How HIV infection is transmitted from a man, woman in the home, sexually, through a kiss, through blood

It is not for nothing that the human immunodeficiency virus has such a name, because it is a purely human pathology, not dangerous for other mammals. There are, however, a couple of variations of this virus, which, according to special studies, affect African monkeys (HIV-2) and possibly chimpanzees (HIV-1), but they have nothing to do with humans, being transmitted only within the species. For the human race, it is HIV infection that poses a danger, opening the way to many dangerous viruses and bacteria into the body. Therefore, it is not worth treating it carelessly. But you can protect yourself from this terrible disease only by knowing how HIV infection is transmitted from person to person.

A little about HIV itself

Humanity learned about the immunodeficiency virus at the end of the 20th century (1983), when this virus was discovered in two scientific laboratories at the same time. One of them was located in France (Louis Pasteur Institute), the other – in the USA (National Cancer Institute). A year earlier, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) received its current name, which, as it turned out later, is the final phase of HIV infection.

When a new, unknown retrovirus was isolated and given the name HTLV-III, it was also suggested that this virus could be the cause of such a terrible disease as AIDS. Further research confirmed this hypothesis, and humanity learned of a new danger that could kill without a weapon.

HIV is one of the types of viral pathologies characterized by a sluggish course. The incubation period, lasting from 3 weeks to 3 months, and the latent stage, the duration of which can be 11-12, and sometimes more years, proceed without any obvious symptoms. However, during this period, almost complete destruction of immunity occurs.

A disorder in the immune system and its inability to protect the body from foreign invasion allows even infections that are virtually incapable of being active in a healthy body to penetrate into its depths and actively multiply. For example, the pathogens of pneumocystis pneumonia can manifest themselves only against the background of a significantly weakened immune system, which is extremely rare (mainly due to HIV). The same can be said about an oncological pathology called Kaposi's sarcoma, the development of which requires a virtually complete absence of immunity.

The human immunodeficiency virus itself is considered unstable. It cannot exist outside the body of the host (in this case, both the carrier and the source of infection are considered to be the infected person), but in each specific case the virus is slightly modified, which allows it to survive and excludes the possibility of inventing an effective antiviral vaccine.

Where in the body are viral elements concentrated? Well, of course, first of all, it is blood, which is why the probability of infection through this important physiological fluid is so high (more than 90%). In 1 ml of blood, up to 10 doses of the viral component capable of causing infection can be found. A similar concentration of viral particles can be found in seminal fluid (sperm) in men. Breast milk and vaginal discharge in women are characterized by a slightly lower content of viral cells.

The virus can nest in any physiological fluids, including saliva and cerebrospinal fluid, but its concentration there is negligible, as is the risk of infection with their participation.

Having isolated the virus and studied it, scientists came to the conclusion that it is possible to destroy viral cells by exposing them to high temperatures and certain chemicals. If a reservoir with the virus is heated above 57 degrees, the virus will die within half an hour. When boiling the liquid in which the virus cells are placed, it will take no more than 1 minute to completely destroy them. Chemicals such as alcohol, ether and acetone are also enemies of HIV, which makes it possible to use these substances and high temperatures for disinfection.

Unfortunately, none of these methods of combating HIV infection are applicable to humans. It is impossible to boil blood to kill all the viruses in it without changing the structure of the liquid itself. And a person cannot drink the amount of alcohol that would cope with the infection without consequences. All that people can do for now is to protect themselves from infection or to somewhat slow down the development of the virus until it has progressed to the AIDS stage.

But to effectively protect yourself, you need to know how HIV is transmitted. After all, forewarned is forearmed, as they say.

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How is HIV infection transmitted?

The human immunodeficiency virus is a terrible and insidious disease, for which there is currently no effective treatment. However, there are many different rumors surrounding HIV. Some say that the virus itself is not so terrible if you can live with it for more than 10 years. In their opinion, the real danger is only the last stage of the disease – AIDS, when various pathologies develop in the body, mostly with a complicated course.

Others are terrified of becoming infected with HIV, believing that any contact with an infected person is very dangerous. This leads to neurotic disorders and depression, because the infected person may not even suspect that he or she is a carrier, not to mention other people who do not notice any changes in the carrier. The presence of the virus in the body can only be determined by diagnostics, by conducting a special blood test for HIV antibodies.

