How is HIV transmitted sexually. Is it possible to get HIV through saliva, methods of transmission and risks of infection with AIDS. Preparations and tests

Despite the great breakthrough in medicine in recent years, there are still ailments that cannot be cured. And some of these are HIV and AIDS. What it is? These two terms should not be confused, since the first is the human immunodeficiency virus, and AIDS is the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The virus makes the immune system weak, as a result, the body becomes vulnerable to many diseases. Even completely harmless microorganisms can become dangerous for a carrier of a retrovirus. AIDS occurs when a retrovirus is in the body for a long time, the patient has frequent infectious pathologies that affect almost all organs. Can AIDS be transmitted through urine and sweat? This question arises in many people.

Is HIV spread through sweat?

As you know, immunodeficiency can be transmitted from a carrier to a healthy person through the ingestion of biological fluids of one into the body of another. Is HIV transmitted through sweat? The virus is also present in sweat, but in very small quantities, so the risk that a person becomes infected when this biological substance comes into contact with the skin is extremely small. If there is blood in the liquid, then the risk of transmission increases significantly. Tears and saliva also contain the virus in small amounts, so infection through them is almost impossible.

Is it possible to become infected with HIV through urine?

You should know that immunodeficiency is not transmitted through household contacts. Infection occurs only when substances such as semen, blood, breast milk and vaginal lubrication enter the bloodstream or open wounds of a healthy person. The most common infection is through unprotected sex. Is HIV transmitted through urine? It has a very small concentration of virions, so you can’t get infected when urine gets on the skin of a healthy person or into the blood. But if there is blood in it, then the risks of infection transmission increase several times. Therefore, if the question arises: is it possible to become infected with HIV through urine, then the answer is no rather than yes.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cannot exist on its own and constantly needs a carrier. It needs a human cell to reproduce. It is important to know how HIV is transmitted in order to prevent infection. Indeed, if in the external environment the virus dies from the action of 70% alcohol or boiling, then in the human body the disease causes serious changes. For some time, this problem goes unnoticed when the immune system keeps the HIV virus. But after a few years, a person has a lot of health problems.

Main routes of HIV transmission

Mechanisms of transmission of infection:

Unprotected intercourse (without a condom).
Through a blood transfusion.
By injecting drugs.
From mother to child (through breast milk, in utero).

For prevention, you should know how infection occurs. Most likely through sexual contact. It is easier for women to get infected. The fact is that the area of the vaginal mucosa is much larger than that of men. Moreover, sexual intercourse has a higher percentage of infection than other methods. The addict's needle is also very dangerous, so addicts use disposable syringes. An HIV-infected mother can infect a child during fetal development or through breast milk.

What is the likelihood of contracting HIV

Methods of transmission of infection and the likelihood of infection:

The chance of getting a disease by getting the blood of a sick person to a healthy one is 100%. A very small amount is enough to get the disease. A scratch or bloody wound, a blood transfusion, a reusable syringe - everything can cause infection.
Sexually. Unprotected sexual intercourse is especially dangerous for infecting women, since the area of absorption of the virus is much larger (3 times more likely than in men). With a condom, the probability of getting infected is very small, but there is. Some scientific experiments have shown that there is a possibility of virus penetration through latex (from 0.01% to 0.1%).

Through what fluids is HIV transmitted, other than the above? The breast milk of an infected mother for an infant gives a 20% certainty of infection. You should give up lactation to avoid this by feeding the baby artificially.
Is HIV transmitted orally? With this act, the risk of infection is very small. For example, with a blowjob, the risk of infection is approximately 0.03%, if a woman has bloody wounds in her mouth, the probability increases. During cunnilingus, the likelihood of getting HIV is minimal if there are no wounds in the man's mouth, because saliva does not contain the virus. Otherwise, the risk is very high, because the secret fluid in women contains HIV.
The likelihood of infection during anal intercourse is extremely small. After the appearance of microcracks due to sexual intercourse, the risk increases to 1% (passive partner) and up to 0.6 for the active one.
Unborn children can become infected from infected mothers during pregnancy, this method is called "vertical". In this case, the risk is very high if certain drugs are not taken. Without special therapy, the probability according to statistics is 15-20%, thanks to drugs, the figure drops to 1-2%.

Can HIV be transmitted?

There are many misconceptions about how HIV is transmitted. For example, you can not get infected with it through a handshake, shared dishes, bed linen, in public transport, and so on. The myth that HIV is transmitted by airborne droplets has no scientific basis. To prevent the occurrence of a deadly disease, it is important to take preventive measures. But first, it is useful to know how the virus spreads, and in what ways it is not transmitted.

Through a kiss

The answer to the question: "Is it possible to get HIV through saliva?" quite affirmative - it is impossible. This liquid does not contain the immunodeficiency virus. With a kiss, the likelihood of infection is almost absent. However, it is worth remembering that the disease is transmitted through the blood. If, for example, the lips or mouth of both partners are damaged, there is a possibility.

Through a condom

If you protect yourself during intercourse with a condom, then the likelihood of infection is reduced to a minimum. However, some scientists have conducted experiments and found that latex in rare cases passes virus cells. The risk of penetration through latex reaches 0.1%. In this regard, it is recommended to refuse any sexual contact with infected people to prevent the disease.

