and Rh factor compatibility, while the donor himself may not be aware of his illness, which is usually in no hurry to manifest itself. Blood at donor points must be tested for HIV, so the likelihood of infection from tested donor blood is practically zero.
When manipulating HIV-infected patients, some medical staff also run the risk of infection. This risk is small and is mainly caused by the carelessness of a doctor or nurse who, during surgery or other actions with the patient’s blood, accidentally damages the tissue on the arm in the place where it comes into contact with the blood of an HIV-positive patient. Infection may not occur, but the danger still exists, and we must not forget about it.
There is another answer to the question of how HIV infection is transmitted parenterally. A risk factor for blood infection with the human immunodeficiency virus is the use of injection equipment by a group of people. In practice, this phenomenon is often common among drug addicts who are trying to save money on syringes.
In this case, not only syringe needles, which are in direct contact with human tissues and blood, are considered potentially dangerous in this case, but also the syringes themselves, as well as the containers from which the liquid drug is taken. These tools are not processed in any way among drug addicts, which means that particles of the blood of the previous user, who may have an HIV-positive status, remain on them. Drugs are introduced into the body intravenously, and the virus is delivered directly into the bloodstream, where it begins its destructive effect.
Drug addiction is a disease, and recovery from pathological addiction is not so easy. But everything can be done to prevent HIV infection from joining the destructive effects of drugs.
Prevention in this case is the use of individual (preferably disposable) syringes and ampoules, as well as the avoidance of promiscuity, which is often practiced among drug addicts against the background of the narcotic ecstasy they receive, clouding the mind and logical thinking. But even in such a state, a person is able to realize the danger of his actions, unless, of course, drugs have completely destroyed his ability to think. In this case, kissing should be stopped for a while, and resumed only after the damage to the mucous membranes of the mouth, gums and lips has completely healed.
The likelihood of contracting HIV through a kiss is negligible, but you should not completely ignore the fact of this possibility. If a kiss is a manifestation of true love, then the partners will take every precaution so as not to harm each other. Indeed, in this case, infection with the human immunodeficiency virus is a tragedy for both.
But it’s clearly not worth kissing passionately with untested partners. And it's not even about the depth of the kiss. It’s worth thinking about whether a stranger will care about your safety in a fit of passion, or are you at risk of being bitten or unprotected sex, which may well follow kissing? Are you completely sure that your casual partner is HIV negative?
Only with a trusted partner can you feel safe while observing preventive measures, such as using a condom and being careful when kissing. There is no need to rush to reject your loved one if he is diagnosed with HIV, because the human immunodeficiency virus is not an acute respiratory viral infection or a fungus; it is not transmitted by airborne droplets, through hands, dishes, the bathroom, or the toilet. So if you are careful, the likelihood of becoming infected is not that great, as proven by many happy couples in which one of the partners is a virus carrier.
How is HIV infection transmitted at home?
If the topic of kisses was of interest mainly to couples in love and loving parents, who also happily give kisses to their children, then the issue of the risk of contracting HIV infection in everyday life is already of concern to many readers of different ages. After all, if it turns out that HIV can be contracted not through sexual contact, surgery or during a blood transfusion, but through everyday means, almost all people may be at risk.
Let us not deceive the reader by claiming that contracting HIV infection at home is impossible, just to prevent panic. Let's face it, the danger of infection exists and is real. However, this is not a reason to panic in advance. In order for infection to occur, certain conditions are required that can be successfully prevented; it is only important to know how HIV infection is transmitted in everyday life and to avoid such situations.
Most often, men become infected in domestic conditions, which once again equalizes their chances of receiving an unwanted “gift” with women. The cause of infection in the vast majority of cases is ordinary shaving, which is considered a common procedure among men.
You can shave twice a day or once a week, but this will not change the likelihood of contracting HIV. Even the type of shaving device in this case does not play a significant role, since if you shave carelessly, you can get hurt with a safety or electric razor. Another important thing is whose machine or razor do you shave with?
A razor, like a toothbrush, should be individual. By giving a razor to others or using someone else’s, you can only bring yourself into trouble in the form of blood poisoning with HIV infection. And here it doesn’t matter how many times you had to use it. If you cut yourself with a razor that contains the blood of an HIV-infected person (a friend or relative, and we know that he himself may not have known about the disease), there is every chance of releasing the virus into his blood. And these chances are quite high.
When asked whether there have been any documented cases of HIV infection while shaving, the answer is yes. True, information about the route of infection in all episodes was obtained from the patient himself and was based on his assumptions. Perhaps there were other contacts that could have caused infection, or maybe the culprit of the disaster really was a publicly available razor. Be that as it may, we should not exclude the completely logical possibility of HIV infection at home. But this possibility can be prevented if you use an individual shaving device, protecting it from the encroachments of friends and family members (among which, by the way, there may be women who are not free from excess hair).
Above we mentioned a toothbrush. And for good reason, because if an HIV-positive person has problems with teeth, gums or oral mucosa, particles of infected blood may likely be hidden on the brush after brushing, which will become a source of infection for another user of the brush.
True, in order for infection to occur through a razor or toothbrush, the blood must be fresh enough, because the human immunodeficiency virus is a very unstable substance that cannot exist outside the host’s body, so it quickly dies in the open air.
