Acquired immune deficiency is a widespread disease. It is the result of being infected with the human immuno-deficiency virus, commonly known as HIV. AIDS is characterized by the advanced progression of HIV, whereby an infected person's immune system is weakened enough to allow a large spectrum of opportunistic infections. HIV/AIDS can be transmitted via bodily fluids including blood, semen, vaginal fluid and breast milk.
Sexual Contact
The HIV virus can be transmitted through sexual contact including vaginal intercourse, anal intercourse and sometimes oral sex. The vagina and anus are efficient routes for the HIV virus to be transmitted because they have thin mucous membranes that can tear easily, according to the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. Oral sex is a risk factor because HIV can be transmitted through semen, as well as pre-seminal fluid.
Nonsexual Blood-to-Blood Contact
HIV can also be acquired via nonsexual blood-to-blood contact. These routes include intravenous needle sharing, transfusions of blood and blood products and accidental needle pricks. Accidental needle pricks occasionally occur in medical-care settings. Because of strict health regulations in the United States, the risk of becoming infected from a transfusion of blood or blood product is minimal. Infections occurred at a much higher rate prior to screening practices initiated in 1985. According to the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, needle sharing is an extremely high-risk behavior. In addition to HIV, drug users who share needles may become infected with hepatitis C. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 4,000 new cases of intravenous-drug-use HIV in 2008.
Mother to Child
Mothers can pass the HIV virus to their children. With current medical-care procedures, however, this route of transmission is extremely rare. Infected mothers who are receiving adequate medical care take anti-retroviral medications throughout their pregnancies. The World Health Organization says that mothers may safely breastfeed if they take anti-retroviral medications during the breastfeeding period.
