December 1 marks World Aids Day. The day was started to create awareness regarding this disease. On the occasion of WAD, today we've enlisted 6 myths associated with AIDS and HIV. Before we begin, read on to know what is AIDS and its symptoms.
What Is AIDS?
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a chronic disease which is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). By damaging the immune system, HIV interferes with your body's ability to fight the organisms that cause disease.
Symptoms
Early symptoms of this life-threatening disease are:
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle aches and joint pain
- Rash
- Sore throat and painful mouth sores
- Swollen lymph glands, mainly on the neck
Myth 1: HIV and AIDS are the same thing
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is the most advanced stage of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Stages before AIDS can be easily treated and can stop the infection from developing into full-blown AIDS.
Myth 2: HIV means death
According to a study published by Johns Hopkins Center, USA, being infected by the HIV virus meant death back in 1996. But now, if the patient goes for regular antiretroviral therapy (ART) and takes the prescribed medications, patient can live his life happily.
Myth 3: People suffering from AIDS can't have children
According to a study published by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), USA, if a woman takes her HIV medicine daily as recommended by a healthcare provider throughout her entire pregnancy and goes for ART treatment then the risk of transmitting HIV to the baby can be as low as 1 percent. Other than this, she can further lower the risk of transmitting virus to her baby by choosing a C-section and bottle feeding with formula after birth.
Myth 4: It cannot affect straight men
Since the diseases was first detected in gay men, it was believed that only homosexual people are at the risk. But later it was found that this disease isn't just limited to gay men and can affect people of all sexual orientation, gender, age, and race.
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Myth 5: You can contract the disease just by being around someone who is infected.
One of the biggest misconceptions about HIV/ AIDS is that it can be transferred from one person to another by simply being around an infected person. However, it is not true. HIV is transmitted through the bodily fluid of an infected person, either through blood, semen, vaginal secretions, or breastmilk. It is not spread by kissing, hugging, sharing food/drink, toilet seats, sneezes/coughs, sweat, touching, or through insect bites.
Myth 6: AIDS can be cured.
There is no cure for AIDS. Regular consumption of medicine and ART treatment can prevent HIV from developing into full-blown AIDS. But once it turns into AIDS, there is no cure for it.
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