A medical research report in Nigeria has come up with a figure that over 7 million Nigerians have been medically proven to live with HIV while close to 5 million have been suspected to be positive to HIV. But these people have not come out boldly to either be tested for HIV or treated due to the myths and misconceptions surrounding the infection. It has also been noted that all over the world, HIV should have become a forgone issue if majority of the world populace had developed a positive disposition towards the virus and various methods of treatment, control and possible eradication.
For nearly 30 years, HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) have been shrouded in many myths and misconceptions. Although unanswered questions about HIV remain, researchers have learned a great deal. Here are the top few myths about HIV, along with the facts to dispute them.
It is believed that one can get HIV by being around people who are HIV-positive. But evidence shows that HIV is not spread through touch, tears, sweat, or saliva. You cannot contract HIV by breathing the same air as someone who is HIV-positive; by touching a toilet seat or doorknob handle after an HIV-positive person; by drinking from a water fountain; by hugging, kissing, or shaking hands with someone who is HIV-positive; by sharing utensils with an HIV-positive person or by using exercise equipment at a gym. But you can definitely get it from infected blood, semen, vaginal fluid, or mother’s milk.
It is also a held-belief that people should not worry about becoming HIV positive, that new drugs will keep any one well. This is a misconception because, inasmuch as antiretroviral drugs are improving and extending the lives of many people who are HIV-positive, many of these drugs are expensive and produce serious side effects. None yet provides a cure. Also, drug-resistant strains of HIV make treatment an increasing challenge.
An average man believes that one can contract HIV from mosquitoes, because HIV is spread through blood. People have been worried that biting or bloodsucking insects might spread HIV. Several studies, however, show no evidence to support this even in areas with lots of mosquitoes. When insects bite, they do not inject the blood of the person or animal they have last bitten. Also, HIV lives for only a short time inside an insect.
In the early years of the scourge, the death rate from AIDS was extremely high. But today, antiretroviral drugs allow HIV-positive people and even those with AIDS to live much longer, normal, and productive lives. Neither is AIDS a genocide phenomenon; an HIV victim can live his life to the fullest.
Another belief is that HIV victims receiving treatment can’t spread the virus; yes they can. Although when HIV treatments work well, they can reduce the amount of virus in the blood to a level so low that it doesn’t show up in blood tests. Research shows, however, that the virus is still ‘hiding’ in other areas of the body. It is still essential to practise safe sex, so you won’t make someone else become HIV-positive. Couples who are both HIV positive have many reasons to practise safer sex and please do not believe that while practising safer sex wearing condoms can protect you both from becoming exposed to other (potentially drug resistant) strains of HIV.
Remember that sometimes, a partner can be HIV-positive and not have any symptoms for years. The only way for you or your partner to know if you’re HIV-positive is to get tested. It’s also true that oral sex is less risky than some other types of sex. But you can get HIV by having oral sex with either a man or a woman who is HIV-positive. So couples should always use a latex barrier during oral sex.
Punch
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