At home

How is HIV transmitted in the home? The virus does not live separately from a person, so it is difficult to get it at home. But if you use a common razor or toothbrush with an infected one, the disease will be transmitted if infected blood enters a healthy person. The use of a personal razor, brush, and the absence of any contact with the blood of an infected person are the basic rules for those who live with an HIV-infected person.

From a mosquito

At the dentist

For twenty years, not a single case of infection in the dentist's office has been recorded. How HIV infection is transmitted is known. Blood contains virus molecules, but outside the human body they quickly die. Standard procedure for instrument disinfection, oven sterilization and dental gloves ensure the absence of live pests and the transmission of deadly diseases.

When manicure

Those who are afraid to remove burrs and file their nails in the salon do not need to be afraid of the manicurist's tools. There is no such way of transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus. The molecules of this disease quickly die outside the body, and the instruments are sterilized after each client. In the entire history of the discovery of a deadly disease, no one has yet received it during a manicure.

How not to get HIV

Compliance with the following rules will protect against infection with a deadly virus:

Protection during sexual intercourse. It doesn't really matter if a man doesn't want to use a condom. Life and health is much more important!
For medical procedures, use disposable syringes opened immediately before the procedure.
Visit only proven beauty salons and dental clinics with a good reputation

Symptoms of HIV infection

The question of how long HIV manifests itself does not have a specific answer. Each body fights disease differently. Sometimes signs appear after 14 days in the form of:

Elevated temperature.
Inflamed lymph nodes.
Drowsiness.
Fever.
Fear of bright light.
Runny nose.
Cough.
Rash.

The first symptoms resemble colds and disappear after 15-30 days. Most infected people do not experience or notice discomfort at the initial stage. During the incubation period, HIV may not manifest itself in any way. Sometimes a person at this time does not even know about his illness. After some time, secondary diseases appear, the consequences of which for the body, as a rule, are severe.

The worst stage in the development of the virus is AIDS. The disease lasts within 6-24 months. It has individual features and forms:

Lung injury (most common).
Problems with the intestines.
In the form of a nervous illness.
Mucosal damage.
Skin rash.

Depending on the form of AIDS, a secondary disease develops. Immunity is not able to fight it and the virus becomes fatal for a person. To live with such a problem, some get up to 25 years, it all depends on the body and methods of treatment. Individuals, in rare cases, die within a year. According to medical data, the average life expectancy of those infected is 12 years.

Questions about what HIV infection is, how it is transmitted and what measures to prevent the disease exist, are asked at least once by almost all people on the planet. Medical staff are trying to inform about the main causes of the spread of this disease and its possible deplorable consequences.

Therefore, the ways of HIV transmission are well known to everyone, but at the same time, young people are increasingly turning to unjustified panic about their infection.

HIV is an acronym that stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

This virus slowly but progressively infects the human body, completely weakening the immune system, which leads to permanent infectious diseases and the formation of tumors. With the formation of the first serious symptoms of the virus, the stage of AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) begins.

For the first time, people started talking about HIV and AIDS in the early 1980s. The first symptoms were registered in Sweden, the USA, Tanzania and Haiti, and the first diagnosis based on the detection of the HIV virus was made in 1983 thanks to the French scientist Luc Montagnier. Until today, the informational message has not changed since those times: the disease is spreading exponentially, drugs that completely defeat the disease have not been found, and the only way to avoid this disease is to monitor your life and behavior. There are many assumptions about where the legs actually grow from. Most experts in the field claim that the virus originated in West Africa. The nature, structure and ways of HIV infection are known, but the "miraculous" medicine has not been invented. According to official figures, more than fifty million representatives of the infected population have been registered to date.

Through what ways is the disease not transmitted?

Before you figure out how you can become infected with HIV infection and what are the first symptoms and manifestations of the disease, you should find out in what ways AIDS infection does not occur. HIV is not transmitted in the following absolutely safe cases:

hugs, handshakes and other bodily touches;
use of a public toilet and use of common hygiene items;
common places of recreation, such as a swimming pool, a bathhouse, various reservoirs, etc.;
contact with animals and insect bites;
physical self-satisfaction (masturbation);
kisses;
clothing and household items;
places for the provision of manicure, hairdressing and dental services;
blood donation and sampling.

As absurd as some of the above positions are, this is a list of the most frequently asked questions to virologists and experts in the field about the transmissibility of the virus. To explain why HIV infection is not transmitted in these ways, it is worth understanding exactly how the disease affects the human body and what factors affect it.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus is not airborne like cold or flu viruses. To become infected, contact of the blood or secretions of the genital organs of a healthy person with the blood and the same secretions of an infected person is necessary. Do not forget that HIV is a very weak virus that does not live long outside the human body. Animals are not carriers.

As for kisses and common water bodies, they, contrary to all the theoretical reasoning of young people, cannot in any way cause HIV infection, because in order to adopt the virus from the affected organism, a certain minimum concentration of the virus is necessary. If we are talking about blood, then only one drop will be enough for infection, speaking about saliva - it will take about four liters.

