Even in the twenty-first century, myths about HIV are still persisting. Many misconceptions about HIV exist, from how it is contracted to whether or not it can be treated.
HIV is widely misunderstood outside the medical community, and some of the myths perpetrated about HIV put HIV-positive people in danger, even from their families and communities. Here are five myths people believe about HIV.
Heterosexual People Do Not Get HIV
For years, HIV was touted as “the gay disease.” And yet this is patently false; many HIV positive individuals are heterosexual and contracted the disease via sexual contact with a heterosexual partner or even in utero. No matter who you engage in sexual contact with, barrier method such as latex or polyurethane condoms should always be used to protect yourself from HIV and other communicable diseases.
Related resource: Top 10 Best Online Masters in Public Health Degree Programs
HIV Is Communicable By Touch
You cannot get HIV by hugging, kissing, shaking hands, sharing utensils or using the same toilet. The only way you can contract HIV is via sexual contact or by sharing blood, such as when intravenous drug users share needles. You cannot contract HIV by simply being near to a person who is HIV positive.
HIV Is a Death Sentence
If you contract HIV, it is not a death sentence. A wide range of treatments have been developed to control the advancement of HIV, to protect the individual’s immune system from the virus, and especially to prevent HIV from developing into AIDS. The earlier HIV is detected, the more successful treatment can be – and HIV positive individuals live almost as long as HIV negative individuals and are able to have excellent quality of life. The best way to prevent contraction of HIV or to treat it early if it is contracted is to be tested regularly.
Treatment Prevents the Spread
While treatment can dramatically reduce the viral load in a person’s blood, the virus is still present in that person’s body – and subsequently, they can still spread the virus if they are sharing needles or having unprotected sex. HIV positive individuals should take every possible measure to avoid spreading the virus to others even if they are undergoing treatment for HIV, and should always use condoms and other barrier methods during sex and should never share needles if they are intravenous drug users.
Mosquitoes Spread the Virus
Many people assume that mosquitoes and other blood-sucking insects can infect people with HIV by feeding on them. However, this is untrue – the insects do not inject blood into the host when they feed and, additionally, the virus cannot survive inside the insect’s body for very long. While it is true that some insects spread diseases such as West Nile or encephalitis, HIV is not among the infections or diseases one can contract when bitten by a mosquito or tick.
Myths about HIV not only prevent many sufferers from obtaining proper treatment, but can cause HIV positive individuals to spread the virus to others. Putting an end to myths surrounding HIV will not only help HIV sufferers live longer and healthier lives, but will help move us toward a future that is free of HIV.