Theoretically, the human immunodeficiency virus can be transmitted by shaking hands. This would be a virtually incredible situation, since infection is possible only if there are fresh injuries on the hands (or rather even the palms) of both partners extended for a handshake. Plus, the blood of an HIV-infected person must get into the wound of a healthy person. Yes, the situation is more than rare, because who would extend a bloody hand during a greeting, but it is still worth knowing about this possibility.
There is even less chance of contracting AIDS in the swimming pool, where people are allowed in only after providing a certificate confirming the absence of various types of infections in the visitor’s body. True, an HIV test is not taken in all cases. But this has little effect on the likelihood of infection. To become infected in a pool, you must either step on an open wound in the blood of an infected person, or end up with the same wound in water noticeably flavored with someone else’s blood, or provoke a bloody fight. What do you think is the likelihood of such an event happening?
Public baths and saunas practically eliminate the possibility of contracting HIV infection, although no one requires a certificate there. But, firstly, the virus cannot live on its own without a host, and secondly, it is afraid of exposure to high temperatures.
As for massage parlors, the likelihood of contracting HIV is much higher during a manicure or pedicure, which can be done in beauty salons or at home by both women and men. And poorly disinfected devices will be to blame. Trust your nails only to trusted and careful cosmetologists, and you will not have problems with HIV.
During massage, infection can again occur only during mixing of blood, i.e. It is necessary that both the massage therapist’s hands and the client’s skin, which the massage therapist touches, be damaged. It is clear that such a situation can be considered rather an exception to the rule.
It's time to talk about more mundane things, like the toilet. Can you become infected with the human immunodeficiency virus by using the toilet?
Neither urine nor feces are considered a serious source of HIV infection that can trigger the disease. In a public toilet, you are more likely to catch other infections, including those that are sexually transmitted, than the immunodeficiency virus, which is transmitted primarily through blood or semen.
Yes, such secretions may accidentally end up on the rim of the toilet, but in order for them to cause infection, the buttocks of the person who sits on them must have damage, through which the virus would penetrate into the blood. This situation is simply ridiculous, because no smart person would sit on the toilet in a public place (and even with such obvious traces of someone else’s presence) without first laying down at least toilet paper, or better yet, a disposable seat specifically designed for this purpose.
If we are not talking about a toilet, but about a bowl or hole for drainage, which can often be found in public restrooms, then they do not pose any risk of infection at all, since they exclude contact of bodily fluids.
The fact that HIV is not transmitted in a public toilet does not mean that you do not need to follow the rules of personal hygiene. Clean hands and caution will help to avoid infection with other, no less dangerous infections, which are quite sufficient in public places with the abbreviation MF.
As for cutlery and dishes, there is no need to worry too much, even when visiting canteens and cafes. HIV is definitely not transmitted through dishes, unlike many intestinal infections.
Based on the above and information about how HIV infection is transmitted, we can conclude that it is virtually impossible to acquire the human immunodeficiency virus through everyday use. You have to be an extremely sloppy, unscrupulous or clumsy person to be included in the list of exceptions, which can only be called a curious accident. But caution and understanding will serve many people well, including those who have found happiness in an HIV-positive partner.
The human immunodeficiency virus is known in every country. The wide prevalence of this disease is due to the characteristics of its transmission. According to statistics, HIV infection is most often transmitted through sexual intercourse. One of the partners may not realize that he is a carrier of the virus. This is why doctors advise regularly getting tested for HIV and AIDS. This pathology is not transmitted sexually only if a condom is used. You should also be careful when choosing a sexual partner. If you have any doubts about the health of the person with whom you had sexual intercourse, you should immediately consult a doctor. The vaccine, given within 72 hours of sex with an infected person, significantly reduces the risk of infection.
Features of HIV transmission during sexual contact
Each route of infection has its own characteristics. From a medical point of view, HIV transmission through sex is the most dangerous option of all. The fact is that it is precisely because of casual sexual relationships that more and more young people are becoming infected with this virus. Sexual transmission of HIV occurs in 70% of all cases. The virus cells invade healthy tissues of the mucous membrane, after which they penetrate into the blood and begin to actively multiply within 7 hours. It is extremely difficult to stop the progression of the disease after this period of time.
The mechanism of transmission of pathogenic microflora from a patient to a healthy body is quite simple to understand. HIV infection through sexual contact occurs in several stages. If we are talking about vaginal sex, then the virus enters the partner’s organs through secretions: sperm or vaginal secretions. As is known, it is these physiological fluids that contain the largest number of pathogenic cells. However, even if an infected man does not ejaculate inside the vagina of a healthy woman, the risk of infection is still high. Even in the lubricant that is released from the penis, there are many virus cells present. That is why the most likely method of infection is sexual intercourse. At the same time, HIV begins to actively multiply in the body of a healthy person and gradually takes over the immune system, suppressing it.
HIV cannot be transmitted through sexual contact unless a condom is used. Latex is a reliable means of protection against virus penetration. However, it should be borne in mind that the slightest damage and microcracks on the condom reduce the effectiveness of protection and increase the risk of infection. Doctors advise trusting only proven brands of these products. You need to give preference to a quality manufacturer. Such a product usually costs an order of magnitude more, but is more reliable. HIV cannot be transmitted after contact using an intact condom. This method of contraception and protection has helped save many lives. You shouldn't risk your health for a few minutes of pleasure.