Possible routes of infection

If we discard all the incredible causes and ways of infection, then there are not so many real ones, but they are all very dangerous and lead to an almost 100% negative outcome. Transmission and infection of the HIV virus occurs:

sexual contact without using a condom (the cause of 70-80% of registered infections);
use of an injection syringe or needle after being infected (5-10% of reported cases);
transfusion of infected blood (5-10%);
transmission of the virus from mother to child (5%);
infection when using non-sterile instruments in tattoo parlors;
use of personal items of an infected person with blood residue (razor, toothbrush, etc.).

Although HIV is transmitted through blood, semen, mother's milk and vaginal secretions, infection is not possible through contact with other secretions and possible biological materials produced by a person (sweat, saliva, urine, tears or feces).

First symptoms of HIV infection

As a rule, the first symptoms go unnoticed and resemble a slight malaise or the usual cold manifestations, therefore a person does not always pay attention to them, however, when there is still a reason for worries, this can be an excellent signal for a follow-up check. It is worth contacting medical care centers if, after unprotected intercourse, the following sensations and deviations were found:

after one to two weeks the temperature rose to 37-38°C;
enlarged one or more lymph nodes;
discomfort in the throat and pain when swallowing;
skin rash;
diarrhea.

These symptoms last, as a rule, no more than one week, then disappear on their own and are not found in all infected people. The first ten or twelve years often go by completely unnoticed. Only in some cases is there an increase in lymph nodes in the groin area, above the collarbone, on the back or front of the neck, or under the armpits.

AIDS and its symptoms

AIDS is diagnosed ten to twelve years after infection with the immunodeficiency virus. A person can be affected at once by several, at first glance, diseases that are safe for a healthy person. Most often it is:

thrush of the oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract and genital organs;
elevated temperature;
excessive sweating, especially at night;
a sharp decrease in weight;
persistent diarrhea;
frequent flu and respiratory infections;
herpes and shingles.

If there are reasons for concern, it is necessary to pass special tests, but this should be done only 3-4 months after the expected day of infection.

Diagnosis and treatment of HIV

The first 120 days after HIV infection is called the window period. This is the time until antibodies are formed in the human body, the number of which determines the diagnosis. After this period, you must go to any hospital and do an anonymous blood test for antibodies. If these same antibodies are detected, the analysis is regarded as positive, but they are in no hurry to make a 100% diagnosis. The patient is sent for re-examination to a more equipped clinic, and if the second result is confirmed, the patient receives the status of HIV-infected and the prescription necessary for treatment.

Treatment of the immunodeficiency virus does not imply a complete elimination of the disease, but only a slowdown in its process, thus supporting and prolonging the life of the patient. With the help of special drugs, HIV activity is suppressed and the number of immune cells increases. Sometimes treatment allows you to reduce the content of the virus in the blood to an undetectable level, but this does not eliminate it from the lymph nodes and other human organs. When treatment is stopped, the virus from certain organs is released into the blood and progresses very quickly.

HIV prevention

Infection by household means, through animals and a kiss is impossible, the main ways for infection are unprotected sexual intercourse and the use of syringes after an infected person.

Therefore, an intimate relationship should occur only with verified individuals and using condoms. When visiting various tattoo and piercing parlors, you need to make sure that the instruments are sterile, it is even better to ask the master to re-disinfect in front of you.

HIV infection is the most terrible disease that exists in all corners of the world. Cases of the disease have been reported in all countries. Doctors have known for a long time what constitutes how HIV is transmitted. Below is comprehensive information about the infection, methods of infection with the virus, treatment, and preventive measures.

The human immunodeficiency virus is a disease that causes the death of immune cells. Any disease for an infected person becomes deadly. Physicians have precisely determined how HIV is transmitted. HIV transmission occurs when:

intimacy (up to 80%);
the use of injecting narcotic substances (up to 10%);
breastfeeding a newborn baby or during his intrauterine life (up to 10%);
blood transfusion (up to 5%);
occupational infection of physicians (0.01%).

The disease is transmitted from person to person when a healthy person enters the body of an infected fluid of a patient with a high concentration of the virus. The sweat secreted by the skin of a sick person, his urine and tears contain a small portion of the infection, so infection in this way is almost impossible.

Usually HIV is transmitted through the fluid secreted by the urogenital secretion of a sick person, his blood. The reason is the high level of infection concentration. Infection occurs after infection enters a healthy body. The disease, developing, spreads throughout the body of a sick person.

people who inject drugs;
homosexuals;
prostitutes;
lovers of anal sex;
persons leading a promiscuous sex life;
people with diseases transmitted by intimacy;
blood donors;
future children of an infected woman;
blood transfusion workers who come into contact with infected patients.

There is a misconception that AIDS and HIV are the same disease. This is not true, but these two ailments are interrelated. HIV and AIDS - what's the difference? HIV enters the body, under certain conditions the virus may not manifest itself for many years. Depending on the state of health of the patient, HIV infection develops at an individual rate, which, with any, even a non-serious disease, transforms into AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). Illness always ends in death.

