03

November
2007

AIDS Myth-Buster

category: Dafé’s Café - Daily Dose of Medical News,MyDocHub
by Dafé,

AIDS Ribbon

Several myths are associated with HIV and the disease it causes, AIDS. Here are Compassionate Pearl co-founder Rahab McCollors-Sassnett’s top seven myths, followed by the facts.

1.) People can get HIV or AIDS by kissing. False: In order to contract the virus, blood, semen or vaginal fluid must come in contact with an open cut. Saliva doesn’t have enough HIV antibodies to transmit the virus.

2.) HIV is a “gay disease.” False: Statistics show more heterosexual people contracting the virus than homosexuals.

3.) Teenagers can’t get it – that’s if you’re old folk. False: There are millions of cases of HIV and AIDS in people up to 19 years old around the world.

4.) Married people can’t get HIV. False: If marriages aren’t monogamous there’s a chance.

5.) Mosquito, insects and animal bites can transmit the virus. False: HIV only lives in men and women, boys and girls. It cannot be spread to or from cats, dogs, birds or other pets.

6.) People can get HIV by sharing dining utensils. False: HIV can only be transmitted by blood, semen or vaginal fluid, not saliva.

7) HIV is only transmitted by intravenous drug use. False: A person may misjudge a situation because they’re under the influence and have a sexual encounter that may cause them to contract the virus.

Sources: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Rahab McCollors-Sassnett.

Related posts:

  1. Holy Grail of Aids Medicine?
  2. Merck Drug Failure a Setback for AIDS Vaccine
  3. A New Aids Vaccine?
  4. Is the U.S. Really Committed to Fighting AIDS in Africa?
  5. New Study on HIV-Associated Dementia

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