2008 Woodie Awards
Debunking AIDS myths
By: Karen McGlenn
Issue date: 11/30/06 Section: AIDS awareness day at Webster
- Page 1 of 1
Myths and half-truths have surrounded AIDS and HIV since the epidemic began in the early 1980s. Can it be passed through kissing? Can you get it through oral sex? Can you get it just by touching someone? Although AIDS information and education have been available throughout the years, people may still be confused and have questions.
HIV and AIDS are the same thing. FALSE!
HIV is the virus that can lead to AIDS. HIV attacks the T cells in the immune system, which help defend the body against infections. Though not completely definitive, AIDS typically means having a T cell count lower than 200, leading to a weakened immune system and infection by opportunistic diseases.
HIV can be contracted by hugging or kissing someone who has tested positive. FALSE!
HIV is not an airborne disease. A person cannot contract HIV by touching someone or even kissing them. A person can only contract HIV through another person's infected blood, semen, vaginal fluid or breast milk. A person also can become HIV-positive by using a needle with infected blood on or in it. This includes needles used for body piercing, tattooing and injecting drugs.
Oral sex can lead to HIV. TRUE!
Pre-ejaculate semen also can contain the HIV virus.
AIDS is a gay disease. FALSE!
AIDS and HIV can affect anyone. Heterosexual men, women and children and people of all races and ethnic backgrounds are susceptible to the disease.
Women can contract HIV from other women through sex. TRUE!
Although rare, there have been cases of female-to-female transmission. Vaginal secretions and menstrual blood can contain the virus and oral or vaginal exposure can put a person at risk for HIV infection.
HIV-positive women cannot have children. FALSE!
In the early days of AIDS, if a woman became HIV-positive, it was assumed she could not have kids. But with certain precautions, HIV-positive women can have children without fear of passing on the virus. Using HIV medications, delivering by Cesarean section and not breast feeding can help reduce chances of transmission to between 2 and 3 percent.
There is a cure for HIV. FALSE!
There is no cure for HIV or AIDS. There have been great advances in drug therapies for HIV patients that can prolong an infected person's life for several years. But it is imperative to take medications faithfully.
HIV can become resistant to drugs designed to fight it. TRUE!
Since the virus can mutate, resistance to certain anti-HIV drugs can occur. According to the World Health Organization, between 5 percent and 20 percent of HIV-positive people in "industrialized countries" are HIV-resistant to at least one class of anti-HIV drugs. These are countries that have used anti-HIV drugs for at least a decade, but had experimented with one- and two-drug therapies. Simple, uninterrupted drug regimens can minimize resistance.
More information can be found at the following Web sites:
http://www.liaac.org/myths-facts
http://www.thebody.com/aawh/wad2001/myth.html
http://aids.about.com/cs/aidsfactsheets/tp/hivmyths.htm
http://www.who.int/hiv/topics/en
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/dhap.htm
For all other questions, talk to a doctor or contact the local health department.
HIV and AIDS are the same thing. FALSE!
HIV is the virus that can lead to AIDS. HIV attacks the T cells in the immune system, which help defend the body against infections. Though not completely definitive, AIDS typically means having a T cell count lower than 200, leading to a weakened immune system and infection by opportunistic diseases.
HIV can be contracted by hugging or kissing someone who has tested positive. FALSE!
HIV is not an airborne disease. A person cannot contract HIV by touching someone or even kissing them. A person can only contract HIV through another person's infected blood, semen, vaginal fluid or breast milk. A person also can become HIV-positive by using a needle with infected blood on or in it. This includes needles used for body piercing, tattooing and injecting drugs.
Oral sex can lead to HIV. TRUE!
Pre-ejaculate semen also can contain the HIV virus.
AIDS is a gay disease. FALSE!
AIDS and HIV can affect anyone. Heterosexual men, women and children and people of all races and ethnic backgrounds are susceptible to the disease.
Women can contract HIV from other women through sex. TRUE!
Although rare, there have been cases of female-to-female transmission. Vaginal secretions and menstrual blood can contain the virus and oral or vaginal exposure can put a person at risk for HIV infection.
HIV-positive women cannot have children. FALSE!
In the early days of AIDS, if a woman became HIV-positive, it was assumed she could not have kids. But with certain precautions, HIV-positive women can have children without fear of passing on the virus. Using HIV medications, delivering by Cesarean section and not breast feeding can help reduce chances of transmission to between 2 and 3 percent.
There is a cure for HIV. FALSE!
There is no cure for HIV or AIDS. There have been great advances in drug therapies for HIV patients that can prolong an infected person's life for several years. But it is imperative to take medications faithfully.
HIV can become resistant to drugs designed to fight it. TRUE!
Since the virus can mutate, resistance to certain anti-HIV drugs can occur. According to the World Health Organization, between 5 percent and 20 percent of HIV-positive people in "industrialized countries" are HIV-resistant to at least one class of anti-HIV drugs. These are countries that have used anti-HIV drugs for at least a decade, but had experimented with one- and two-drug therapies. Simple, uninterrupted drug regimens can minimize resistance.
More information can be found at the following Web sites:
http://www.liaac.org/myths-facts
http://www.thebody.com/aawh/wad2001/myth.html
http://aids.about.com/cs/aidsfactsheets/tp/hivmyths.htm
http://www.who.int/hiv/topics/en
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/dhap.htm
For all other questions, talk to a doctor or contact the local health department.
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