In principle, there is some truth in both opinions. But both a careless attitude towards the HIV problem and excessive concern for one's health to the detriment of human relationships and mental health are extremes that will not benefit either one.

HIV has 3 main routes of transmission that are worth paying close attention to, as it is in these cases that the risk of infection is especially high:

• During sexual intercourse (sexual or contact transmission),
• When handling blood (parenteral route),
• During pregnancy, labor and breastfeeding (vertical transmission of infection).

In other cases, the chance of getting HIV is so small that even doctors do not consider these routes to be dangerous.

Having learned how HIV infection is transmitted, you can take all measures to block any paths for the infection to enter the body. Do not think that only those people who, due to their professional duties, are forced to come into contact with infected people or are related to virus carriers are at risk. You can become infected with the human immunodeficiency virus even if you have a virus-negative partner.

On the other hand, some couples, one of whose partners is a carrier of the virus, live quite happily, because they are careful in sexual intercourse. Thus, consideration for others and caution are important conditions that help stop the spread of the terrible disease.

How is HIV transmitted from man to man?

So, the highest probability of introducing HIV into your body is observed during sexual intercourse. This applies to both heterosexual and homosexual couples. The man in sex is always the initiating party. And often it is men who are the "customers" of love affairs. Therefore, the risk of infection from a man is higher than from a woman.

This is also facilitated by the fact that the content of virus cells in sperm is almost 3 times higher than in the vaginal secretion of women. Even a minimal amount of sperm on the penis can introduce infection into the female body, but it is very difficult to remove it from there due to the structural features of the female genital organs, which are located deep inside. Regular douching after sexual intercourse does not guarantee the removal of the virus from the body.

Note that sex with an HIV-positive partner does not necessarily result in infection. In order for the virus to become active, it must enter the bloodstream. It can only enter the bloodstream through damage to the skin and mucous membranes. Usually, during sexual intercourse, microcracks form on the vaginal mucosa, which do not pose a danger to the woman until some infection, such as the human immunodeficiency virus, enters its depths. If there are no microdamages, and the woman thoroughly cleansed the vagina after intercourse, infection may not occur.

Infectious and inflammatory processes in the vagina pose a danger to women, making the mucous membrane more vulnerable and permeable to all kinds of bacteria and viruses. The likelihood of damage to the mucous membrane during sexual intercourse is high in case of inflammation of the internal genital organs and venereal diseases. In the latter case, partners can simply exchange "sores", which will only worsen the situation for both.

But so far we have been talking about the classic sexual act between a man and a woman. However, in our time, a certain perverted form of it is also very actively practiced - anal sex, when the penis is inserted not into the vagina, but into the rectum through the anus. Some consider this method as a way to protect against unwanted pregnancy without using contraceptives.

It must be said that such intercourse is not only unnatural, but also carries a great danger in terms of the spread of HIV infection. And all because the delicate tissue of the rectum and anus is susceptible to damage even more than the inner lining of the vagina, which is protected by the mucous secretion produced in it, softening friction.

The rectum is designed for other purposes in nature. It is not a reproductive organ and does not produce a special lubricant that protects the walls from friction and damage. Therefore, during anal sex, there is a high probability of damage to the tissues of the anus and intestines due to strong friction, especially if intercourse is performed in a rough manner.

At the same time, the man, again, suffers less, because if there are no injuries on the penis, then he is unlikely to be infected by an HIV-positive partner. Moreover, penis hygiene is much easier than cleaning the internal reproductive organs of a woman. But if a woman had anal sex with an HIV-positive man, then the probability of infection is almost 100%.

Knowing how HIV is transmitted is also very important for homosexual couples, and we have quite a few of them, because persecution of people with non-traditional orientations has long been a thing of the past. For homosexual couples, the main source of sexual satisfaction is anal sex, in which the risk of infection is incredibly high.

Oral sex with an HIV-positive man (the penis is inserted into the mouth of a female or homosexual partner) can also pose some danger to partners. The fact is that the oral cavity can also have various micro-damages caused by rough or spicy food, inflammatory processes in tissues, etc. If infected sperm gets into the wounds, it can transmit the virus into the bloodstream, from where it is impossible to remove it.

