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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS |
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When did AIDS first occurred |
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| The first documented cases of AIDS was on the 5th of June
1981, in the USA, and five people were affected with the disease. However there
were reported (but not documented) cases of occurrence of HIV in 1959, But not
much information was gathered on the later event. REF: FIRST OUTBREAK OF AIDS |
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What are the main routes of HIV transmission? |
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The human immune virus (HIV) can only be transmitted when
the virus comes in contact with the blood cells. These are the main ways in
which HIV can be transmitted:
- unprotected penetrative intercourse who someone who is infected.
- Injection or transfusion of contaminated blood or blood products, donations of
semen (artificial insemination), skin grafts and organ transplants taken from
someone who is infected.
- From a mother who is infected to her baby; this may be during the course of
pregnancy, at birth and through breast-feeding.
- Sharing unsterilized injection equipment that has been previously used
by someone who is HIV Positive. REF: HOW AIDS
CAN BE TRANSMITTED
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Is deep kissing a route of HIV transmission? |
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The tendency of AIDS to be contacted via kissing is
relatively low, however the tendency of getting infected might increase greatly
if one of the persons has soar (wounds) in the mouth, soars might be sometimes
very small and perhaps unnoticed.
Ever since 1981(when aids first broke out) there has been only one
documented case of HIV transmitted through kissing. REF:
HOW AIDS CAN BE TRANSMITTED |
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Is there a connection between HIV and other STDs |
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| HIV and STD has a close relationship since HIV causes
AIDS which is an STD. STDs in most cases exposes it's victims to AIDS
considering the fact that some of them causes breakage in the skin ( for example
herpes and syphilis
), which could provide easier access for HIV to get into the bloodstream.
Generally, ulcerative STDs increases susceptibility of HIV getting into the body
and non-ulcerative, has lower susceptibility. REF: sexually transmitted diseases |
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Can I become infected with HIV through normal social activities |
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| HIV is not water borne, airborne or food-borne virus, so
basically, no social activities such as shaking hands, sneezing, swimming,
sharing toilets or cutleries can cause HIV infection. More so, the virus does not survive for very
long outside the human body. People often see AIDS victims as the HIV itself and
as such don't want to be associated with such people in any way, and that is a
very wrong (and bad) impression REF: HOW AIDS CAN BE
TRANSMITTED |
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Is there a risk of HIV transmission when having a tattoo, body piercing or
visiting the barbers? |
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There is very high risk of when getting HIV when
having a tattoo, if new set of tools are not used on each person. Since there
will always be a tendency of blood stain when a tattoo is being impressed on
someone, HIV can easily pass from the blood of an infected tattoo client to an
uninfected person, if the same materials are being used for their services. To
avoid such transmissions people handling medical piercing materials adapt the 'universal
precaution' when involved in piercing activities.
However, there is lower risk of getting HIV from a barbing activities
except in cases where the clipper blade is not sterilized after each use. The
only tendency of getting HIV from barbing, is when the ( clipper ) blade is
being stained with blood when being used for an HIV infected person. The virus
remains on the blade and might be deposited on an infected person if the blade
by any means comes in contact with his/her blood. Cuts on the head may occur due
to hair diseases such as dandruff and might be escalated if the ( clipper )
blade runs over it. REF: HOW AIDS CAN BE TRANSMITTED |
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Are healthcare workers at risk from HIV through contact with HIV+ patients? |
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| The risk to healthcare workers being exposed to HIV is
extremely low, especially if they follow
universal healthcare procedures. Everyday casual contact does not expose
anyone, including healthcare workers, to HIV. The main risk is through
accidental injuries from needles and other sharp objects that may be
contaminated with HIV. Recent estimate shows that the risk of infection from a
needle stick injury is less than a percent. However in the USA, there were 56
documented cases of occupational HIV transmission up to June 2000. REF:
TRANSMISSION OF AIDS AMONG HEALTH WORKERS |
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Am I at risk of becoming infected with HIV when visiting the doctor's or
dentist's? |
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| Transmission of HIV in a healthcare setting is
usually rare. All health professionals are demanded to follow infection control
procedures when caring for any patient. These procedures are called
universal precautions for infection
control. They are designed to protect both patients and healthcare professionals
from the transmission of blood-borne diseases such as hepatitis B and HIV.
