Many people at the word "HIV" shudder, thinking that this is a death sentence. In fact, there are many frightening myths that have nothing to do with reality.
Proposals that use the abbreviation of HIV, can be considered horror stories for adults. Many know about what it is, but the knowledge is too limited and often deceptive. It's time to put all the dots over "and" and understand this very important topic.
1. Illness of drug addicts, girls of easy virtue and other disadvantaged groups of the population.
It is a mistake to believe that the disease can not touch you. According to statistics, the most common way of HIV transmission is sexual, and the orientation here is of no importance. Very rarely there is a contamination from the injection with a dirty syringe, as the virus quickly dies in the open air. Other reasons for the transfer include: pregnancy, the use of non-sterile medical instruments and contaminated donor blood.
2. Life is short if diagnosed with HIV.
This statement was true in the 90's, when the first epidemic of infection was taking place and those who contracted HIV quickly reached the deadly stage of AIDS. In the modern world, everything has changed, as scientists have developed a medicine that helps infected people to live as many years as they are healthy. Another medicine has learned to prevent the transmission of the virus from mother to child. Recently, a medicine has been developed that is recommended to people at risk as prevention.
3. I feel good, which means I do not have HIV.
Unfortunately, a huge number of people do not even suspect that they are carriers of the virus, as it may not be accompanied by any clinical symptoms. In addition, HIV can hide under the flu with a high temperature and other common symptoms for many diseases.
4. Diagnosis of HIV = AIDS.
Here it is necessary to glance at the essence of these concepts. So, HIV indicates that there is a virus in the body that attacks and destroys cells that fight infections and diseases. As for AIDS, it describes the late stage of infection, when immunity is not able to fight with different viruses and infections. The transition from one disease to another occurs within a few days, if a person does not conduct treatment. Using modern medicines, it is possible to prevent the development of HIV in AIDS.
5. HIV is curable.
As though many did not want it, but while this disease is incurable. Scientists are constantly working on the vaccine, but so far the attempts have not been successful. Sick people should follow all the prescriptions of the doctor to control the virus and not let it develop.
6. You can get infected by a kiss and a handshake.
Modern society likes to choose rogue, and they are often referred to as people with different serious diseases, including HIV. Believe me, nothing terrible in the arms, handshake, kiss and other similar physical contacts, no. The virus is not found in the saliva, it is not transmitted by the household way and out of the body it dies very quickly, so do not show your stupidity and do not offend people who do not deserve it.
7. You can get infected by contact with blood and through open wounds.
One of the most common myths, which is refuted by scientists. Cases when HIV was transmitted through a scratch or cut, was not documented. The disease is transmitted by contact with a large amount of blood from a fresh bleeding wound, for example, this can happen to ambulance doctors, so they should always use disposable gloves.
8. HIV transmitters are mosquitoes.
Another statement that can make scientists laugh. Infection through the vinegar of a mosquito or other blood-sucking insects is impossible, because during the vinegar they do not inject the blood of the previous victim.
9. An infected woman will necessarily give birth to an HIV-positive child.
It is true that infection can occur during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, but because future mothers are worried about their children, they are carrying out the necessary treatment and avoid breastfeeding. Due to the fact that a woman fulfills all the prescriptions of a doctor, the risk of infection is minimized.
10. Infection through needles in clubs, cinemas and other public places.
The scarecrow, which has been spread for many years, tells that infected people who are in despair go to public places, where people who inject syringes with their blood are pricked or put needles in seats in the cinema. In fact, this is nonsense, and for all the time, no cases of HIV transmission have been documented in this way.
11. The condom will not protect against HIV.
The fact that latex has microscopic pores has long been known. But quality condoms, which are properly worn, give reliable protection. Since condoms do not pass the liquid, it means that the infection in it can not get into another organism.
12. The only cause of AIDS is HIV
Remember item number 4? This was the official version of WHO. Now get ready ... HIV is not the cause of AIDS! Such sensational exposure on the 20th anniversary of the AIDS Day was put forward by so-called dissident scholars. Peter Duesberg, a virologist at the University of California, assures us that there is not enough evidence in the world to link HIV to AIDS. A group of reputable scientists generally believes that all the turmoil around such a disease as AIDS is nothing more than a pharmaceutical duck and a conspiracy against humanity. Duesberg stated:
"If they told me that I have HIV, I would not worry about it for a second."
Maybe the rest should not worry?