AIDS, known as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), is a collective term for a variety of clinical symptoms resulting from the destruction of the immune system after infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). 1981 was the first time that AIDS-related cases were reported in the United States, and chimpanzees and gorillas from Cameroon were identified as the source of the first human strain of HIV. World AIDS Day is celebrated every year on December 1, and the total number of AIDS patients in the world is now over 34 million, with more than 2.7 million new infections each year and more than 7,000 infections each day, and about 1.8 million AIDS-related deaths each year. Since 1985, when the first case of AIDS was discovered in China, there are about 48,000 new infections every year, and about 2.8 people die of AIDS every year.
Do body fluids contain HIV?
In fact, HIV lives in our bodies, including blood, semen, vaginal secretions, and breast milk, which are their favorite homes. These body fluids may lead to infection if transferred from one person to another. Scientists have also found that HIV is also present in tears, saliva and urine, but have not shown that these bodily fluids can transmit HIV. Therefore, daily contact such as handshakes, hugs, courtesy kisses, eating and drinking together, sharing toilets and bathrooms, and sharing offices, public transportation, and recreational facilities do not transmit HIV. How is HIV transmitted through bodily fluids?
HIV is transmitted through body fluids in three main ways: sexual contact, mother-to-child transmission, and syringe abuse.
Sexual contact: HIV transmission is mainly through the vaginal mucosa, penis, rectum and mouth. HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes and syphilis can cause breaks or ulcers in the skin of the vaginal lining, mouth, rectum and penis, which can facilitate the entry of HIV into the bloodstream during vaginal, oral or anal sex. This skin or mucous membrane damage is often undetected, so using a condom is the safe way to have sex.
Mother-to-child transmission: HIV can also be transmitted during pregnancy, childbirth (when the fetus passes through the birth canal), and breastfeeding. This infection is mainly transmitted through the mother’s blood or breast milk, which is called mother-to-child transmission. In addition, artificial insemination, skin grafts and organ transplants can also transmit HIV.
Syringe abuse: Due to the worldwide proliferation of drugs, HIV can also be transmitted by intravenous drug users who use syringes indiscriminately with each other. Transmission is mainly through needle sharing. Although syringe barrels, sterile cotton and gauze can also be soiled by infected blood, they can rarely transmit HIV, so in addition to drug users, medical workers are also at high risk for HIV infection.
Usually, HIV infection requires a window period, and antibodies can be detected in the initial screening test 6 weeks after infection in about 80% of infected patients, and in 12 weeks in almost 100% of infected patients, but only in a very small number of patients within 3 months or 6 months after infection. There may be no clinical manifestations for the first 10 years after infection, but once AIDS develops, the patient can develop various clinical manifestations. Therefore, the most effective way to prevent and control AIDS is to regulate personal behavior, regular examination of high-risk groups and close monitoring of clearly infected people.