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If blood splashes into my eye can I become infected with HIV? |
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| Research suggests the risk of HIV infection in this
way is extremely low. A very small number of people -usually in a healthcare
setting- have become infected with HIV as a result of blood splashes in the eye. REF:
TRANSMISSION OF AIDS AMONG HEALTH WORKERS |
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Can I become infected with HIV through biting? |
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| Infection with HIV in this way is rare. There have only
been a couple of documented cases of HIV transmission resulting from biting. In
these particular cases, severe tissue tearing and damage were reported in
addition to the presence of blood. REF: HOW AIDS CAN BE TRANSMITTED |
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Can I be infected with HIV through contact with animals
such as dogs and cats? |
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| No. HIV is a Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It only
affects humans. There are some other types of immunodeficiency viruses, which
specifically affect cats and monkeys, namely the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)
and Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV). These viruses are of no risk to humans'
bloods. REF: HOW AIDS CAN BE TRANSMITTED |
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Can I get HIV from a mosquito? |
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| NO! HIV can not be gotten from mosquitoes, Mosquitoes
does not drop or inject anything other than the saliva that helps in
lubrication. Thus, it is not true that mosquitoes can carry infected blood from
an infected person to another person, once a mosquito feeds it does not
regurgitate. . REF: HOW AIDS CAN BE TRANSMITTED |
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Can I become infected with HIV if I inject drugs and share the needles with
someone else, without sterilizing them? |
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| There is a possibility of becoming infected with HIV
if you share injecting equipment with someone who has the virus. If HIV infected
blood remains within the bore (inside) of the needle or in the syringe and
someone else then injects themselves with it, that blood can be flushed into the
bloodstream. Sharing needles, syringes, spoons, filters and water, can pass on
the virus. Disinfecting equipment between uses can reduce the chance of
transmission, but doesn't eliminate it. REF: HOW AIDS CAN BE TRANSMITTED |
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Can I transmit HIV to my baby whilst I am pregnant and
if I breastfeed? |
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| An infected pregnant woman can transmit HIV on to her
unborn baby either before or during birth. HIV can also be passed on during
breastfeeding. If a woman knows that she is infected with HIV, there are drugs
that she can take to greatly reduce the chances of her child becoming infected,
as well as other options such as choosing to have a caesarean section delivery
and not breastfeeding, as HIV is found in breast milk. REF: HOW AIDS CAN BE TRANSMITTED |
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Does donating blood or having a blood transfusion mean
that I am putting myself at risk from HIV? |
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| Some people have been infected through a transfusion
of infected blood. In most countries, however, all the blood used for
transfusions is now tested for HIV. In those countries where the blood has been
tested, HIV infection through blood transfusions is now extremely rare. Blood
products, such as those used by people with haemophilia, are now heat-treated to
make them safe. REF: HOW AIDS CAN BE TRANSMITTED |
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How safe is oral sex? |
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| Although, the general conclusion that has been reached
concerning oral sex is that the tendency of getting aids through oral sex is
very low. Nevertheless, AIDS can be transmitted through sexual intercourse and
might just take advantage of the slightest chance, as such our only advice is
that avoid all form of unprotected sex. REF: HOW AIDS CAN BE TRANSMITTED |
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The doctor said i am HIV positive what does that mean? |
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| If someone is referred to as HIV+ (positive) , it
simply means that the doctor has diagnosed some amount of HIV in your body,
however if you are HIV+ it does not necessarily means you have AIDS, you can
only have AIDS when the amount of HIV in you gets to a certain level. REF: HOW AIDS CAN BE TRANSMITTED |
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How long does HIV takes to become AIDS? |
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| Averagely, it takes ten years for an HIV + positive
person to develop the disease condition known as AIDS. However the years may be
lower or higher depending on the treatment and care such patient receives. REF:
Symptoms of AIDS |
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