And even if there were no wounds on the mucous membranes of the mouth, they can end up in the esophagus and stomach. In such cases, swallowing sperm is dangerous, which many women do not disdain, having read information about the beneficial composition of seminal fluid and its effect on youth and beauty.

As we can see, sexual transmission of HIV is quite common. It is not surprising that almost 70% of cases of infection fall on this factor. Another interesting fact: despite the fact that a woman is at greater risk during sexual intercourse, the prevalence of the virus among men and women is approximately the same. And the blame for this is promiscuous sexual relations with a large number of partners, an increase in the number of homosexual couples, and the practice of group sex.

There is something to think about. But it is not so difficult to prevent HIV from entering the body during sexual intercourse if you use high-quality condoms every time, if it is known that your partner is a carrier of the virus. And even if there is no information about the health of your sexual partner, you should not exclude the possibility of carrying the virus. But you should protect yourself from possible infection by insisting on protected sex using a condom.

Unprotected sex can only be practiced with a regular partner, in whom you are 100% sure. But even here you should not rule out the possibility of infecting your partner in other ways (for example, through blood during surgery, if the surgical instruments were not sufficiently disinfected, or after visiting the dentist). It would be nice to take an HIV test after each such intervention, but practice shows that this recommendation is followed very, very rarely.

How is HIV transmitted from woman to woman?

Although the probability of catching HIV from a representative of the weaker sex is lower, it should not be ruled out either. After all, inflammatory pathologies of the genitals, weakening their tissues, occur not only in women, but also in men. Therefore, after sex with an HIV-positive partner, a man with inflammation or mechanical trauma of the penis, which led to damage to its tissues, can also discover that he has HIV after some time.

Therefore, it is safe to say that sex with a condom protects not only a woman from infection, but also a man. And if we also take into account that men are polygamous by nature, i.e. they cannot remain faithful to one partner for a long time, then having sex without a condom, they endanger not only themselves, but also their regular partner. After all, for the beloved woman, they themselves become the source of infection, even if they do not suspect it for the time being.

Such carelessness is especially dangerous for young couples who are still planning to have children. After all, an unsuspecting woman (let's not forget that the disease can manifest itself even after 10 or more years), having sought advice about pregnancy, can learn with horror that she is a carrier of the virus. Therefore, couples planning to add to their family must be aware of how HIV infection is transmitted from man to woman and from woman to child.

It is always important to remember that a man can infect either another man or a woman, but a woman can also transmit the virus to her child, who is in the womb for a certain period of time. The virus can enter the fetus's bloodstream during pregnancy (through the placental barrier) or during the baby's passage through the birth canal, because babies have such delicate skin that any impact can cause micro-damage to it, invisible to the eye, but sufficient for the penetration of virus cells, which are also microscopic in size. And if you consider that the newborn's immune system is still in the formation stage, some babies die in the first days and months after birth.

Even if the child is born healthy, there is still a risk of HIV transmission from the mother through breast milk. For this reason, women who are carriers of the virus have to refuse to breastfeed their baby, which, of course, does not have the best effect on its natural immunity, but at the same time protects the newborn from an unwanted "gift" from a loving mother in the form of a terrible retrovirus.

Yes, let's not hide it, earlier the percentage of HIV-infected children born to mothers with the human immunodeficiency virus in their blood was much higher (about 40%). Today doctors have learned to use chemical antiviral drugs (usually prescribed starting from the 28th week of pregnancy) to reduce the activity of HIV in the mother's body and have reduced intrauterine morbidity to 1-2%.

This is also facilitated by the practice of caesarean section in HIV-infected mothers, which is a preventive measure against infection of the baby during childbirth, as well as the administration of antiviral drugs to newborns for several months after birth. After all, the earlier the infection is detected in the baby's body, the easier it will be to fight it and the greater the chance that the child will live a long, happy life. If preventive measures are not taken, then the child can be expected to live a maximum of 15 years.

Preparing for the arrival of a new little family member is always a very exciting moment for a woman, but it is a pleasant excitement. For an HIV-infected pregnant woman, the joy of motherhood is overshadowed by anxiety about the fate of her baby, who may already have a terrible disease from birth. And this anxiety will not leave the woman for all 9 months, even if she diligently follows all the doctor's instructions and undergoes routine examinations.