How infection occurs

Infecting a person with HIV sexually is the most well-known and common way of transmitting the infection. Almost 40% of all patients became infected in this way.

unconventional sex

The virus can be transmitted not only through traditional intimacy. Often, human infection occurs when an infected person's penis is penetrated anally without the use of a condom. Cracks appear in the anus, microtraumas with minor bleeding. Mixing blood with seminal fluid leads to infection with the disease. Therefore, the disease is widespread among homosexuals.

Is HIV transmitted through oral? It is possible, but the likelihood of infection during oral sex is much less. Oral sex is dangerous for the transmission of HIV infection in the presence of bleeding wounds in the oral cavity. Through them, the penetration of the virus from the sexual fluids of the partner can occur.

From mother to child

How is AIDS transmitted to a baby from the woman who gave birth to him? The most common way that HIV and AIDS are transmitted to the baby from the mother's body is the intrauterine method. Often the fetus becomes infected during the pregnancy of the expectant mother. It happens that the unborn child remains healthy before birth, but when passing through the birth canal or during a caesarean section, it becomes infected. During childbirth, it is incredibly difficult to avoid the penetration of a woman’s infected blood into the mucous membranes of a newborn baby.

A mother can transmit a terrible infection to a baby by feeding the newborn with her breast milk. If a sick woman gives birth to a healthy child, mother's milk is replaced with an adapted milk formula. Mother's milk contains a liquid secreted by the organs of internal secretion, in which the content of viruses is maximum.

How is AIDS, HIV infection transmitted from an infected person who is on antiretroviral therapy? It is possible, but the risk is sufficiently reduced. The probability of infection entering a healthy body depends on the state of immunity of a healthy person, the presence of other, potentially dangerous infections in a sick person.

Drug addicts at risk

Among people who use drugs, drugs are often injected with a single syringe. This is the most common way the infection is transmitted. At the time of preparation of narcotic mixtures, there is a possibility that the infected blood of a sick person will get into the dishes. This increases the chance of infection in people who use the prepared drug.

In the doctor's office

AIDS, HIV infection - how are they transmitted during the process of blood transfusion? There are many cases of infection of a healthy person in this way. Before using donated blood for transfusion, it is carefully examined for the presence of HIV and AIDS. For this, special highly effective ELISA tests are used, but errors do occur. False test results are the main reason for the penetration of the immunodeficiency virus into the body of a healthy person through blood transfusion.

How is HIV transmitted due to non-sterile instruments? In dental offices, beauty salons, manicure and pedicure workshops, all instruments must be sterilized. Improper sterilization and sanitization of instruments lead to contamination in this way.

The human immunodeficiency virus has such a name for a reason, because it is a purely human pathology that is not dangerous for other mammals. There are, however, a couple of variations of this virus, which, according to special studies, infect African monkeys (HIV-2) and possibly chimpanzees (HIV-1), but they have nothing to do with humans, being transmitted only within the species. For the human race, the danger is precisely HIV infection, which opens the way to the body for many dangerous viruses and bacteria. Therefore, it should not be treated carelessly. But you can protect yourself from this terrible disease only by knowing how HIV infection is transmitted from person to person.

A little about HIV itself

Humanity learned about the immunodeficiency virus at the end of the 20th century (1983), when at the same time this virus was discovered in two scientific laboratories. One of them was located in France (Louis Pasteur Institute), the other - in the USA (National Cancer Institute). A year earlier, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) was given its current name, which, as it turned out, is the final phase of HIV infection.

When a new unknown retrovirus was isolated and given the name HTLV-III, it was also suggested that this particular virus could be the cause of such a terrible disease as AIDS. Further research confirmed this hypothesis, and humanity learned about a new danger that can kill without weapons.

How is HIV transmitted?

The human immunodeficiency virus is a terrible and insidious disease, for which there is no effective treatment yet. But around HIV there are many different rumors. Some say that the virus itself is not so terrible if you can live with it for more than 10 years. The real danger, in their opinion, is only the last stage of the disease - AIDS, when various pathologies develop in the body, most of which have a complicated course.

Others are terribly afraid of becoming infected with HIV, believing that any contact with an infected person carries a great danger. This leads to neurotic disorders and depression, because an infected person may not even be aware of his carriage, not to mention other people who do not notice any changes in the virus carrier. The presence of the virus in the body can only be determined by diagnostic means, by conducting a special blood test for antibodies to HIV.

In principle, there is some truth in both opinions. But both the careless attitude towards the HIV problem and the excessive concern for one's health at the expense of human relationships and mental health are extremes that will not benefit either one or the other.

HIV has 3 main transmission routes that you should pay close attention to, because it is in these cases that the risk of infection is especially high:

During sexual intercourse (sexual or contact transmission),
When manipulating blood (parenteral route),
During pregnancy, labor activity and breastfeeding (vertical transmission).

In other cases, the possibility of getting HIV is so small that even doctors do not consider these ways as dangerous.

By learning how HIV infection is transmitted, you can take all measures to block any ways for infection to enter the body. It should not be thought that only those people who, due to professional duties, are forced to come into contact with infected people or who are related to virus carriers in some way, are at risk. You can become infected with the human immunodeficiency virus even if you have a virus-negative partner.

