Understanding the three major transmission channels of HIV (sexual transmission, blood transmission, and vertical transmission from mother to child) and taking precautions, there are other misconceptions to get out of. HIV infection is not AIDS HIV is the human immunodeficiency virus and AIDS is the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. HIV infection does not mean that you have AIDS. AIDS develops when the HIV virus begins to replicate in large numbers and severely destroys a person’s immune system. In other words, AIDS is the final stage of HIV infection. If HIV infection is not treated in time, it will usually develop into AIDS in a few years. HIV infection, if treated properly and with a low viral load, can delay the onset of the disease and is not easily transmitted to others. HIV infection or AIDS cannot be cured yet. Although the viral load of some patients will be reduced after treatment, or even temporarily undetectable, the viral load will rise again after stopping treatment. For now, HIV infection or AIDS is lifelong. However, in medically advanced areas, most HIV-infected patients can live to a normal life expectancy by adhering to aggressive treatment. Daily life contact does not transmit HIV Many people mistakenly believe that once they come into contact with an HIV-infected person, they are likely to be infected. In fact, not all body fluids carry HIV, for example, tears, sweat and saliva do not contain HIV, so hugging, shaking hands, eating together, or even kissing an HIV-infected person will not infect them, and an HIV-infected person who lives with a family member and shares toilets, showers and kitchens will not transmit the virus to them. HIV is very fragile outside the body and cannot survive for long on a toilet seat. The chances of being infected by a wound that has come into contact with an HIV-infected person are very small. A naked wound can only be infected if it has been exposed to a sufficient amount of HIV. If the wound is a small scratch, it is very unlikely to be infected by contact with an HIV-infected person in a restaurant or other everyday social place, firstly because small wounds generally heal quickly and secondly because there is not a sufficient amount of virus on the body surface of an HIV-infected person. Of course, if a fresh bleeding wound is exposed to a large amount of HIV, it is necessary to go to the hospital immediately for antiviral treatment, but this is usually very rare, such as when a doctor accidentally cuts his skin while operating on an HIV-infected person. Oral and finger sex are generally not associated with HIV infection. Although sexual transmission is the main route of HIV infection, this refers to penetrative sex without safety measures, such as vaginal and anal sex. Other forms of sexual intercourse are rarely associated with infection. There are almost no cases of HIV infection from passive oral sex worldwide; there are also almost no cases of infection from genital contact with the fingers of an HIV-infected person. However, for maximum protection, it is best to wear a condom.