An even greater responsibility lies with women who knew about their illness before conceiving a child. They should think and weigh everything several times before deciding to give life to a child. After all, along with life, they can reward the baby with a dangerous disease, predicting (albeit not always) a sad fate for him. The expectant mother must discuss all the risks associated with HIV infection with a doctor and, if the decision is positive, strictly adhere to all medical recommendations.

It is worth thinking in advance about who will help the infected mother to care for and raise the child. After all, constant contact with a child who does not yet know how to protect himself from danger poses, albeit a small, but risk of infecting the baby. And the life of an HIV-positive mother may not be as long as she would like. Even before the birth of the child, everything must be done to ensure that he is not left alone in this life.

As for men, the representatives of the oldest profession also pose a great danger to them. It is important to understand that a woman of easy virtue can have quite a lot of clients, and no one requires health certificates, which means that HIV-infected men may well be among the sexual partners of a prostitute. A prostitute can present such a gift in the form of HIV infection to any subsequent client with whom she will have vaginal or anal sex.

Men should not risk having sexual intercourse with a woman during menstruation. Firstly, it is not an urgent need, secondly, it is unhygienic and, thirdly, it is quite dangerous in terms of blood contact with the penis if there is a possibility that the woman is an HIV carrier. After all, blood is much more saturated with virus cells than vaginal secretions, which means that the probability of infection increases significantly. But is the game worth the candle?

How is HIV transmitted through kissing?

This question is of particular interest to young couples, who today practice not only light superficial kisses, but also sensual deep ones. And we have already written that some of the virus cells are found in many physiological fluids of a person, including saliva contained in the oral cavity. This is precisely the point that worries lovers, because a kiss is the most sincere expression of love for a person.

Lovers should not worry especially much, even if one of the partners turns out to be HIV-positive. Such a manifestation of love as a kiss is quite acceptable in this situation. Saliva contains such a tiny number of viral cells that the incorrect question of how HIV is transmitted through saliva will be answered with the phrase "practically no way."

Theoretically, the possibility of infection in this way remains due to the very small number of HIV cells in saliva, but in life there have never been any confirmed cases of infection through saliva. It is important to understand that this is not just a way to calm lovers, but statistical information. There are special centers that study the virus and the ways it spreads. Medical scientists are concerned about the ever-increasing number of patients with HIV, so complete information is collected for each specific case, where and how the infection occurred. All this is necessary in order to develop effective preventive measures that will help stop the spread of the human immunodeficiency virus across our home planet.

During such studies in the USA, a case of HIV transmission during a kiss was recorded. But the carrier of the infection, as it turned out, was not saliva, but blood that appeared at the site of the bite (apparently it was done in a fit of passion).

A simple loving kiss without damaging the oral tissues cannot harm a healthy person, so lovers can safely practice such kisses. Another matter if bleeding wounds are found in the mouth of both partners, which is observed with periodontitis, stomatitis, tonsillitis and some other pathologies of the oral cavity. Any open wound in an HIV-infected person is a source of infection, while the same damage in a healthy person carries the risk of infection.

Parenteral route of HIV transmission

If the vertical route of transmission of the virus is typical only for women who decided to give birth to a child, then both women and men can become infected through contact and parenteral routes. We have already considered all the nuances of the contact route of infection. It is time to pay attention to HIV infection through blood.

There are two risk factors here, mainly related to the medical instrument. Firstly, these are surgical accessories, which must be strictly sterile. Insufficient disinfection of an instrument that was previously used in manipulations with an HIV-infected patient is a risk factor for infecting another patient.

Moreover, this concerns not only surgery, but also dental offices, beauty salons, manicure and pedicure, where clients are not asked for a certificate of absence of HIV in the body at all. In case of an accidental cut, particles of blood of an infected person remain on a scalpel or other device used in surgery, dentistry, cosmetology. If the instrument is not sufficiently processed (rinsed with water and that is enough, but it is necessary to process it with alcohol or boil it for at least 1-2 minutes), the virus cells remaining on it can easily penetrate the body of a healthy person through various damages on the skin.

Although the probability of infection in this case is low, it cannot be discounted. To protect yourself from parenteral infection during medical or cosmetic procedures, you need to insist on using disposable instruments that are taken out of the package in front of the patient. Fortunately, disposable instruments are not a problem now. At least in private medical centers that value their reputation and income.