On the other hand, some couples, in which one of the partners is a virus carrier, live quite happily, because they are careful in sexual intercourse. Thus, consideration for others and caution are important conditions that help stop the spread of a terrible disease.

How is HIV transmitted from a man?

So, the greatest probability of letting HIV infection into your body is observed during sexual intercourse. This applies to both heterosexual and homosexual couples. A man in sex is always the introductory side. Yes, and often it is men who are the "customers" of love entertainment. Therefore, the risk of infection from a man is higher than from a woman.

This is also facilitated by such a moment that the content of virus cells in semen is almost 3 times higher than in the vaginal secretion of women. Even a minimal amount of sperm on the penis can infect the female body, but it is very difficult to remove it from there due to the structural features of the female genital organs, which are located deep inside. Ordinary douching after sexual intercourse does not guarantee the removal of the virus from the body.

Note that sex with an HIV-positive partner does not necessarily end in infection. In order for the virus to become active, it must enter the bloodstream. It can enter the bloodstream only through damage to the skin and mucous membranes. Usually, during sexual intercourse, microcracks form on the vaginal mucosa, which do not pose a danger to a woman until some infection, for example, the human immunodeficiency virus, enters her bowels. If there are no microdamages, and the woman thoroughly cleaned the vagina after intercourse, infection may not occur.

The danger for a woman is infectious and inflammatory processes in the vagina, which make the mucous membrane more vulnerable and permeable to all kinds of bacteria and viruses. The probability of violation of the integrity of the mucosa during intercourse is high with inflammation of the internal genital organs and sexually transmitted diseases. In the latter case, partners can simply exchange "sores", which will only aggravate the situation of both.

But so far it was about the classic sexual intercourse between a man and a woman. However, in our time, a certain perverted form of it is also very actively practiced - anal sex, when the penis is inserted not into the vagina, but into the rectum through the anus. Some consider this method as a possibility of preventing unwanted pregnancy without the use of contraceptives.

It must be said that such intercourse is not only unnatural, but also carries a great danger in terms of the spread of HIV infection. And all because the delicate tissue of the rectum and anus is even more susceptible to damage than the inner lining of the vagina, which is protected by the mucous secretion produced in it, which softens friction.

The rectum in nature is designed for other purposes. It does not belong to the reproductive organs and it does not produce a special lubricant that protects the walls from friction and damage. Therefore, during anal sex, there is a high probability of damage to the tissues of the anus and intestines due to strong friction, especially if intercourse is performed in a rough form.

At the same time, a man, again, suffers less, because if there is no damage to the penis, then he is unlikely to be able to get infected from an HIV-positive partner. Moreover, the hygiene of the penis is much easier than the cleansing of the internal reproductive organs of a woman. But if a woman had anal sex with an HIV-positive man, then the probability of infection in her is almost 100%.

Knowing how HIV is transmitted is also very important for homosexual couples, and we have a lot of them, because the persecution of people with a non-traditional orientation has long been a thing of the past. For homosexual couples, the main source of sexual satisfaction is anal sex, in which the risk of infection is incredibly high.

Oral sex with an HIV-positive man can also pose some danger to partners (the penis is inserted into the mouth of a partner or homosexual partner). The fact is that in the oral cavity there can also be various microdamages provoked by rough or spicy food, an inflammatory process in the tissues, etc. Getting infected sperm on wounds is fraught with the transmission of the virus into the bloodstream, from where it is no longer possible to remove it.

And even if there were no wounds on the mucous membranes of the mouth, they can end up in the esophagus and stomach. In such cases, the danger is swallowing sperm, which many women do not disdain, having read information about the beneficial composition of seminal fluid and its effect on youth and beauty.

As you can see, sexual transmission of HIV is quite common. No wonder almost 70% of infections fall on this factor. This fact is also interesting: despite the fact that a woman is more at risk during sexual contact, the prevalence of the virus among men and women is approximately the same. And the blame for everything is promiscuity with a large number of partners, an increase in the number of homosexual couples, the practice of group sex.

There is something to think about. But preventing HIV from entering the body during sexual intercourse is not so difficult if you use high-quality condoms every time, if you know that the partner is a carrier of the virus. And even if there is no information about the health status of a sex partner, it is not worth excluding the possibility of a virus carrier. But it is worth protecting yourself from possible infection by insisting on protected sex using a condom.

You can practice unprotected sex only with a permanent partner in whom you are 100% sure. But even here it is not necessary to discard the possibility of infecting a partner in other ways (for example, through blood during surgery, if surgical instruments were not sufficiently disinfected, or after visiting a dentist). It would be nice to take an HIV test after each such intervention, but practice shows that this recommendation is carried out very, very rarely.

How is HIV transmitted from a woman?

Although the probability of catching HIV from a representative of the weaker sex is less, it should not be ruled out either. After all, inflammatory pathologies of the genital organs, weakening their tissues, occur not only in women, but also in men. Therefore, after sex with an HIV-positive partner, a man with inflammation or mechanical trauma to the penis, which led to damage to its tissues, can also detect HIV in himself over time.

