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How exactly is HIV transmitted? I know that its carried in the bodily fluids of the infected, but what has to happen to infect someone else. i.e. if I were to get an infected person's blood on my skin, would it be absorbed into me, or do I need to have a cut on the skin? I read somewhere on Walt's website that only 10% of people exposed to the HIV virus ever contract it. Am I reading that right? So if perchance my bodily fluids were to intermingle with an infected persons, I would only have a 10% chance of contracting the virus? Not that that would make me any less careful, I'm just curious. Thanks.
In Reply to: HIV posted by feeling dumb [146.20] on January 25, 2005 at 15:49:58:
not sure about the 10% figure but you'd have to have a cut on your skin and blood contact for HIV to be transmitted.....it couldn't just be absorbed, though saying that (personally) i wouldn't take any risks.....
my mum works on an infectious diseases unit, she was taking blood from someone and somehow blood managed to squirt all over.....quite a scary situation, but she tested ok, she would have had gloves on but the blood did have contact with her skin....luckily no open wounds....i hope it would be a policy there to cover wounds if any staff had them....would make sense anyway...
do you know somebody that has HIV? the major way it is transmitted is sexual intercourse, and even then blood fluids have to be shared.....so if the guy is wearing a condom he won't pass anything on (providing there are no splits).....there was some controversy awhile back when evidence was presented that HIV might actually be transmitted through the condom material since the particles involved are so small and could potentially permeate through the membrane.....however generally condoms are regarded an excellent preventative against HIV infection, just look at the third world, where HIV is particularly rampant...what is the reason? lack of protection and lack of education about protection....
In Reply to: HIV posted by feeling dumb [146.20] on January 25, 2005 at 15:49:58:
I would look into the theories by reputable virologists and microbiologists, like Peter Deusberg, that HIV doesn't cause or lead to AIDS.
In Reply to: HIV posted by feeling dumb [146.20] on January 25, 2005 at 15:49:58:
it gets in through breaks in the skin, like a cut. That's why anal sex is a common transmission problem, because the anus is more likely to get little tears when used sexually than the vagina is-the vagina is better suited to accomodate a penis without damage, though damage can occur there with heavy activity or lack or lubrication.
There is a book called The Myth of Heterosexual AIDS in which the author says that AIDS was spread in Africa through re-using needles. This would seem an incredible thing for medical people to do since the discovery of bacteria, but I read a non-fiction book called EBOLA, and that virus was spread by Dutch nuns who had a clinic in Africa in more recent times and spread the Ebola virus by giving pre-natal vitamins in injections and using the same needles on more patients- the pregnant women spread the virus to their villages through air or shared dishes.
There are some people who don't believe HIV causes AIDS. I'm not up on that whole argument, but I'm sure you can find the details on the internet.
But I don't know if ANY disease is 100% contagious-people have immune systems of various strengths. If you have the flu and cough on a bunch of people, they won't all get the flu- some have stronger immune systems than others. Diets high in sugar and refined flours and immune systems weakened by drugs, alcohol, or smoking can all make people more susceptible to WHATEVER they are exposed to, so, if you aren't on a whole foods diet and into a healthy lifestyle already, consider changes in that direction.
In Reply to: Re: HIV posted by ukchris [1400.1575] on January 25, 2005 at 16:12:56:
That is why you shouldn't use natural or sheep product condoms because they are porous and the virus can get through. Stats tell us that if an uninfected male has regular vaginal sex with an infected female, there is a 40% chance of his catching the virus. However, if an uninfected female has regular sex with an infected male, there is an over 80% chance of her catching the virus. While the virus normally doesn't spread by kissing, studies have detected concentrations of the virus in the slough in the back of the throat....so deep, deep tonsil sucking kissing with a complete stranger should be a no-no ---especially if you have sores in your mouth or on your tongue.
In Reply to: Re: HIV posted by Anita [892.576] on January 25, 2005 at 21:11:59:
Thanks, Anita.
The operative phrase here is "regular sex". The 10% figure I have been giving is for a single exposure.
Walt
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