Another unlikely way to infect a patient with the human immunodeficiency virus is to transfuse the blood of an HIV-infected person. This can only happen in an emergency, when there are no blood reserves and every second counts. In this case, blood can be taken from an untested person only on the basis of compatibility of the blood group and Rh factor, while the donor himself may not even suspect his disease, which usually does not rush to manifest itself. Blood at donor stations is necessarily tested for HIV, so the probability of infection from tested donor blood is practically zero.

When handling HIV-infected patients, there is also a risk of infection for some medical personnel. This risk is small and is caused mainly by the carelessness of the doctor or nurse, who, during surgery or other actions with the patient's blood, accidentally damage the tissue on the hand in the place where it comes into contact with the blood of an HIV-positive patient. Infection may not occur, but the danger is still there, and it cannot be forgotten.

There is another answer to the question of how HIV infection is transmitted parenterally. The risk factor for infection of blood with the human immunodeficiency virus is considered to be the use of injection equipment by a group of people. In practice, this phenomenon is often common among drug addicts who are trying to save money on syringes.

In this case, not only the needles of the syringes, which directly contact the tissues and blood of a person, are considered potentially dangerous, but also the syringes themselves, as well as the containers from which the liquid drug is collected. These instruments are not treated in any way among drug addicts, which means that particles of the blood of the previous user, who may be HIV-positive, remain on them. Drugs are injected into the body intravenously, and the virus is delivered directly into the bloodstream, where it begins its destructive action.

Drug addiction is a disease, and it is not easy to recover from pathological dependence. But you can do everything to prevent HIV infection from joining the destructive effects of drugs.

Prevention in this case is the use of individual (preferably disposable) syringes and ampoules, as well as avoiding promiscuous sexual relations, which is often practiced among drug addicts against the background of the drug ecstasy they receive, which clouds the mind and logical thinking. But even in such a state, a person is able to realize the danger of his actions, unless, of course, drugs have completely destroyed his ability to think. In this case, kissing should be temporarily discontinued and resumed only after the damage to the oral mucosa, gums and lips has completely healed.

The probability of contracting HIV through a kiss is negligible, but you shouldn't completely ignore the fact of such a possibility. If a kiss is an expression of true love, then the partners will take all precautions not to harm each other. After all, in this case, infection with the human immunodeficiency virus is a tragedy for both.

But you definitely shouldn't kiss passionately with unverified partners. And it's not even about the depth of the kiss. You should think about whether a stranger will care about your safety in the heat of passion or whether you are at risk of being bitten or having unprotected sex, which could very well follow kissing? Are you completely sure that your casual partner is HIV-negative?

Only with a trusted partner can you feel safe, while taking preventive measures, such as using a condom and being careful when kissing. Do not rush to reject your loved one if he or she is diagnosed with HIV, because the human immunodeficiency virus is not an acute respiratory viral infection or a fungus, it is not transmitted by airborne droplets, through hands, dishes, a bathroom, or a toilet. So if you are careful, the probability of getting infected is not that great, as proven by many happy couples, one of whose partners is a virus carrier.

How is HIV infection transmitted in everyday life?

If the topic of kisses was interesting mainly to couples in love and loving parents who also happily shower their children with kisses, then the issue of the risk of contracting HIV infection in everyday life is already worrying many readers of different ages. After all, if it turns out that HIV can be contracted not through sexual contact, surgery or blood transfusion, but through everyday life, the danger may threaten almost everyone.

We will not deceive the reader by claiming that HIV infection is impossible in everyday life, just to prevent panic. Let's be honest, the danger of infection exists and it is real. However, this is not a reason to panic in advance. In order for infection to occur, certain conditions are required that can be successfully stopped, it is only important to know how HIV infection is transmitted in everyday life and to avoid such situations.

Most often, men get infected in everyday life, which once again equalizes their chances of getting an unwanted "gift" with women. The cause of infection in the vast majority of cases is regular shaving, which is considered a common procedure among men.

You can shave twice a day or once a week, and the risk of contracting HIV will not change. Even the type of razor does not play a significant role in this case, since you can get hurt with a safety or electric razor if you shave carelessly. What is important is whose razor or razor do you shave with?