Therefore, we can say with confidence that sex with a condom protects not only a woman, but also a man from infection. And if we also take into account that men are polygamous by nature, i.e. cannot remain faithful to one partner for a long time, then having sex without a condom, they endanger not only themselves, but also their permanent partner. Indeed, for a beloved woman, they themselves become the source of infection, even for the time being without suspecting it.

Such carelessness is especially dangerous for young couples who are still planning to have children. After all, an unsuspecting woman (do not forget that the disease can manifest itself even after 10 years or more), seeking advice about pregnancy, can learn with horror about her virus carrier. Therefore, couples planning to replenish the family must be aware of the issue of how HIV infection is transmitted from a man to a woman and from a woman to a child.

You must always remember that either the same man or woman can become infected from a man, but from a woman the virus can also be transmitted to her child, who has been in the womb for a certain time. The virus can enter the bloodstream of the fetus even during pregnancy (through the placental barrier) or during the passage of the baby through the birth canal, because babies have such delicate skin that any exposure can cause microdamages on it, invisible to the eye, but sufficient for the penetration of virus cells, which are also microscopic in size. And given that the immune system of a newborn is still in the formative stage, then some babies die in the very first days and months after birth.

Even if the baby is born healthy, there is still a risk of transmission of HIV from the mother through breast milk. For this reason, virus-carrying women have to refuse breastfeeding the baby, which, of course, does not have the best effect on its natural immunity, but at the same time protects the newborn from the unwanted “gift” of a loving mother in the form of a terrible retrovirus.

Yes, let's not hide it, earlier the percentage of HIV-infected children born to mothers with human immunodeficiency virus in their blood was much higher (about 40%). Today, doctors have learned to reduce the activity of HIV in the mother's body with the help of chemical antiviral drugs (usually prescribed starting from the 28th week of pregnancy) and have reduced the intrauterine incidence to 1-2%.

This is facilitated by the practice of caesarean section in HIV-infected mothers, which is the prevention of infection of the baby during childbirth, as well as the appointment of antiviral drugs to newborns within a few months after birth. After all, the sooner an infection in the baby’s body is detected, the easier it will be to fight it and the greater the chance that the child will live a long happy life. If preventive measures are not taken, then a maximum of 15 years of life can be predicted for a child.

Preparing for the arrival of a new little family member is always a very exciting moment for a woman, but it is a pleasant excitement. For an HIV-infected pregnant woman, the joy of motherhood is eclipsed by concern about the fate of her baby, who can acquire a terrible disease from birth. And this anxiety will not leave the woman during all 9 months, even if she diligently follows all the doctor's instructions and undergoes routine examinations.

An even greater responsibility lies with women who knew about their illness even before the conception of the baby. They should think over and weigh everything several times before deciding to give life to a child. Indeed, along with life, they can reward the baby with a dangerous disease, predicting him (albeit not always) a sad fate. All the risks associated with HIV infection, the expectant mother must necessarily discuss with the doctor and, with a positive decision, strictly adhere to all medical recommendations.

It is worth thinking in advance about who will help the infected mother care for the child and raise him. Still, constant contact with a child who still does not know how to protect himself from danger presents, albeit small, but the risk of infecting the baby. And the life of an HIV-positive mother may not be as long as she would like it to be. Even before the birth of a child, everything must be done so that later he will not be left alone in this life.

As for men, representatives of the most ancient profession also pose a great danger to them. You need to understand that a woman of easy virtue can have quite a lot of clients, while no one requires health certificates, which means that HIV-infected men may well be among the sexual partners of prostitutes. Such a gift in the form of HIV infection prostitute can present to any subsequent client with whom he will have vaginal or anal sex.

Men should not take risks by having sexual contact with a woman during menstruation. Firstly, this is not an urgent need, secondly, it is unhygienic and, thirdly, it is quite dangerous in terms of blood contact with the penis if there is a possibility that a woman is a carrier of HIV infection. Still, the blood is saturated with virus cells much more than the vaginal secret, which means that the likelihood of infection increases markedly. Is the game worth the candle?

How is HIV transmitted through kissing?

This question is of particular interest to young couples who today practice not only light superficial kisses, but also sensual deep ones. And we already wrote that some of the virus cells are found in many human physiological fluids, including the saliva contained in the oral cavity. It is this moment that worries lovers, because a kiss is the most sincere expression of love for a person.

Lovers should not be especially worried, even if one of the partners turns out to be HIV-positive. Such a manifestation of love as a kiss is quite acceptable in this situation. Saliva contains such a meager number of viral cells that the answer to the incorrect question of how HIV infection is transmitted through saliva is the phrase “practically nothing.”

Theoretically, the possibility of infection in this way remains due to the very minuscule of HIV cells in saliva, but in life there have never been confirmed cases of infection through saliva. You need to understand that this is not just a way to reassure lovers, but statistical information. There are special centers that study the virus and how it spreads. Medical scientists are concerned about the ever-increasing number of patients with HIV, therefore, for each specific case, complete information is collected, where and how the infection occurred. All this is necessary in order to develop effective preventive measures that will help stop the course of the human immunodeficiency virus on our home planet.

During such studies in the United States, a case of transmission of HIV infection during a kiss was recorded. But the carrier of the infection, as it turned out, was not saliva, but the blood that came out at the site of the bite (apparently it was produced in a fit of passion).

