AIDS is a life-threatening disease that results from HIV, or the human immunodeficiency virus. HIV attacks the immune system, rendering it unable to defend itself against infections, bacteria and viruses. AIDS is the end stage of HIV.
Sexual Transmission
Both Avert, an international AIDS charity and the Mayo Clinic state that AIDS is easily transmitted through vaginal, anal and oral sex when an infected partner's secretions or blood enters your body.
The virus is present in both the vaginal secretions of women and the semen of men. Small tears can be present in the vagina or rectum during vaginal and anal intercourse. While the secretions can be enough to transmit the AIDS virus, the tears make transmission even easier, allowing the virus to enter the bloodstream.
Oral sex may be the least likely mode of transmission; however, it is still possible when an infected person's secretions enter an open sore, bleeding gums or ulcers in the mouth.
Injectable Drug Users
Drug use of any kind can be harmful; however, those who use injectable drugs are three times more likely than those who are sexually active to transmit AIDS, according to Avert.
The reason this risk is so high lies within the needles and syringes being shared. These items are contaminated with the blood of those infected with AIDS. The blood from the infected person is being injected directly into another's bloodstream when injecting him with a used needle. This is an almost instantaneous transmission.
Avert suggests disinfecting needles and syringes after use to help prevent the spread of this disease, while the Mayo Clinic recommends participating in a needle exchange program. Programs like these accept used needles and provide you with new needles in an effort to prevent the transmission of AIDS.
Blood Transfusions
Blood transfusions, prior to 1985, were considered a possible mode of transmission. This was due to lack of testing for the HIV antibodies on the donated blood and few restrictions placed on those who could donate.
Blood banks and hospitals across the United States have become more strict since 1985, greatly reducing the risk of contracting HIV when a blood transfusion is needed. Not only have the criteria for blood donors become more stringent, donated blood is now tested more thoroughly.
Mother to Child
The Mayo Clinic states that each year, nearly 600,000 infants contract AIDS from their mothers. This occurs in one of three ways: in utero, during delivery or via breast milk.
Expectant mothers in the United States undergo a series of tests during the prenatal phase. If it is discovered that a woman is HIV positive, medications are readily available to treat her during her pregnancy, reducing the infant's risk of contracting the disease while in the womb.
If delivered vaginally, the infant comes into contact with many of its mother's bodily fluids. Therefore, a Caesarean section is an option that can help reduce this risk.
Finally, the HIV antibodies are present in breast milk. A mother can prevent spreading AIDS to her baby by choosing to bottle-feed with formula rather than breastfeed for this reason.
