Myths Associated With HIV/AIDS And The Truth Behind It

There are a lot of fears and more so, rumors about HIV. The facts around these rumors are simple, yet their myths hound people greatly. To save yourself from unnecessary anxiety, read here the most common myths that surround HIV, and review what exactly the fact is.

Fact: This concern isn’t entirely baseless for the HIV-infected people who wish to have children. Having said that, HIV-positive women can still give birth to HIV-negative children with the help of the right treatment. However, HIV-positive men definitely can't be biological fathers.

Fact: HIV infection can cause AIDS, but not necessarily all HIV-infected people will develop AIDS. As the name suggests, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or AIDS is associated with weakened immunity. If an HIV-infected maintains a sound immune system with early treatment, AIDS can very well be prevented.

Fact: Time and again different studies have proved that kissing doesn’t cause HIV AIDS, for the reason that it isn’t spread through saliva. However, there are certain STDs like Herpes, Syphilis that can spread through kissing. But the most important point to bear in mind is that these STDs become a possibility only in the presence of open sores around the mouth.

Fact: This myth couldn’t be further from the truth. A mosquito or any insect, for that matter, sucks the blood, when it bites. It doesn’t inject the blood of the last person it bit. So, mosquito bites can surely cause malaria, chikungunya, and dengue, but not HIV.

Fact: HIV, like most infections, doesn’t discriminate between people. Those who engage in risky activities such as injecting drugs, or unprotected sex with multiple partners, are simply more prone to HIV infection.

The utmost truth regarding HIV infection is that one can get it only from infected body fluids (blood, semen, vaginal fluid, or breast milk) in the following ways:

1. Unprotected sex
2. Injecting drugs with an infected needle
3. Infected blood donation or organ transplant
4. From mother to her child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding

So, don’t believe anyone who says that touching, kissing, hugging, or shaking hands with an HIV-positive person can transmit the infection.

HIV is not a death sentence. With advanced technology, medical science has come up with extremely effective therapies and drugs that enable HIV-infected people to lead normal lives. In this regard, remember that precaution is always safer and cheaper than cure. So, better stay informed to stay safe!