A simple loving kiss without damaging the tissues of the oral cavity cannot harm a healthy person, so lovers can safely practice such kisses. Another thing is if bleeding wounds are found in the mouth of both partners, which is observed with periodontitis, stomatitis, tonsillitis and some other pathologies of the oral cavity. Any open wound in an HIV-infected person is a source of infection, while the same wound in a healthy person carries the risk of infection.

Parenteral route of transmission of HIV infection

If the vertical route of transmission of the virus is typical only for women who have decided to give birth to a child, then both women and men can equally become infected by contact and parenteral routes. We have already considered all the nuances of the contact route of infection. It's time to pay attention to the transmission of HIV through the blood.

There are 2 risk factors associated mainly with the medical instrument. Firstly, these are surgical supplies that must be strictly sterile. Insufficient disinfection of an instrument that was previously used in manipulations with an HIV-infected patient is a risk factor for infecting another patient.

And this applies not only to surgery, but also to dental offices, beauty salons that practice manicure and pedicure, where clients are not asked at all for a certificate of the absence of HIV in the body. In the event of an accidental cut, blood particles from an infected person remain on a scalpel or other device used in surgery, dentistry, and cosmetology. With insufficient treatment of the instrument (washed with water and enough, but you need to treat it with alcohol or boil for at least 1-2 minutes), the virus cells remaining on it can easily enter the body of a healthy person through various lesions on the skin.

Let the probability of infection in this case is small, but it also cannot be discounted. To protect yourself from parenteral infection during medical or cosmetic procedures, you need to insist on the use of disposable instruments that are taken out of the package in front of the patient. Fortunately, now disposable tools are not a problem. At least in private medical centers that value their reputation and income.

Another unlikely way to infect a patient with the human immunodeficiency virus is to transfuse the blood of an HIV-infected person. This can only happen in an emergency, when there are no blood supplies, and seconds count. In this case, blood can be taken from an unverified person only on the basis of the compatibility of the group and the Rh factor, while the donor himself may not be aware of his illness, which is usually in no hurry to manifest itself. Blood at donor stations must be tested for HIV, so the likelihood of infection from tested donor blood is practically zero.

When manipulating HIV-infected patients, some medical staff also have a risk of infection. This risk is small, and is mainly caused by the negligence of a doctor or nurse who, during an operation or other actions with the patient's blood, inadvertently damages the tissues on the arm in the place where it comes into contact with the blood of an HIV-positive patient. Infection may not occur, but the danger is still there, and we must not forget about it.

There is another answer to the question of how HIV infection is transmitted parenterally. The use of injection paraphernalia by a group of people is considered a risk factor for human immunodeficiency virus infection in the blood. In practice, this phenomenon is often common among drug addicts who are trying to save money on syringes.

Potentially dangerous in this case are not only the needles of syringes that are in direct contact with human tissues and blood, but also the syringes themselves, as well as the containers from which the liquid drug is taken. These tools are not processed in the environment of drug addicts, which means that blood particles of the previous user, who may have an HIV-positive status, remain on them. Drugs are injected into the body intravenously, and the virus is delivered directly into the bloodstream, where it begins its destructive action.

Drug addiction is a disease, and it is not so easy to recover from pathological addiction. But everything can be done so that HIV infection does not join the harmful effects of drugs.

Prevention in this case is the use of individual (preferably disposable) syringes and ampoules, as well as the avoidance of promiscuity, which is often practiced among drug addicts against the background of the drug ecstasy they receive, clouding the mind and logical thinking. But even in such a state, a person is able to realize the danger of his actions, unless, of course, drugs completely destroyed his ability to think. In this case, kisses should be canceled for a while, and they should be resumed only after the damage to the oral mucosa, gums and lips has completely healed.

The likelihood of contracting HIV during a kiss is negligible, but you should not completely ignore the fact of such a possibility. If the kiss is a manifestation of true love, then the partners will take all precautions so as not to harm each other. Indeed, in this case, infection with the human immunodeficiency virus is a tragedy for both.

But passionately kissing with unverified partners is clearly not worth it. And it's not even the depth of the kiss. It is worth considering whether a stranger will take care of your safety in a fit of passion, or are you threatened with bites or unprotected sex, which may well follow kisses? Are you completely sure that your casual partner is HIV-negative?

Only with a trusted partner can you feel safe while taking preventive measures, such as using a condom and being careful when kissing. There is no need to rush to reject a loved one if he has HIV, because the human immunodeficiency virus is not SARS or a fungus, it is not transmitted by airborne droplets, through hands, dishes, bathroom, toilet. So, if you are careful, the probability of getting infected is not so great, which is proved by many happy couples, one of whose partners is a virus carrier.

How is HIV transmitted in the home?

If the topic of kisses was of interest mainly to couples in love and loving parents, who are also happy to give kisses to their children, then the issue of the risk of contracting HIV infection in everyday life is already of concern to many readers of different ages. After all, if it turns out that HIV can be caught not through sexual contact, a surgical operation or during a blood transfusion, but through a household way, the danger can threaten almost all people.

