AIDS or Acquired immune deficiency syndrome is a disease that affects the human immune system and is caused by the human immune deficiency virus simply known as HIV. When a person is infected by HIV, their immune system becomes ineffectively slowly. Thus they get infected by other infections and tumors. HIV that causes AIDS occurs through direct contact of blood or mucous with HIV infected bodily fluid like vaginal fluid, semen, blood, breast milk and preseminal fluid.
The transmission of AIDS can take place through sexual contact, blood transfusion, drug abuse through injections, breast feeding and perinatal transmission.
Who is at High Risk of AIDS?
People who are at high risk are drug users, prostitutes, hemophiliacs, homosexuals and those who have had blood transfusions in years between 1983 and 1985 when it began to show its ugly head. Sharing things like office equipment, computers, pencils and pens, or even telephones and mobiles will not cause the transmission of AIDS. It can be passed on from a mother to her unborn child, those sharing needles and blood transfusions, direct blood to blood contact, and through sexual contact.
Perinatal Transmission
The transmission of AIDS virus occurs in the womb especially in the third trimester and at childbirth that’s if the mother has already been infected with the virus. However, if the mother to be has been taking medications or is on antiretroviral treatment, or undergoes caesarean, there are few chances of the child getting infected. Breast feeding by an infected mother can also cause transmission of the AIDS virus to the newborn child.
Sexual Transmission
Not only homosexuals but heterosexuals are also at great risk of contracting the disease. Anyone who is infected with the virus can pass it on to others through intimate physical contact. People who are promiscuous and have multiple sex partners are the ones at the highest risk of contracting the virus .Its important all precautionary measures are taken when indulging in the sex act, especially with unknown partners.
Unprotected sex can infect your partner if you already have the virus strain in your blood. The transmission of HIV through unprotected anal sex between homosexuals and heterosexuals is far riskier than through vaginal sex.
Rape or forced sexual penetration during an assault can also result in transmission of virus as no protective sheaths are worn during the act. Oral sex is also not entirely safe. If you thought that only penetrative unprotected sex could lead to transmission of AIDS virus, then you are wrong. During oral sex, any lesions in your infected partner’s mouth can be the cause for the transmission of the deadly virus through blood and mucous. It makes sense to avoid oral sex with unknown partners and only if you know for sure your partner is not infected by the virus. Always keep in mind that safe sex is the key to not being infected.
Needle Use and Drugs
Many drug addicts are at high risk as many share needles when they abuse drugs. The needles can contain dried blood of an infected user that will get transmitted to another drug user instantly. The sharing of needles is highly dangerous. Used needles should be disposed of immediately. It’s not always that by looking at someone that we can predict they are infected by the killer disease. Tattoos are also dangerous as needles used for piercing other people bodies are used for making the tattoos on your body .Moreover, we can never be sure if the needles have been properly sterilized or not, which can again be a cause for concern. Always ensure only new needles are used whether for providing injections or for tattooing.
Blood Transfusions
Blood transfusions are one of the primary reasons for the transmission of the AIDS virus. Many unsuspecting patients have been infected by the virus through blood transfusions during surgery. This happened during 1983 to 1985 when AIDS became predominant and gained notoriety. Earlier blood collected from donors was never tested for AIDS virus or other viruses causing serious diseases. This has changed and blood donors and blood samples are tested vigorously.
Preventing the Transmission of AIDS
The only means of prevention of AIDS virus through transmissions is through being educated about the disease, how it gets transmitted through various means, what precautions you can take to save yourself. If you have an active sex life, ensure you always practice safe sex.
Avoid sex with multiple partners, and enjoy your sex life with one known trusted partner so both of you remain safe. An AIDS infected mother to be can avoid passing on the virus strain to her unborn child by taking treatment, undergoing cesarenan and avoiding breast feeds. Use gloves when touching needles used by others. Many doctors and nurses have been infected because of the failure to protect themselves by wearing gloves when giving injections to patients.