The situation is more complicated with the transmission of HIV through anal or oral sexual contact. People have many misconceptions about unconventional sex. You can often hear questions about whether you can get AIDS or HIV through anal sex. The answer will, of course, be in the affirmative. The fact is that in the rectum there are many receptors through which physiological fluids are almost instantly absorbed into the blood. As soon as penile secretions with viral cells get there, they immediately enter the blood through receptors and microtraumas. If a man is healthy, and his partner is infected, then he can become infected during anal sex. The likelihood of contracting HIV sexually through the rectum is high, since this organ contains a large amount of the virus if the body is infected. In addition, this type of sexual intercourse is always accompanied by the presence of cracks and microtraumas of the mucous membrane. That is why even during anal sex you need to use a condom.
Some questions arise about HIV infection after oral sex. Both men and women can become infected this way. It does not matter which of them took an active position and which was passive. Many patients come to see a doctor with the question of whether HIV is transmitted through sex if there was only oral sex. There is a risk of infection in any case. Viral cells are also present in the oral cavity. If a person asks a doctor whether it is possible to contract AIDS through oral sex, the doctor’s answer is always positive. Prolonged contact of the mucous membranes of the mouth and genitals often becomes the cause of infection, contrary to the popular belief that the risk of contracting HIV and AIDS through oral sex is low.
Why is sexual transmission of HIV the most common?
The degree of awareness and awareness of society largely affects the health of modern and future generations. Children should know whether AIDS and HIV infection are sexually transmitted. The problem with modern youth is that they do not want to delve into this kind of information, believing that it will not be useful to them. However, one day the risk of HIV transmission through sexual contact may affect everyone.
Sociologists have long been studying the causes of mass infection of immunodeficiency through sex. The first of them is the lack of information about this disease. Due to certain negative factors, adolescents and young people may not know whether they can become infected with AIDS or HIV through sexual contact. They talk about this at school, parents talk about it, television, radio, and advertisements around the city inform. However, if a child was born in a dysfunctional family and does not receive proper education, then his level of awareness is low.
The second reason is the increase in crime. Every year, many girls and boys succumb to sexual violence. Naturally, an infected criminal does not think about the health of his victim, so condoms are out of the question. The percentage of HIV infections through forced sex today is extremely high. This is especially true for countries with low living standards.
Another reason is a careless attitude towards your health. A healthy person who has information about the ways of contracting the disease can simply ignore them. The reason for this is simple carelessness or laziness. Reluctance to spend money on condoms or simply the thought that the problem will not affect a specific person often becomes the reason for contracting AIDS.
Many guys ask the doctor what to do if they slept with an HIV-infected girl. First of all, the doctor sends you for blood tests, which will show whether the virus is in the body. Next, treatment is prescribed if immunodeficiency is still detected. Doctors are also often asked whether it is possible to sleep with an HIV-infected person. Having sex with such people is allowed only if a high-quality condom of a trusted brand is used. There should also be no wounds on the partners’ bodies, no biting, no scratching each other during sex.
How to reduce the number of cases of HIV infection through sexual contact?
To keep the current generation healthy and take care of the next, people must become more aware. Taking good care of your health can save the lives of many people. If every person takes responsibility for their health, the number of cases of infection through sex will decrease.
In addition, it is necessary to inform schoolchildren about whether it is possible to become infected with AIDS or HIV through sexual contact. The likelihood of infection should be discussed in various television programs and shows. It would be useful to organize special events where everyone could learn about whether it is possible to become infected with AIDS or HIV through sexual contact. Cases of possible life situations will become vivid examples of how to act in a given situation.
Every teenager and adult should know what is the likelihood of contracting HIV through sex. It is necessary to bring such information to the masses in order to maintain health. Only through joint efforts can we overcome such a dangerous disease as AIDS.
People in their attitude towards HIV infection can be divided into two groups: those who do not consider HIV a problem, continuing their normal way of life, and those who are overly worried about their safety and are influenced by the flow of information flowing from the media and other sources. Both one group and the other are not doing the right thing, because the infection has already been well studied today, and experts can accurately say where the risk of infection is possible and where it is not. You should understand how HIV infection is and is not transmitted in order to protect yourself from possible problems and not worry your nerves again.
In the body of a patient who is infected with HIV, enough of the virus to infect another person is found in breast milk, vaginal secretions, semen and blood. It is through these pathways that HIV infection can enter the body of a healthy person. How is the virus transmitted through sweat, saliva, urine, feces? No way. There are only three routes of transmission: sexual, vertical and parenteral.
Properties of HIV
HIV belongs to the group of unstable viruses and can die under the direct influence of ether, acetone or alcohol. The virus, located on the surface of healthy skin, is destroyed by bacteria and protective enzymes. It is also not inclined to tolerate high temperatures and dies when exposed to 57 degrees Celsius for about 30 minutes or when boiled for one minute.
The difficulty in creating a medicine is that the virus is constantly changing.
Development of HIV infection
The body's primary response to virus invasion is to produce antibodies. The period that passes from infection to the moment when active production of antibodies begins can last from three weeks to three months. In some cases, antibodies appear only six months after infection. This period is called the “seroconversion window period.”
The latent or asymptomatic period can last from several months to 15 years. The disease does not manifest itself in any way at this stage. The infectious process develops after an asymptomatic period. The first sign that the disease is progressing is enlarged lymph nodes. Afterwards the AIDS stage develops. The main symptoms of this period are: frequent or constant headache, unmotivated diarrhea, loss of appetite, drowsiness, malaise, fatigue, weight loss. At a later stage, tumors and concomitant infections appear, which are extremely difficult to cure.
