How is HIV tranmitted?

Answer 1

Okay, I used to be an HIV/AIDS educator. Here goes the most simple answer I can think of.

HIV=Human Immunodeficiency Virus
AIDS=Acquired ImmunoDeficiency Syndrome

You must contract HIV before you can contract AIDS. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. It is contracted through bodily fluids. If any of these fluids (Semen, Vaginal secretions, Breast milk, Blood) come in contact with any of the 7 mucous membranes (Ears, Eyes, Nose, Mouth, Penis, Anus, Vagina), or any open lesions, you are at risk for contracting HIV. In order to contract HIV, the fluids that you come in contact with must be infected with HIV or AIDS. You cannot contract HIV from hugging an infected person, drinking after them, unless they are bleeding profusely, which I doubt you would be drinking after them if they were... It is VERY rare to contract HIV from someones saliva. You would have to drink about 10 gallons of an infected persons saliva to be at risk, and it is still pretty rare.

HIV is a virus that lowers your immune system making it easier for you to get infections. There are special infections called opportunistic infections, which only people that have HIV or AIDS can get. Some examples of these infections would be: Pneumocystic Pneumonia, Kaposi's Sarcoma, among others.

Once you are diagnosed as having HIV, you can never get rid of it. There is no cure. You have something called a T-Cell count. When your T-Cell count drops to 200 parts per millionth or less (this has to do with your blood), you will be diagnosed with AIDS. If your T-Cell count rises above 200 parts per millionth, the doctor will not rediagnose you as having HIV. Once it has dropped, you are classified as having AIDS.

Most people die from "Complications of AIDS or HIV." This means that HIV and AIDS don't actually kill the person, the normally will die because of an opportunistic infection OR another complication of the virus.

HIV/AIDS can be found in all walks of life. There is not one specific group that houses the virus. Gay, straight, or lesbian, black, white, yellow, red, the virus is not discriminitory.

Ways to protect yourself from contracting HIV are very simple. Use latex condoms CORRECTLY, do not share injection needles with ANYONE, and if you must, make sure you clean them correctly, make sure that you do not put yourself at risk by touching anyones bodily fluids. If you must help someone who is bleeding, wear latex gloves.

You can be born with HIV, but only if your parent is infected. Babies born to HIV positive mothers still have a good chance of not becoming infected due to medication that they give the baby once it is born.

Bottom line, HIV is serious. Protect yourself and others. Know your status. HIV testing should be done once every 6 months. As for knowing if something is wrong without going to the doctor, that's not really possible. An HIV test is quick and very important. They can do one of two things, they can either do a blood test, or a test that involves you putting a toothbrush shaped stick in your mouth between your gums and your cheek. It has a salty taste, but it pulls DNA out of your gums. It does not hurt. Results can take as long as 2 weeks to get back! Get tested!

I am always available to talk, if you want to know more. Please email me if you have any questions! Hope I Helped!

Answer 2

HIV is a retrovirus containing an enzyme called reverse transcriptase, which catalyzes the replication process of dsDNA from ssRNA.

The transmission of HIV occures through contact in two forms: transfer of blood or blood born products and sexual intercoarse. HIV is spread only by specific direct routes. In the very early and late stages of infection, HIV-infected blood has high levels of free virus and increased levels of infected leukocytes. Any transfer of blood (ie, sharing needled, trauma), semen, vaginal secretions during intimate contact can be a potential source of infection. Since breast milk contains inactive numbers of leukocytes, babies can also be infected through nursing. Although HIV is found in urine, tears, sweat, and saliva, the numbers are so small (<1 virion per mm) that these types of fluids are not considered to be infectious sources.

If you would like more information, I have an indepth report that was done for medical school. So I have a bit more information such as the microbiology, clinical features, who is at risk, & diagnosis.

Answer 3

HIV is transmited through infected body fluids. These include Blood, Semen, Vaginal Fluid, Mucus Mebranes in the Rectum. Also HIV can only live for 30 seconds outside a human body. On the other hand Hepatitis C can live inside a dead body for over 3 weeks.

Answer 4

HIV is transmitted through blood or semen. Always use a condom!

It CANNOT be transmitted by holding hands, kissing, sharing a glass, etc.

Answer 5

How HIV is transmitted
You can become infected with HIV in several ways, including:

Sexual transmission. You may become infected if you have vaginal, anal or oral sex with an infected partner whose blood, semen or vaginal secretions enter your body. You can also become infected from shared sexual devices if they're not washed or covered with a condom. The virus is present in the semen or vaginal secretions of someone who's infected and enters your body through small tears that can develop in the rectum or vagina during sexual activity. If you already have another sexually transmitted disease, you're at much greater risk of contracting HIV. Contrary to what researchers once believed, women who use the spermicide nonoxynol-9 also may be at increased risk. This spermicide irritates the lining of the vagina and may cause tears that allow the virus into the body.
Transmission through infected blood. In some cases, the virus may be transmitted through blood and blood products that you receive in blood transfusions. This includes whole blood, packed red cells, fresh-frozen plasma and platelets. In 1985, American hospitals and blood banks began screening the blood supply for HIV antibodies. This blood testing, along with improvements in donor screening and recruitment practices, has substantially reduced the risk of acquiring HIV through a transfusion.
Transmission through needle sharing. HIV is easily transmitted through needles and syringes contaminated with infected blood. Sharing intravenous drug paraphernalia puts you at high risk of HIV and other infectious diseases such as hepatitis. Your risk is greater if you inject drugs frequently or also engage in high-risk sexual behavior. Avoiding the use of injected drugs is the most reliable way to prevent infection. If that isn't an option, you can reduce your risk by sterilizing injection paraphernalia with household bleach or by participating in a needle exchange program that allows you to trade used needles and syringes for sterile ones.
Transmission through accidental needle sticks. Transmission of the virus between HIV-positive people and health care workers through needle sticks is low. Experts put the risk at far less than 1 percent.
Transmission from mother to child. Each year, nearly 600,000 infants are infected with HIV, either during pregnancy or delivery or through breast-feeding. The rate of mother-to-child transmission in resource-poor countries is as much as 40 percent higher than it is in the developed world. But if women receive treatment for HIV infection during pregnancy, the risk to their babies is significantly reduced. Combinations of HIV drugs may reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmission even more. In the United States, most pregnant women are pre-screened for HIV, and anti-retroviral drugs are readily available. Not so in developing nations, where women seldom know their HIV status, and treatment is often limited or nonexistent. When medications aren't available, Caesarean section is sometimes recommended instead of vaginal delivery, but this isn't a good option for women in resource-poor countries, where it poses additional risks for both mother and child. Other options, such as vaginal disinfection, haven't proved effective.
Other methods of transmission. In rare cases, the virus may be transmitted through organ or tissue transplants or unsterilized dental or surgical equipment.

Answer 6

Having sex with somebody that already has it. They might or might not tell you.