HIV has always been wrapped up in misinformation and stigma. Knowing the truth can help erase the stigma. This article will cover a few common misconceptions about HIV and how those who are living with it can still lead very fulfilling and productive lives.
There are many myths related to HIV/AIDS circulating in society. These myths are not entirely true, or even wrong. This can lead to less effective prevention of HIV/AIDS and can also result in sufferers receiving a bad stigma and being ostracized by society.
Check out the article below to find out what myths are commonly circulating and the truth behind these myths.
A PERSON CAN BE INFECTED WITH THE HIV VIRUS WHEN CLOSE TO SOMEONE WITH HIV/AIDS
In fact, HIV is not spread through touch, tears, sweat, saliva, or pee. You cannot catch it by:
- Breathing the same air
- Touching a toilet seat or door handle
- Drinking from a water fountain
- Hugging, kissing, or shaking hands
- Sharing eating utensils
- Using exercise equipment at a gym
But you can get it from certain bodily fluids of people living with HIV, including blood, semen, vaginal fluids, rectal fluids, and breastmilk. HIV can be transmitted by:
- Unprotected vaginal or anal sex, and, in very rare cases, through oral sex with a person living with HIV;
- Blood transfusion of contaminated blood;
- Sharing of needles, syringes, other injecting equipment, surgical equipment, or other sharp instruments; and
- From a mother living with HIV to her infant during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding.
MOSQUITOES SPREAD HIV
Because the virus is passed through blood, people have worried that they could get it from mosquitoes. Several studies show that does not happen, even in areas with lots of mosquitoes and cases of HIV. When mosquitoes bite, they do not inject the blood of the person or animal they bit before you. Also, HIV lives for only a short time inside them.
“I COULD TELL IF MY PARTNER WAS HIV-POSITIVE”
You can have HIV without any symptoms for years. The only way for you or your partner to know if you are positive is to get tested. The long period of asymptomatic infection is why the CDC recommends that everyone between 18 and 64 be tested at least once.
“I DON'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT GETTING HIV. DRUGS WILL KEEP ME WELL”
Antiretroviral drugs (ART) improve the lives of many people who have HIV and help them live longer. But many of these drugs are expensive and some may have serious side effects. And, with the exception of a newer drug that can be given by injection, you have to take them every day and drug-resistant strains of HIV can make treatment harder.
Prevention is cheaper and easier than managing a lifelong condition and the problems it brings.
HIV IS A DEATH SENTENCE
In the early years, when the disease was epidemic and no treatment was available, the death rate from AIDS was extremely high. But today's drugs allow people who have HIV or even AIDS to live much longer, normal, and productive lives. If you start drug treatment right away and take it correctly, it’s possible you won’t ever develop AIDS. So, take your HIV medicine as prescribed and protect yourself with a healthy lifestyle. And tell your doctor about any other health problems you have. HIV drugs can interfere with other medications and make some conditions harder to control.
"IF I'M GETTING TREATMENT, I CAN'T SPREAD THE VIRUS"
HIV treatments can lower the amount of virus in your blood to a level that does not show up in blood tests. This is called an undetectable viral load. Studies show that if your viral load is undetectable, you cannot transmit the virus sexually. But if you miss doses of your HIV meds or stop using them, you can pass the virus to others. So be sure to take them exactly as prescribed.
You should practice safe sex so you will not give the virus to someone else. Even if you and your partner both have HIV and undetectable virus, wearing condoms can protect you both from other, possibly drug-resistant, strains, as well as other sexually transmitted diseases.
HIV SUFFERERS CANNOT HAVE CHILDREN
Doctors can help you take steps to lower -- or remove -- the chance that you’ll pass the virus to your partner during conception. If you are pregnant, your doctor will give you HIV drugs to protect you and your baby. The baby may also be given medication after birth.
References:
- Cleveland Clinic (2021). Infectious Disease. Common Myths About HIV and AIDS.
- WebMD. (2022). Common Myths About HIV and AIDS.
- World Health Organization (2022). Questions and Answers. HIV/AIDS.
