How Do People Get AIDS?

How Do People Get AIDS?
AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, a
disease that makes it difficult for the body to fight off
infectious diseases. The virus known as HIV causes AIDS
by infecting and damaging part of the body's defenses
against infection, namely the white blood cells known as
CD4 helper lymphocytes (pronounced: lim-fuh-sites).
AT the moment The only known way for the HIV virus
to be transmitted from one person to another is when
it is spread from the inside of an infected person's body
to the inside of another person's body.
This can happen when infected fluids - such as semen,
vaginal fluids, or blood - are passed from one person
to another.
A person can become infected even if only tiny amounts
of these fluids are spread.
How does someone become infected?
a. HIV can be spread through sexual intercourse if one
of the partners has the virus.
b. HIV can travel to another person through cuts and sores
on the penis, rectum, vagina, or skin around the genitals
and probably the mouth and other mucous membranes.
These cuts or sores are often so small that a person isn't
even aware of them.
HIV can be spread sexually from a man to a woman, a
woman to a man, a man to a man, and a woman to a
woman.
c. People who inject themselves with drugs also risk
infecting themselves with HIV. Many people who use
needles to take intravenous drugs or steroids share
the needles with others.
d. Also, a newborn baby is at risk of getting the HIV
virus from his or her mother if she is infected.
This can happen before the baby is born, during birth,
or through breastfeeding.
Pregnant teens and women should be tested for HIV
because infected women who receive treatment for
HIV are much less likely to spread the virus to their
babies. Babies born to mothers infected with HIV are
also given special medicines to try to prevent HIV
infection.
If you have never had sex and you don't inject drugs,
you don't need to worry about whether you have HIV.
But if you have had sex or are planning to in the
future, HIV is definitely something you should be
prepared to prevent.
If you do have sex, using latex condoms properly
every time can help protect you.
Condoms work by providing a barrier to the body
fluids that can be shared during sexual activity.
Always follow the directions exactly and never use
the same condom twice.
Asking people if they have HIV is not a reliable
way of finding out whether they are infected.
People may not answer truthfully.
There are many places you can get more information
about HIV and AIDS, personal counseling, and, when
appropriate, testing.
Talk with your doctor about any concerns you might
have.
link for the full article:-
Updated and reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: March 2005
Originally reviewed by: Joseph Masci, MD