The disease is associated with loss of immunity and is life-threatening, so it is important to know how HIV infection is transmitted. Symptoms that may appear after several years are difficult to overcome and return to a normal lifestyle.
Diagnosis of HIV infection
It is impossible to make an accurate diagnosis and determine the presence of the virus in the body only by external signs. Here you need to conduct a blood test, which will indicate the presence of viral load and antibodies to HIV. For this purpose, HIV tests, polymer chain reaction, and various rapid tests are carried out. Using this type of research, it is possible to determine the presence of the virus in the blood and the degree of its development.
The test can be done at any healthcare organization. You must first undergo counseling. In case of a positive result, the infected person should be provided, first of all, with emotional and psychological support and information on how to lead a future lifestyle. If the result is negative, then you need to have a conversation with the person about how HIV infection is transmitted in everyday life. This will protect him from the possibility of infection.
Methods of transmission of HIV infection
This question should be of interest to anyone who is concerned about their health. HIV infection is transmitted in only three ways, which are divided into artificial and natural. The first is sexual. The second is vertical. Its essence is that the virus is transmitted directly from mother to child at birth (or to the fetus). These are natural ways.
The third route, which is usually classified as artificial, is parenteral. In the latter case, infection can occur through blood or tissue transfusion, intravenous injections with unsterilized devices. The main condition for infection is the presence of the virus in one person and its absence in another person.
Infection through blood
A person can be infected by 1/10,000 of a milliliter of blood entering the body, which is not visible to the human eye. The incredibly small size of the virus allows 100 thousand particles to fit on a line just 1 cm long. This is also dangerous for HIV infection. How the virus is transmitted through blood can be imagined based on the fact that if even the slightest part of the blood of an infected person enters the blood of a healthy person, then the probability of infection is close to 100 percent. This can happen through donation, with the transfusion of untested donor blood.
HIV infection is transmitted through untreated medical or cosmetic items if they have already been used by an infected person. Most often, such situations occur during ear piercing, tattooing, and piercing in non-specialized salons. Residues of someone else's blood may be invisible and remain even after washing with water. Tools must be treated with special products or alcohol.
Since the HIV epidemic began to spread, the Ministry of Health strictly controls the work of medical staff. This concerns donation, sterilization of the general work of staff. Therefore, it has already been thoroughly studied, so in medical institutions the risk of infection is minimized.
The risk of contracting the virus is high among intravenous drug users through blood-contaminated shared needles, syringes, filters and other drug paraphernalia.
Sexual infection
When talking about how HIV infection and AIDS are transmitted, one cannot fail to mention the most common method - sexually. The virus in the body of an infected person is found in large quantities in vaginal secretions and seminal fluid. Any heterosexual unprotected sexual intercourse can lead to infection, and the focus is the mucous membrane of the genital organs. The fact is that microdamages form on the mucous membrane during sexual intercourse, through which the virus can freely penetrate and from there enter the circulatory system, other organs and tissues. The possibility of contracting the virus increases when you have a promiscuous sex life, when you frequently change sexual partners, when you do not use condoms, and when you have sexual contact with a partner who regularly uses drugs.
There are currently about 30 infections. Many of them contribute to the development of various inflammatory diseases, which can also cause HIV infection. Most infections accompany inflammation and damage to the mucous membrane of the genital organs, which also facilitates the easy penetration of HIV into the body. Sexual intercourse during menstruation is also dangerous for infection. The concentration of the virus is much higher in semen than in vaginal discharge. Therefore, the likelihood of transmitting the virus from woman to man is lower than from man to woman.
Homosexual unprotected contacts are even more dangerous. Due to the fact that the rectal mucosa does not have devices for sexual intercourse, the risk of traumatic injury in this area exceeds the possibility of injury in the vagina. Infection through the anal passage is more realistic due to the fact that it is abundantly supplied with blood. By the way, you can also become infected through oral sex, although the probability here is not as high as in previous cases.
Thus, with any sexual contact, HIV infection can enter the body. How is the virus transmitted and what are the ways to avoid infection? It is enough just to streamline your sex life and use safety precautions.
Infection of a child from the mother
Just a few years ago, this method of infection was very common, and an infected mother could not hope to give birth to a healthy child. There were exceptions, but they were rare. The development of modern medicine today has achieved positive results in reducing the risk of infection of a child from the mother. from mother to fetus or child are as follows: through breast milk during breastfeeding, during childbirth or even during pregnancy. It is extremely difficult to detect at what point the infection occurred, so sick pregnant women need to register as early as possible and monitor the health of their unborn baby.
Possibility of infection at home
Although the risk of contracting HIV in the home is low, it still exists. The most common transmission of infection is through piercing objects. The question of how HIV infection is transmitted in everyday life worries many, especially those who live under the same roof with an infected person.
The virus can be transmitted through (for example, through razors). It is worth remembering that it is impossible to become infected through shared use of a toilet, since the virus is not transmitted through urine and feces, when swimming in a pool, through shared utensils and other household items.
Infection at home often occurs artificially, through damaged skin. If, for example, the blood or mucous secretions of a patient enter the body of a healthy person, then we can already talk about infection.
HIV is not transmitted
The virus is not transmitted through the air (airborne), food, or water. Staying in a room with an infected person also does not pose a threat to a healthy person. The use of household items (dishes, towels, bathtub, swimming pool, linen) also does not pose any danger. The virus is not transmitted through a handshake, kissing, smoking the same cigarette, using the same lipstick or handset. Also, HIV is not transmitted through insect bites or animals.