We will not deceive the reader, arguing that HIV infection in the home is impossible, if only to prevent panic. Let's face it, the danger of infection exists and it is real. However, this is not a reason to panic in advance. In order for infection to occur, certain conditions are required that can be successfully stopped, it is only important to know how HIV infection is transmitted in everyday life and avoid such situations.

Most often, men get infected in domestic conditions, which once again equalizes their chances of receiving an unwanted “gift” with women. The cause of infection in the vast majority of cases is the usual shaving, which in the male environment is considered a familiar procedure.

You can shave twice a day, and once a week, this will not change the likelihood of contracting HIV. Even the type of razor in this case does not play a significant role, since if you shave carelessly, you can get hurt with a safety or electric razor. Another thing is important, whose machine or razor do you shave with?

Razor, like a toothbrush, must be individual. Giving a razor to others or using someone else's can only bring trouble on yourself in the form of HIV infection in the blood. And here it does not matter how many times it had to be used. If you cut yourself with a razor that has the blood of an HIV-infected person (a friend or relative, and we know that he himself could not be aware of the disease), there is every chance to let the virus into his blood. And the chances are quite high.

When asked if there have been cases of HIV infection while shaving, the answer will be yes. True, information about the route of infection in all episodes was obtained from the patient himself and based on his assumptions. Perhaps there were other contacts that could cause infection, or maybe the public razor became the culprit of the trouble. Be that as it may, but it is not worth excluding the quite logical possibility of domestic HIV infection. But this possibility can be prevented if you use an individual shaving set, protecting it from the encroachments of friends and family members (among which, by the way, there may be women who are not spared from excessive vegetation).

Above we mentioned the toothbrush. And for good reason, because if an HIV-positive person has problems with their teeth, gums or oral mucosa, particles of infected blood can certainly hide on the brush after brushing their teeth, which will become a source of infection for another brush user.

True, in order for infection to occur through a razor or a toothbrush, it is necessary that the blood be fresh enough, because the human immunodeficiency virus is a very unstable substance that cannot exist outside the host's body, therefore it quickly dies in the open air.

Theoretically, the human immunodeficiency virus can also be transmitted by shaking hands. This would actually be an improbable situation, because infection is possible only if there are fresh lesions on the hands (rather even palms) of both partners outstretched for a handshake. Plus, the blood of an HIV-infected person must get into the wound of a healthy person. Yes, the situation is more than rare, because who will stretch out a bloody hand during a greeting, but it’s still worth knowing about such a probability.

It is even less likely to contract AIDS in the pool, where they are allowed only after providing a certificate of the absence of various kinds of infections in the visitor's body. True, the HIV test is not taken in all cases. But this has little effect on the likelihood of infection. In order to become infected in the pool, one must either step on the blood of an infected person with an open wound, or end up with the same wound in water, noticeably flavored with someone else's blood, or provoke a bloody fight. What do you think is the likelihood of such an event?

Public baths and saunas practically exclude the possibility of contracting HIV infection, although no one requires a certificate there. But, firstly, the virus cannot live on its own without a host, and secondly, it is afraid of exposure to high temperatures.

As for massage parlors, the likelihood of HIV infection is much higher during manicures or pedicures, which can be done in beauty salons or at home by both women and men. And all the fault will be poorly disinfected devices. Trust your nails only to proven and accurate cosmetologists, and you will not have problems with HIV.

During massage, infection can again occur only during mixing of blood, i.e. it is necessary that both the masseur's hands and the client's skin, which the masseur touches, are damaged. It is clear that such a situation can be considered rather an exception to the rule.

It's time to talk about more mundane things, like the toilet. Can you get the human immunodeficiency virus from using the toilet?

Neither urine nor feces are considered to be a serious source of HIV infection capable of provoking the disease. In a public toilet, you are more likely to catch other infections, including those that are sexually transmitted, than the immunodeficiency virus, which is transmitted mainly through blood or semen.

Yes, such secretions may accidentally end up on the rim of the toilet, but in order for them to cause infection, it is necessary that the buttocks of the one who sits on them have damage through which the virus would enter the bloodstream. This situation is simply ridiculous, because not a single smart person will sit on the toilet in a public place (and even with such obvious traces of someone else's stay), without first laying at least toilet paper, but rather a disposable seat specially designed for this.

If we are not talking about a toilet bowl, but about a bowl or hole for draining, which can often be found in public restrooms, then they do not pose any danger of infection at all, since they exclude the contact of bodily fluids.

Just because HIV isn't transmitted in a public toilet doesn't mean you shouldn't practice good personal hygiene. Clean hands and caution will help to avoid infection with other, no less dangerous infections, which are quite enough in public places with the abbreviation MF.

As for cutlery and crockery, you should not worry too much here, even when visiting canteens and cafes. HIV is definitely not transmitted through dishes, unlike many intestinal infections.

Based on the foregoing and information on how HIV infection is transmitted, it can be concluded that it is virtually impossible to get the human immunodeficiency virus in the household way. You have to be extremely sloppy, unscrupulous or awkward person to get on the list of exceptions, which can only be called a curious accident. On the other hand, caution and understanding will serve more than one person in good stead, including those who have found their happiness in the person of an HIV-positive partner.