How can you catch HIV?

Question

Are the only ways of catching HIV sex and needle-drug use? I do neither, but the symptoms I've been experiencing many attribute to AIDS-like symptoms.

Answer 1

Blood transfusions USED to be a way to contract HIV. The blood supply was secured with methods to screen and eliminate samples containing the virus over two decades ago when this "glitch" in the system was first realized.

People with AIDS are living all around you. They are preparing food in restaurants, food packing houses, warehouses, slaughter houses and distribution centers, stocking it in grocery stores, standing next to you on public transportation, sitting next to you at the movies, etc., etc. You are more a danger to them than they are to you as with a healthy immune system you are likely carrying and fighting any number or viruses every day that are airborne. Your body can fight the viruses, theirs cannot.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus is "acquired," not caught. You can catch a cold virus from droplets in the air or from contact with surfaces. You have to acquire HIV by having it introduced into your blood stream. That is why the final stage of development of this virus is called Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, or AIDS. There is usually a period of dormancy between acquiring HIV, the virus that leads to AIDS, and developing symptoms and then the symptoms are progressive depending on the viral load in the body.

The first stage is usually ARC (AIDS Related Complex) and may involve weight loss, fevers, night sweats, diarrhea and increased susceptibility to infection. ARC can last for years or in some cases people who contract or acquire HIV progress directly into AIDS.

AIDS develops when the immune system is seriously compromised by the virus. HIV incubates in the very cells that prevent/cure infection (the white blood cells) and multiplies itself thousands of times over turning the body's natural defenses against infection against itself. When a virus enters our bodies the white blood cells attack it, identify it and create antibodies to protect us against the virus in the furture. This is called immunity. The fact that HIV uses the white blood cells to multiply is what eventually destroys our ability to fight viruses that we commonly are exposed to every day without experiencing any ill effects. People who develop AIDS from HIV die of rare diseases that the body has no defenses anymore to protect itself from; usually cancers and pneumonias.

You cannot catch HIV. It is a very whimpy virus outside the human body, (it dies in air within several seconds) although precautions should always be taken when handling body fluids or engaging in sexual activity.

HIV and AIDS are serious diseases killing thousands of people around the world daily. It is nothing to joke about or take lightly. If you think you may be infected, it is important to be tested and to begin a course of drug therapy and monitoring immediately upon diagnosis. This would also include counseling.

Many people with AIDS are living productive lives for very long periods of time now. The number of medications necessary to maintain the compromised immune system have been reduced by combining several of them in one pill. Healthy life style choices like a good diet and exercise also help produce extended longivity with this disease.

AIDS is a tragedy around the world. Just about everyone knows someone who has died of it or is living with it. Last year I was teaching a little girl who didn't even know she had it I was bound by law not to disclose the idenity of this little girl to anyone else other than the school nurse AFTER I secured the mother's permission to do so. The nurse provided support, education and additional referrals for the mother and encouraged her to disclose the information to the child who was only eight. Not even the principal knew who the child was and I just monitored the little girl discretely to make sure she took precautions she didn't even know she had to take with other children, although the risk of transmission was very minimal. (Once she had a cold sore that was open. I just ensured she didn't share food or lip gloss as girls this age are prone to do, and notified the school nurse.) As it turned out, I was the FIRST person the mother had disclosed this information to: not even her husband, parents, or any other family or friends had been informed that the mother and child had AIDS. I thank God the woman saw enough compassion in me as a teacher to unburden herself about her secret so that she could get more support outside the clinic where both she and the child were being treated. I don't know if she has disclosed the information to her daughter yet. I did not press. I did not treat the child any differently.

I lost a close male friend and an uncle to this disease in the 80's. It was difficult to watch them suffer and die, but I educated myself enough to be comfortable around them and to be supportive and not afraid. I also have a cousin now who has bravely combated the disease for over 20 years.

I hope you are just suffering mild hypocondria and I certainly hope you don't think this is funny.

Get tested. Practice safer sex (the only safe sex is abstinence) and don't be hysterical about this. Hysteria and finger pointing (and even tasteless jokes) about this tragic disease have long since been stopped by compassionate and intelligent thinking people. Join us.

Answer 2

what kind of symptoms? I have a thing called CVID and it shares almost all HIV symptoms except without the virus. CVID is an immune deficiency where your body makes insufficient or no white blood cells. If your not testing positive for Aids then have your Dr. look at your white blood cell count. CVID is not something you catch its just something that happens. You'll need an immunologist to Rx you properly.

Answer 3

In order to get HIV or AIDS from someone you have to have bodily fluid contact, generally blood to open sore wound. So unless you have an open sore in your mouth and he had some of his blood on the sweet than NO...Then again you need to realize just because he is active sexually doesn't mean he has either of the above. If you want to learn more about the viruses you could google both and they will provide more information about transmission

Answer 4

Go to a doctor and check it out. Because the AIDS-like symptoms you have been experiencing could just be some other disease that can be cured.

Answer 5

blood transfusion, donating blood, dental work(even cleanings can cause the dentist to bleed if he scrapes himself, getting shots(vaccine),
And then you have to account for the fact that we really dont know that much about it. So we dont really know all the ways that it can spread. You can have it for years without it being active(as pass it on), even after it starts to become active, you can show neg on tests for a year or two at least. I take it your test have shown neg. I will also speculate that you are wealthy, or at least have good ins. Not a good thing as the docs have raped peoples ins. until the tests started to show pos. You need to see a specialist(the BEST you can afford, not want to afford, but the best one that you CAN afford, dont try to budget shop here) and get on a positive path as early as possible. HIV death rate (amongst HIV positve people) is going down every year due to better treatment. But you have to get treatment. Earlier the better.
Good luck.
Don't despair. Seriously, this isn't the death sentence that it used to be. My cuz has been pos for 8 years and if you saw him you wouldn't know it.

Answer 6

Well, if you feel you have symptoms, what are you waiting for to go to your doctor? take a test! its free!

HIV is a serious illness, I dont think you should waist your time here if you feel you have symptoms.

You can get HIV by many ways! so, take care and get checked!

good luck

Answer 7

Sex, sharing a needle for drugs, mixing your blood with others that have it, blood transfusion. Kissing someone with an open sore in their mouth.

Answer 8

Those are the only ways to get it. It used to be that you could get it through blood transfusions but since the Aids epidemic they have since started testing all donated blood.

Answer 9

The ways you described are excellent ways to contract HIV, but sadly it's contracted through bodily fluids coming into contact with your bodily fluids, such as open wounds. That's why medical personell wear gloves, it protects both the patient & the care giver.

Answer 10

thats the concensus ...but the main concern is you can also be born with the virus and not know it...that could be a possibility...so the only way to be sure is a blood test. Its one prick that determines how you handle yourself and I know you will be responsible for your health. Go to the dr and get tested...Good luck..