HIV and AIDS
HIV infection has a destructive effect on the immune system, thereby reducing the body's resistance to various diseases. If in the first period infection may occur imperceptibly and not manifest itself externally, then in subsequent stages the immune system is weakened to such an extent that the body becomes susceptible to any infectious disease. These diseases include those that very rarely affect uninfected people: pneumonia caused by microorganisms, the tumor disease Kaposi's sarcoma.
The condition when a person infected with HIV begins to develop infectious diseases, the cause of which lies in problems of the immune system, is called AIDS.
Prevention of HIV infection
It does not matter how HIV infection is transmitted, what is important is that it is life-threatening to humans. In order not to encounter such a serious problem, it is necessary to lead a correct lifestyle and adhere to the recommendations of doctors.
Among all the methods of combating AIDS, the most effective is HIV prevention. It includes: having only one sexual partner, avoiding sexual contact with drug addicts, prostitutes, as well as with little-known people, avoiding group contacts, and using contraception. These points are extremely important, since HIV infection is most often transmitted sexually through unprotected sex.
For your own safety, you should remember that you do not need to use other people’s personal hygiene items (medical instruments, toothbrushes, razors or razors). Every person has the right to insist that in the office of a cosmetologist, gynecologist, dentist and other specialists they are served with disposable new instruments.
The healthcare sector must periodically carry out preventive measures against AIDS. These include: promotion of protected sex, thorough examination of pregnant women, examination of blood donors and people at risk, control of the birth of children, refusal of infected women to breastfeed their babies.
Prevention within the walls of medical institutions implies: the use of only disposable instruments for treating HIV patients, thorough hand washing after working with an infected patient. It is also necessary to carry out disinfection when the bed, environment or household items are contaminated with secretions and secretions of the patient. It is definitely worth remembering that it is better to prevent a problem than to solve it later, and in this case, than to live with it later.
Treatment of HIV infection
In this case, as in many others, time is counted in days. The earlier the problem is detected, the greater the chance of returning the patient to a normal lifestyle. Treatment for HIV is aimed largely at delaying the development and progression of the virus so that it does not develop into a more serious disease - AIDS. An infected person is immediately prescribed a complex of treatment, which includes: medications that interfere with development and medications that act on the virus directly, interfering with its development and reproduction.
It is difficult to live with a disease such as HIV infection. How it is transmitted, how it develops, how to protect oneself - everyone should know the answers to these questions, because it is unlikely that the patient will be able to lead a normal lifestyle, especially if he learns about the problem several years after infection. Therefore, it is so important to monitor your behavior and take care of your health, because this is the most expensive thing we have, and, unfortunately or fortunately, it cannot be bought with money.
The immunodeficiency virus became known to humans in 1981. Since that time, HIV has spread throughout the planet. The annual number of infected people is more than 2,000,000 people, the same figure shows the mortality rate from AIDS.
The reasons for the development of HIV infection (AIDS) and the route of transmission of the unfortunate disease are the first things that humanity had to learn about when encountering this insidious disease. Let's talk about the essentials in more detail.
Whatever the cause of the disease, the main routes of HIV infection come down to an infected person experiencing any of the stages of HIV infection, not excluding the incubation period.
The most likely way to become infected with HIV is at the end of the incubation period (when enough antibodies to the virus begin to be produced), as well as during the initial symptoms and late stage of the disease.
How is AIDS transmitted? How does infection enter the human body? The process is preceded by certain factors that contribute to infection, after which the membranes of the recipient face accept biological material containing the pathogenic virus.
AIDS virus
HIV PHOBIA develops where there is no knowledge of how the disease is transmitted. Most often, people rely on speculation and rumors.Before discussing the topic of transmission of infection in detail, it is worth understanding the unjustifiably identified terms. What is HIV and AIDS? Let us immediately define the concepts mentioned. Human immunodeficiency virus is an infection that attacks the human immune system. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or AIDS is the period of this infectious process or the final stage of the disease, which leads to the death of the patient.
So, the routes of transmission of HIV infection, like AIDS, come down to two main directions:
- parenteral(via the blood of an infected person). A person becomes infected through injection of infected narcotic components, use of used syringes and needles, blood transfusion of a patient, as well as through the use of untreated instruments for hygiene measures;
- sexual. A person becomes infected through sexual intercourse with an infected person.
Attention! You should not try to identify symptoms and clinical signs in an infected person immediately after the suspected infection. The clinical picture appears only in the final stage of the incubation period (after several months). During this period, somatic cells begin to produce antibodies.
In addition to the above-mentioned routes, there is a method of vertical transmission of HIV infection. We are talking about the case of intrauterine infection of a child (during pregnancy, childbirth) or during breastfeeding.
Let's talk about each route of infection in more detail.
Routes of transmission of HIV infection: “breaking it down”
All registered cases of virus infection in the world, depending on the routes of HIV transmission, are ranked in the following percentage:
- sexual intimacy – 70-80%;
- injection of narcotic drugs – 5-10%;
- infection of medical personnel – less than 0.01%;
- patient blood transfusion – 3-5%;
- during pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding – 5-10%.
Let's focus on an obviously popular case. The largest percentage of the virus is found in seminal fluid and vaginal secretions.
Interesting! The concentration of pathogenic microorganisms in semen is significantly higher than in vaginal secretions. Therefore, the risk of HIV transmission from women to men is lower than in the opposite case.