A razor, like a toothbrush, should be personal. Giving a razor to others or using someone else's can only bring trouble upon yourself in the form of HIV infection. And here it does not matter how many times you had to use it. If you cut yourself with a razor that has the blood of an HIV-infected person (a friend or relative, and we know that he himself may not have suspected the disease), there is every chance of introducing the virus into your blood. And these chances are quite high.

The answer to the question of whether there have been any cases of HIV infection during shaving is positive. However, information about the route of infection in all cases was obtained from the patient himself and was based on his assumptions. Perhaps there were other contacts that could have caused the infection, or perhaps the culprit really was a publicly available razor. Whatever the case, it is not worth excluding the logical possibility of household HIV infection. But this possibility can be prevented by using an individual razor, protecting it from the encroachments of friends and family members (among whom, by the way, there may be women who are not free of excess hair).

We mentioned the toothbrush above. And for good reason, because if an HIV-positive person has problems with teeth, gums or oral mucosa, particles of infected blood can certainly lurk on the brush after brushing teeth, which will become a source of infection for another user of the brush.

However, in order for infection to occur through a razor or toothbrush, the blood must be fresh enough, because the human immunodeficiency virus is a very unstable substance that cannot exist outside the host's body, and therefore quickly dies in the open air.

Theoretically, the human immunodeficiency virus can be transmitted by shaking hands. This would be an almost unbelievable situation, since infection is possible only if there are fresh wounds on the hands (or rather palms) of both partners extended for a handshake. Plus, the blood of an HIV-infected person must get into the wound of a healthy person. Yes, the situation is more than rare, since who would extend a bloody hand during a greeting, but it is still worth knowing about this possibility.

The probability of contracting AIDS in a swimming pool is even lower, where visitors are only allowed after providing a certificate of absence of various infections in the body of the visitor. True, an HIV test is not taken in all cases. But this has little effect on the probability of infection. In order to become infected in a swimming pool, you must either step on the blood of an infected person with an open wound, or end up with the same wound in water noticeably flavored with someone else's blood, or provoke a bloody fight. What, in your opinion, is the probability of such an event?

Public baths and saunas almost completely eliminate the possibility of HIV infection, although no one requires a certificate there. But, firstly, the virus cannot live independently without a host, and secondly, it is afraid of exposure to high temperatures.

As for massage rooms, the probability of HIV infection is much higher during a manicure or pedicure, which can be done in beauty salons or at home by both women and men. And poorly disinfected devices will be to blame. Trust your nails only to proven and careful cosmetologists, and you will not have problems with HIV.

During massage, infection can occur again only during the mixing of blood, i.e. both the hands of the massage therapist and the client's skin, which the massage therapist touches, must be damaged. It is clear that such a situation can be considered an exception to the rule.

It's time to talk about more mundane things, like the toilet. Can you get HIV from using the toilet?

Neither urine nor feces are considered a serious source of HIV infection that can cause the disease. In a public toilet, you are more likely to catch other infections, including sexually transmitted ones, than the immunodeficiency virus, which is transmitted mainly through blood or semen.

Yes, such discharge can accidentally end up on the rim of the toilet, but in order for it to cause infection, the buttocks of the person sitting on them must have damage through which the virus would penetrate into the blood. This situation is simply ridiculous, because no smart person would sit on a toilet in a public place (especially with such obvious traces of someone else's presence) without first laying down at least toilet paper, or better yet, a disposable seat specially designed for this purpose.

If we are not talking about a toilet, but about a bowl or a drain hole, which can often be found in public restrooms, then they do not pose any risk of infection at all, since they exclude contact of bodily fluids.

The fact that HIV is not transmitted in a public toilet does not mean that you do not need to follow the rules of personal hygiene. Clean hands and caution will help you avoid infection with other, no less dangerous infections, which are quite common in public places with the abbreviation MZh.

As for cutlery and dishes, there is no need to worry too much, even when visiting cafes and cafes. HIV is definitely not transmitted through dishes, unlike many intestinal infections.

Based on the above and information about how HIV is transmitted, we can conclude that it is virtually impossible to get the human immunodeficiency virus by everyday means. You have to be an extremely careless, unclean or clumsy person to end up on the list of exceptions, which can only be called a funny accident. But caution and understanding will serve many people well, including those who have found happiness in the person of an HIV-positive partner.