Oddly enough, scientists have proven that HIV infection is not resistant to environmental influences, but at the same time every year there are more infected people, and the risk groups for HIV infection are replenished at a tremendous speed. Few people know that the virus kills thousands of people a year who absolutely do not listen to the advice of doctors calling for a healthy lifestyle and the use of special contraception.
Previously, there was an opinion that same-sex couples can become infected with HIV, but later it was proved that this is actually not so, completely different people, even those who lead a healthy lifestyle, may be at risk.
How is the virus transmitted?
Today, most often, infection occurs through human blood, when direct contact occurs. This happens if a blood transfusion is carried out, of course, modern hospitals try to protect themselves as much as possible and prevent infection, but exceptions are rarely found. There are cases when a rare blood group needs to be transfused immediately, then doctors can neglect all the rules in order to save the patient's life. It is unlikely that it will be possible to detect infection immediately after transfusion, but after a few months the first symptoms will make themselves felt.
The patient can become infected in the hospital and when reusing the instruments of a medical institution, then this is called nosocomial infection. The risk group for HIV infection includes people who use the same syringe, most often they include drug addicts. Moreover, with the help of one such syringe more than ten people can become infected.
It cannot be ruled out that during poor-quality cosmetic procedures, you can also become infected with the HIV virus, for example, people at risk for piercing and tattoos may be at risk.
At risk of HIV infection are people who are addicted to anal sex or have an unprotected sex life. The disease can also be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy through the placenta or even during childbirth. Sometimes an infection gets into the body of a person who works in a medical institution and deals with a patient with HIV infection, but transmission is possible only if the medical worker himself neglects sanitary rules and works without gloves.
Myths about HIV infection
It has been proven by science that only those people who can become infected through the blood are included in the risk groups for acquiring HIV infection, the virus is not transmitted by shaking hands or through the household route. A virus cannot be transmitted through a kiss, unless, of course, there are open wounds in a person’s mouth. The fact is that the virus may be contained in the waste products, but it is not enough to infect another person.
People illiterate from the medical point of view believe that the virus can enter the body of another person by airborne droplets, but any specialist will give a lot of evidence that this can not be, as, in fact, that the virus enters the body through the use of common dishes. Living near infected people is safe if you follow basic safety precautions and monitor your health.
How is the infection of addicts
The most-at-risk populations with HIV infection in most cases are precisely drug addicts or people who have promiscuous sex life. Being under the influence of a narcotic substance, such people do not think about safety, and most of the environment begins to use one syringe. Dangerous are people who prefer non-traditional types of sexual intercourse, mainly girls of easy virtue who practice sex without a condom.
Sexual transmission of HIV
Second place in HIV infection is occupied by people who prefer to have sex without a condom. The fact is that oral contraceptives can protect only from an unwanted pregnancy, but not from an illness. During intercourse, partners may form microcracks that cannot be felt, it is through them that a harmful virus can penetrate the human body. Some couples prefer oral sex, but it should be noted that it is also not safe, since a man’s sperm can contain a large amount of the virus, and a small scratch in his mouth will be enough to get infected.
When the virus is transmitted sexually, it is women who most often fall into the risk groups for HIV infection. This is due to the fact that they have a larger mucous membrane area of the genitals, which means that the risk of infection increases several times.
What is the essence of vertical infection
Vertical infection involves the transmission of HIV infection from a sick mother to a child during fetal development. The fact is that the child receives all the necessary nutrients through the blood, which is why doctors recommend taking special drugs to the sick woman that will suppress the virus in order to exclude the possibility of giving birth to an infected baby. The transmission of the virus can also occur through breast milk, as it contains a large number of viral cells, so doctors advise to cancel it.
Many are mistaken, believing that a sick mother must have an unhealthy child, according to statistics, 70% of such children are born completely healthy. It is also important to remember that it is immediately impossible to determine whether a child is healthy or not, because up to three years old, antibodies that are transmitted from the mother are active in the body.
Increased risk
Separately, it is worth noting the high-risk groups for HIV infection:
- Those who prefer unprotected sex have the highest risk of contracting HIV infection, including women of easy virtue and their clients.
- Persons who use drugs and inject infected needles. Addicts do not undergo examinations, and they are unable to find out about the disease by signs, since they are similar to withdrawal symptoms.
- Men who are homosexual and often change their sexual partners.
- People who prefer to have unprotected anal sex.
- Persons who engage in unprotected vaginal and oral sex.
- At risk are patients who received a transfusion of donated unverified blood.
- Patients with other sexually transmitted diseases.
In order to recognize the disease in time, it is necessary to undergo a routine examination at least once every six months.
Risk groups in various fields of activity
You can’t say for sure that only drug addicts or people who lead promiscuous sex lives at risk can get into it. HIV infections can even be transmitted to healthcare providers. In general, infection in this case occurs when non-compliance with basic hygiene rules. First of all, surgeons can suffer, who should act quickly and do not have time to do an analysis for the patient’s HIV infection. In addition to surgeons, personnel who take blood from sick patients and who do this without using rubber gloves can be at risk.
The risk groups for HIV infection can be different, but, mainly, infection in the medical sphere occurs as follows:
- The doctor may accidentally cut or prick himself with an instrument on which the patient's infected blood remains.
- Contact with biological fluids containing infection on exposed areas of the skin of a medical professional, and later they can also get on the mucous membranes.
At risk of HIV infection include employees of beauty salons, masters doing pedicures and manicures. The master may get a random cut. Through the resulting wound, blood from an infected person gets to a healthy person, after which infection occurs. Oddly enough, but law enforcement officers may be at risk. During detention, the offender often behaves aggressively, as a result of which injuries and bites are inflicted on an employee of the organs, during which he may become infected.
HIV Prevention
Knowing all the risk groups for HIV infection, everyone should observe basic precautions:
- Use only personal hygiene products such as a razor, manicure, and a toothbrush.
- When piercing the ears and piercing, use only sterile instruments.
- Do not get involved in drugs.
- Use barrier contraceptives and do not engage in unprotected sexual intercourse.
- Health workers need to use disposable gloves while working with all patients.
Now you know what HIV infection is, transmission routes, risk groups. Prevention is the only way to help avoid the possibility of contracting this terrible disease, which so far is considered incurable.