During unprotected sexual intercourse, the role of the focus of infection is assumed by the mucous membrane of the genitals. How is the virus transmitted to a partner during sex? Sexual intercourse entails the formation of microdamages on mucous tissues. These wounds act as conductors of the virus to the human circulatory system.
The background development of any type of STD in the body can aggravate the situation: the ongoing inflammatory process injures the mucous membrane and often acts as the root cause of infection.
Homosexual intimacy without using a condom is even more dangerous. The mechanism of transmission of HIV infection in this case is significantly simplified. The fact is that the mucous membrane of the genital intestine is not adapted to sex - the risk of microtrauma increases along with the likelihood of infection. Infection through the anus is also more likely because the anus is most actively supplied with blood.
Let's move on to an alternative method of transmitting the virus. It should immediately be noted that in the case of blood, the situation becomes unambiguous: the probability of infection when the blood of a patient and a healthy person comes into contact is equal to 100%. This can happen, for example, with donation.
Interesting! 1/10,000 ml of blood, which cannot be seen by the human eye, can provoke infection. The size of the virus is negligible: 100,000 pathogenic particles can fit in an area of 1 cm.
The above-mentioned fact explains the high risk of contracting AIDS during any type of medical and cosmetic procedures. Most often this happens during the process of piercing the earlobes and applying a tattoo. The remains of the infected biomaterial remain invisible on the instrument and, in the absence of appropriate treatment (with alcohol or special means), penetrate into the recipient’s body.
As for infection of medical workers, the prevailing proportion of cases are due to unsuccessful manipulations with the needle. The other half of those infected experienced the disease as a result of the patient’s blood or a concentrated solution of the virus coming into contact with the affected areas of the skin.
Can you get infected with HIV orally?
The question is controversial. Experts say that the risk of contracting AIDS during oral sex is small. Information from heterosexual studies conducted in Spain is provided as a scientific basis. Partners with opposite HIV statuses were studied. As a result, 9,000 acts of oral sex did not result in a single infection.
If HIV infection is transmitted through seminal fluid and vaginal secretions, it is logical to assume that the act of oral sex should not be completed by ejaculation. In some cases, the risk of infection increases if there are wounds in the partner’s mouth.
The risk of infection during cunnilingus is practically zero. However, taking into account the possible ways of spreading the infection, it is worth noting: the most favorable set of circumstances is observed only in the absence of menstrual flow in an HIV-infected woman at the time of oral sex.
Attention! The minimum percentage of cases of AIDS infection during oral sex does not relieve partners from responsibility. Oral sexual intercourse cannot be completely excluded from the list of methods of HIV transmission.
Is HIV transmitted through oral sex: let's look at the statistics
According to statistics, sexually transmitted infections, including AIDS, can overtake a person through unprotected oral sex. Oral sex with a man faces the “receiving” party with a risk of infection equal to approximately 0.04% (data given taking into account the release of sperm at the end of the act).
The probability of infection of the “introducer” is close to zero. Why? The male genital organ comes into contact only with the saliva of his partner, unless, of course, an alternative infectious medium is present - blood from open wounds in the mouth.
Is HIV transmitted through a condom?
The risk of contracting AIDS when having sex with a condom is almost zero. This statement is true only if the barrier contraceptive is used correctly.
If a condom is not used correctly, the likelihood of it breaking, falling off, and at the same time becoming infected with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome increases.
Is HIV transmitted through kissing?
A small percentage of the virus is present in the salivary fluid of an infected person. However, after 15 years of research, scientists came to the conclusion: the likelihood of transmitting infection through a kiss is negligible. The virus can be transmitted to a man or woman during a kiss only if there are bleeding lesions in the oral cavity.
How is HIV 100% not transmitted through a kiss - you ask. A kiss on the cheek, a simple kiss on the lips (excluding contact with the partner’s mucous membranes) will definitely not cause AIDS infection.
Is HIV transmitted through saliva?
Saliva, just like sweat and tears, contains very few viral particles. How can one become infected with HIV through this biological material? You will have to collect at least 2 liters of sweat, a bath of saliva and tears to ensure a real risk of infection. Therefore, saliva cannot be considered a complete medium for transmission of the virus.
Attention! HIV is not transmitted through saliva, however, in this way you can “catch” herpes, syphilis and a number of other serious diseases.
Is HIV transmitted through handshakes or hugs?
The intact surface of the skin is a natural barrier to this infection. Therefore, it is impossible to contract AIDS from a handshake or hug.
What about scratches and abrasions? To ensure even the smallest risk of infection, it is necessary that a large amount of blood (saliva, urine, tears) be in the area of a fresh bleeding wound. Considering the fact described above, the possibility of transmitting HIV in this way can be completely excluded.
How is HIV infection transmitted at home?
The question of the possibility of transmission of the virus in domestic conditions worried scientists and doctors in various countries several decades ago. Today professionals have reached a consensus. They found that infection through household means is almost impossible.
A similar conclusion was reached after studying the behavior of viral particles outside the inhabited organism of the infected person. Scientists have determined the virus's susceptibility to oxygen. This means that the pathogenic molecule dies outside its habitat and is not capable of infection.
Is HIV transmitted through personal hygiene items?
In general, HIV infection is not transmitted in everyday life through personal hygiene items. The judgment is true in the case of shared utensils, a comb and other items that exclude prior contact with the patient’s infected material (blood, semen, vaginal secretions, breast milk).
Razor, toothbrush - is there a risk of infection?
