Does your knowledge about HIV/AIDS hold up?

By Esha Gupta
From KPC Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata
Posted Sep 7th 2012 10:00AM

Does your knowledge about HIV/AIDS hold up? – Part 1

Several inaccurate myths about HIV and AIDS are still widely believed.

Officially reported by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in 1981, AIDS has become a global healthcare problem, with cases being identified in over 190 countries. From 1981 until 2006, AIDS has lead to the death of over 25 million people and orphaning 16.6 million children worldwide.

Misunderstandings of the disease have been fueled by fear, denial and ignorance and culminated in these widespread myths that not only placed people at risk, but have caused undue ostracism to many of those living with HIV or AIDS.

1. The full form of HIV is Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
   TRUE. The Human Immunodeficiency Virus is a retrovirus that attacks the immune cells of the body. When it infects a person, HIV attacks cells of the immune system leading to a decreased immune response. However, the effects of the disease may not be seen for many years.
2. The full form of AIDS is Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.
   TRUE. The Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome occurs when the immune cells of the body have been reduced to a critical level. The ravaged immune system is no longer able to cope with the various stresses on the body. When this occurs, a person with AIDS becomes susceptible to a number of diseases which would not normally harm a healthy person..
3. HIV/AIDS can spread by touching, hugging, kissing, sharing meals or even sharing the same utensils.
   FALSE. Numerous studies have shown that HIV cannot be spread by casual contact with a individual afflicted with the disease. The virus may be transmitted through exposure to seminal fluids, blood and breast milk between individuals, but is not transferred in saliva. These fluids can come from, or enter through genital, oral and anal routes as well as open wounds and needle injections.
4. HIV/AIDS spreads by the use of common needles (intravenous drug abuse).
   TRUE. Drug abuse is one of the leading causes of the spread of HIV among all population groups around the world. The practice of sharing needles among drug abusers has lead to rampant spread in many parts of the world, including India. Some governments have proposed programs to provide clean, sterile needles to prevent transmission among those using injected drugs.
5. Oral contraceptive pills (OCPs), spermicides, diaphragms, and sponges prevent HIV infection.
   FALSE. While the use of oral contraceptive pills, spermicides, diaphragms and sponges provide protection against pregnancy, they offer little protection against infection by HIV. Studies have shown even diaphragms to be ineffective at preventing HIV as they cannot cover the all of the lining of the vagina through which the virus may enter. Currently the best method of prevention is abstinence or proper use of a male condom during intercourse.

Does your knowledge about HIV/AIDS hold up? – part 2

1. The proper use of condoms during intercourse prevents the spread of HIV infections.
   TRUE. Numerous studies have shown that the proper use of the male condom significantly lowers the risk of transmission of HIV between sexual partners. In addition, the female condom has shown promising effectiveness in preventing HIV transmission.
2. HIV/AIDS is a curable disease.
   FALSE. Currently there is no effective cure for HIV or AIDS. However, there are many drugs available that are shown to help slow the progress of the disease and dramatically increase quality of life and life expectancy for those living with the disease. Continued research on new medicines and other medical techniques show promise for the treatment of those infected, but the best cure is prevention by taking the proper precautions.
3. A person can spread HIV/AIDS, even if being treated for it.
   TRUE. Even if a person is being treated for HIV or AIDS, it is still possible to spread the disease to their partner. Most treatments aim at preventing the virus from copying itself within the body, but are unable to remove it once it is present. The viral particles permeate into many of the body excretions and still pose a risk. It is still important to observe safe sex practices even while being treated.
4. HIV can be transmitted by mosquito bite.
   FALSE. There is no evidence to suggest that HIV can be spread through mosquito bites. A mosquito may feed on the blood of an infected individual, however that blood remains within the stomach of the mosquito and does not come into contact with any subsequent person that the mosquito feeds on.
   If a mosquito is killed against the skin, it may expose a person to the virus as the blood within the mosquito's stomach can be smeared into an open wound. However, the possibility of transmittance in this way is very remote.
5. You can tell if a person is HIV positive, just by the way they look.
   FALSE. It is a common misconception that a person infected with HIV will appear to be sick. This belief is often used as an excuse not to practice safe sex. However, the affects of HIV may remain unapparent for several years to even a decade. The appearance of open wounds which many people are familiar with are usually only seen in late stage infection by HIV, at the onset of AIDS.

Part 1 Source

Part 2 Source