Transmission routes, symptoms, and prevention of HIV/AIDS

[AIDS] AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, a disease of the human immune defense system caused by the HIV virus.

When a person is infected with HIV, their defense system is compromised, allowing pathogens and microorganisms to enter through the bloodstream and damaged tissues. Abnormal cells in the body, such as cancer cells, also take the opportunity to multiply and develop into various types of tumors.

AIDS is a serious disease with a poor prognosis and a high mortality rate, and is known as a "super cancer".

HIV is primarily transmitted through sexual contact (especially homosexuality) and intravenous drug use with unsterilized syringes; secondly, through therapeutic blood transfusions and injections of blood products.

In addition, childbirth and breastfeeding can also transmit the virus to infants.

The key criteria for diagnosing AIDS are the detection of the HIV virus and a positive antibody test.

To prevent AIDS, we must first strengthen public awareness campaigns to raise understanding of the dangers of AIDS, eliminate drug use, and avoid using imported, unsterilized blood products; women with AIDS should not become pregnant; and AIDS patients should be isolated and treated immediately upon discovery.

People living with HIV/AIDS, those with HIV-related syndromes, and those infected with HIV are all sources of HIV transmission. The virus in their bodies can be transmitted to others through broken skin and mucous membranes.

According to laboratory test results from around the world, HIV has been isolated from patients' blood, saliva, tears, breast milk, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid. However, epidemiological evidence only proves that blood and semen can transmit the virus.

Therefore, the main routes of transmission are: sexual contact and other sexual contact; transfusion of blood and blood products contaminated with HIV; sharing unsterilized needles and syringes used by HIV-infected patients; and transmission from HIV-infected pregnant women to their fetuses through placental blood.

Regular social handshakes do not transmit HIV, and there is no conclusive evidence that HIV can be transmitted through air, water, food, mosquitoes, clothing, haircuts, kissing, or other means of contact.

However, if the skin on your hands is broken or may come into contact with the bodily fluids of an HIV-positive person, you should still wear gloves and disinfect them afterwards.

[AIDS Prevention] The following points should be noted in AIDS prevention work:

① Acquire knowledge about AIDS, including its causes, harms, and transmission routes.

Promoting the use of condoms is the most economical and effective way to reduce HIV infection.

② Maintain a clean and virtuous lifestyle, and strictly prohibit prostitution, drug use, and other illegal activities.

③ Do not use imported blood or blood products.

④ When administering treatment or preventative injections, each person must change their syringe, and disposable syringes should be used whenever possible.

⑤ If a transplant is necessary, the donor should be confirmed to be HIV-negative.

⑥ Do not share toothbrushes, razors, or other personal items that may easily transmit blood contamination with others.

HIV is a virus that mutates very easily, with different types and subtypes. Within the same subtype, different strains have very different levels of virulence.

HIV can be reinfected.

If infected with a more virulent strain of the virus, it can accelerate the onset of HIV.

Therefore, people living with HIV should practice safe sex and abstain from all high-risk behaviors that could lead to HIV infection in order to avoid reinfection and delay the onset of the disease.