The most likely case of household infection with the virus is through shaving accessories. For example, if an infected person is injured while shaving, and after a short period of time another family member with a bleeding scratch or abrasion on the body uses his razor, there is a risk of contracting HIV.
A similar parallel can be drawn in the case of a toothbrush. Saliva is practically safe in this regard, but bleeding gums are not.
Attention! The most reliable way to prevent infection is to use personal hygiene products.
How do you get infected in a bath or swimming pool?
The risk of contracting HIV in a bath, swimming pool, or sauna is minimal. The fact is that biological materials with a high concentration of the virus (blood, semen, vaginal secretions, breast milk) are neutralized upon contact with water (the virus quickly dies). In addition, the skin is the most resistant barrier to infection.
How can you get HIV infected in such a place? No matter how trivial it may sound, the only way to become infected in a bathhouse, sauna or swimming pool is through intimate relations without a condom.
Can you get infected with HIV through the air?
Is HIV transmitted through airborne droplets? In contrast to various viral infections, HIV is not transmitted through air or water. This statement is confirmed by the fact that viral particles lose their vital activity upon contact with oxygen. Even at the last stage of the disease (AIDS), the infection is not transmitted by airborne droplets. This means that if you are in the same room as someone who is sick, you should not fear for your own health.
Is infection possible from insect bites?
At the moment, the role of insects as carriers of the virus has not been confirmed. This fact is explained by the inability of particles to multiply in the body of mosquitoes, midges, and ticks. The likelihood that the virus will end up on damaged skin and mucous membranes due to an insect carrying particles on its sting or trunk is minimal.
Who is at risk?
Among the people who, for one reason or another, are most susceptible to contracting AIDS:
- people who are promiscuous (through biological fluids: vaginal discharge, sperm);
- persons who take injecting drugs (infection can occur when using one syringe or needle);
- gay men (during anal contact);
- persons who are addicted to unprotected sexual intercourse (any of its varieties);
- people who received a blood transfusion from another (who turned out to be infected) person;
- children of sick mothers;
- those suffering from sexually transmitted diseases (syphilis, chlamydia, herpes, etc.);
- workers of medical institutions (if sanitary and hygienic standards are not observed when in contact with a patient, when manipulating syringes and needles);
- beauty specialists (manicure, pedicure, tattoo, etc.). Infection occurs as a result of damage to the skin or mucous membranes.
Theoretically, absolutely anyone who neglects preventive measures can become infected with AIDS from a patient.
Is HIV transmitted to a child?
As research data demonstrate, a child can become infected from a pregnant mother as early as 8-12 weeks. However, most often infection occurs during childbirth (the situation is most dangerous if there are birth complications).
Medicine is developing, and one of the main achievements of AIDS prevention is reducing the risk of infection of an infant during his birth.
In the absence of therapeutic treatment, the risk of having sick children in sick women is 15-25%, and special treatment during pregnancy can not only slow down the development of the disease in the female body, but also reduce the percentage by 2/3. This means that today an HIV-infected woman has a real chance to give birth to a healthy child.
Vertical path
The infection is transmitted from a sick mother to her child during gestation (via the placenta), during childbirth (through blood) or during lactation (with milk). All of these options represent a vertical method of HIV transmission.
There is an extensive list of factors that influence the likelihood of transmission of the virus from mother to baby. For ease of perception, we will present the information in the form of a table:
| Factor | Explanation |
| Mother's health status | With an increase in the concentration of viral particles in the patient’s blood, the level of immunity decreases and the risk of infection of the child increases |
| Living conditions of a pregnant woman | We are talking about dietary habits, lifestyle, etc. Thus, in industrialized countries, the risk of HIV transmission to an infant is significantly lower than the risk of infection of a child in third world countries |
| Number of pregnancies | The more pregnancies, the higher the risk of infection of the baby |
| Full term baby | Premature and post-term babies are at risk |
| Duration of the second stage of labor | The shorter this period, the less likely it is to have a sick child. |
| Inflammatory process, premature disruption of the integrity of the amniotic membrane | Both factors increase the likelihood of infection |
| C-section | When surgery is performed before membrane rupture, the risk of fetal infection is significantly reduced. |
| Damage to the mother's vaginal mucosa | The presence of ulcers and cracks in mucous tissue increases the risk of having an HIV-infected baby |
Preventive measures
Prevention of infection consists of following a number of important but simple recommendations:
- stop having promiscuous sex life. When having sexual intercourse with a casual partner, always use a barrier method of contraception - a condom;
- Avoid injecting drugs. You can become infected with HIV in an intoxicated state when using one syringe or needle among several drug addicts, including an HIV-infected person;
- Follow medical recommendations and preventive measures to prevent infection of the child. Similar tips can be found in the plan for preparing a pregnant woman for childbirth and subsequent care of the newborn. In particular, it is necessary to exclude breastfeeding;
- Get checked regularly for infection. If the virus is detected, begin AIDS treatment immediately;
- treat STDs promptly;
- resort to using only your own hygiene items (manicure accessories, razor, toothbrush, etc.);
- use exclusively sterile instruments when piercing the earlobes or knocking out a tattoo;
- When working in the field of medical care, appropriately equip the workplace where you will come into contact with blood and other biological materials;
- As a medical professional, do not neglect to use sterile gloves when interacting with patients.
Particular attention should be paid to medical prevention, expressed in a set of measures aimed at early diagnosis and reducing the possibility of further development of the disease.
The described preventive methods imply primary prevention - a set of procedures necessary to prevent infection among a healthy population.
This group also includes secondary prevention, aimed at appropriate work with many people potentially at risk (drug addicts, street children, homosexuals).
And finally, tertiary prevention, consisting of a set of activities organized to improve the quality of life of those struggling with the disease.
In conclusion, let us formulate conclusions that logically follow from the above information.
The main source of infection in the case of HIV infection is a sick person. After HIV infection, an incubation period follows, which is characterized by the virtual absence of characteristic symptoms. From the beginning of the final stage of the “starting” period, the patient acquires the status of a carrier of infection, the virus is detected in the laboratory.
You can become infected from an HIV-infected person in two ways: through the patient’s blood or as a result of unprotected sexual intercourse with a carrier of the virus. According to statistics, sex without a condom is the most common cause of infection.
The vertical transmission pathway of the virus involves the transmission of virus particles from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding. Taking appropriate medications during pregnancy increases the possibility of having a healthy baby.
Every member of modern society must adhere to a number of recommendations aimed at preventing the deadly disease. The actions of the individual are aimed mainly at ensuring safety during sexual intercourse, maintaining personal hygiene, and observing sanitary and hygienic measures when in contact with an infected person.
HIV infection is quite difficult to contract, but at the same time, people can become HIV positive even after a single exposure to the virus.
The risk of transmitting HIV infection depends on the amount of viruses contained in the biological fluid of an HIV-infected person with which a healthy person comes into contact. The concentration of the virus is not the same at different periods of infection and in different body fluids in humans - the source of HIV infection.
Biological fluids in which the virus is contained in maximum concentration (or concentration sufficient for infection):
− Blood;
− Sperm;
− Vaginal, vaginal secretion;
− Breast milk;
− Cerebrospinal fluid, contact with which can only occur in extreme cases, for example, in case of spinal injuries with leakage of cerebrospinal fluid.
Biological fluids that contain the virus in low concentrations and do not pose a danger in terms of infection:
− Urine;
− Tears;
− Saliva;
− Sputum;
Human infection with the virus occurs when biological fluids containing HIV in maximum concentration enter the bloodstream or mucous membrane.
Natural and artificial transmission routes
HIV infection can be transmitted both naturally and artificially.
Natural routes of transmission of HIV include:
− Contact, which occurs primarily during sexual intercourse (both homo- and heterosexual) and when the mucous or wound surface comes into contact with blood.
− Vertical - infection of a child from an HIV-infected mother: during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding.
Artificial routes of HIV transmission include:
− Artificial - for non-medical invasive procedures, including intravenous drug administration; when applying tattoos; when performing cosmetic, manicure and pedicure procedures using non-sterile instruments.
− Artificial - for medical invasive interventions in medical institutions. HIV infection can occur through the transfusion of blood, its components, organ and tissue transplantation, the use of donor sperm, donor breast milk from an HIV-infected donor, as well as through medical instruments for parenteral interventions, medical devices contaminated with HIV and not processed in accordance with with the requirements of regulatory documents.
HIV is not transmitted
HIV is not transmitted by airborne droplets, water, personal contact, through the use of shared utensils, the same toilet, transport, when attending school, during sports games, swimming in the pool, shaking hands, hugging, or kissing.
Blood-sucking insects and arthropods (mosquitoes, bedbugs, lice, ticks) do not participate in the transmission of the virus.
Possibility of HIV transmission
The probability of transmitting HIV infection through different routes is not the same; data from literature sources on the risk of HIV infection through various contacts are shown in Table 1.
Table 1
Possibility of HIV transmission
| Transmission path | Probability of transmission
HIV infections, % |
| From man to woman with unprotected vaginal intercourse | 0,01–0,2 |
| From woman to man with unprotected vaginal intercourse | 0,003–0,01 |
| From man to man with unprotected anal intercourse | 0,03–0,5 |
| Vertical transmission from mother to child | 13–50 |
| Injected with an HIV-contaminated needle | 0,03–0,3 |
| When using non-sterile equipment for injecting drugs | 1–70 |
| When transfusing infected blood products | 80–100 |
The greatest risk of HIV infection occurs when damaged skin comes into contact with HIV-infected blood. There is almost a 100 percent chance of contracting HIV through the transfusion of HIV-infected blood, blood components and organ and tissue transplantation. The transmission of HIV infection around the world is also recorded through the use of donor sperm and breast milk. In the Perm region, only 1 case of HIV infection was registered through the transfusion of blood components in 2001.
Another option for transmitting HIV infection artificially is infection through drug use with non-sterile equipment. This is the most common route of HIV transmission worldwide. Data on the likelihood of contracting HIV vary widely (from less than 1% to 70%). This is due to the presence of various drug use practices that are risky for HIV transmission: sharing needles, syringes or containers for drug use.
Natural routes of transmission of HIV infection include sexual intercourse through homo and heterosexual contact and transmission of HIV infection from mother to child. When it comes to sexual intercourse, the riskiest ones are unprotected anal intercourse. The lowest risk of infection occurs during vaginal sexual intercourse between an uninfected man and an HIV-infected woman.
Condoms effectively protect against HIV infection through sexual contact. The risk of HIV infection can only arise if they are damaged, torn or misused.
The risk of transmission of HIV infection from mother to child using modern highly active chemoprophylaxis regimens can be reduced to 2% or less. In their absence, up to 45% of children become infected.
