Top 10 HIV Myths

Shortly after HIV/AIDS hit the scene, rumours about it flew throughout the world. “You can get it by kissing.” “You can get it by holding hands.” “It is airborne.”

Throughout the years, most of the HIV myths have been dispelled, but it seems as though there are still a few rumors afloat. Since more than half of all new HIV infections occur in the African community, these myths may be standing in the way of proper protection. See if you can sort the truth from the most common myths about HIV.

1. If you test positive for HIV, you will inevitably die from AIDS.

FALSE. In the early years, an HIV diagnosis often meant the infected person would develop AIDS and die from complications of the disease within a matter of years, but this is no longer true. Medications, combined with lifestyle changes and complementary therapies that support the body’s ability to keep the virus in check, can keep an HIV-infected person from developing AIDS or the fatal complications associated with it for many years, or even a lifetime.

2. You can catch HIV from a toilet seat.

FALSE. The HIV virus cannot be transmitted by casual contact, from a toilet seat, a doorknob, a fork, or a handshake, for that matter. The only known HIV transmission methods include unprotected sex, intravenous drug use, exposure to blood or bodily fluids from an infected person, from mother to child in pregnancy, and through blood transfusions if the blood came from an HIV infected person. (Transmission of the virus did happen through blood transfusions or blood products in the 1980s before HIV testing became routine for all donated blood, but is highly unlikely to happen in a modern medical facility.)

3. There is no cure for HIV.

TRUE. There are medications available to suppress the virus in infected individuals and to lower their viral load. Such treatments can prolong or prevent the development of AIDS for years or even a lifetime. However, researchers have not found a cure for HIV that would eliminate the virus from an infected person’s body entirely.

4. People have been infected with HIV from taking the HIV test itself.
FALSE. Some claim that the HIV test itself can give you the virus. But unless a clinic reuses a needle that was previously used on someone with HIV (a highly unlikely scenario that has never been reported), there is no way that testing for HIV could cause the infection.

5. You can spread or get HIV through oral sex.

TRUE. One myth HIV experts often hear is that HIV can’t be spread or contracted through oral sex. This is not true. If the person performing oral sex has a cut or abrasion in their mouth and comes in contact with HIV-infected bodily fluids, they can become infected with the virus just as they could having unprotected vaginal or anal sex. Using a dental dam or condom during oral sex greatly diminishes this risk.

6. If both you and your partner have HIV, it's safe to have unprotected sex with one another.

FALSE. If you and your partner both test positive for the HIV virus, that doesn’t mean you can ignore the diagnosis or live life just as you did before your diagnosis. To best decrease your odds of developing AIDS, you should both work closely with a medical professional to manage the illness. You also both need to take whatever precautions you can to prevent exposing others to the HIV virus. This includes not having unprotected sex or sharing needles with anyone, taking proper precautions to contain and warn others about exposure to your bodily fluids (such as when you're bleeding), and following any other advice from your HIV care team. Nobody with HIV can afford to ignore his or her diagnosis for their own sake, or for the sake of others who could be exposed to the virus.

7. Mosquitoes can spread HIV.

FALSE. While mosquitoes can spread a number of illnesses such as West Nile Virus or malaria, there are no known cases of HIV transmission through mosquito bites. If mosquitoes could transmit the HIV virus, there would be many more cases among young children, adolescents and other people who would otherwise be at low risk for HIV exposure.

8. You could have HIV and not know it.
TRUE. People who are infected with HIV don’t necessarily “feel” sick; it's possible to have the HIV virus for some time before developing any symptoms. HIV testing is the only way to determine whether someone has HIV or not.

9. If you're taking medication for HIV, you can’t spread the virus.
FALSE. Even while taking medication, a person with HIV can still infect others if they have unprotected sex, share needles, or expose others to their blood or other bodily fluids.

10. HIV and AIDS may not be caused by the same virus.
FALSE. Some claim HIV and AIDS are not caused by the same virus. This is not true. Without treatment, the HIV virus will probably progress to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), which is essentially a collapse of the immune system. However, with HIV treatment, most people living with the virus are able to prolong or prevent the development of AIDS.


reference: www.chicagobooth.edu

Vaginal gel cuts HIV-infections by half

A vaginal gel has significantly cut the rate of women contracting HIV from infected partners in an experiment in South Africa.The gel containing Aids drug tenofovir and reduces infection rates among 889 women by 50% after one year of use, and by 39% after two and a half years.

If the results are confirmed it would be the first time that a microbicidal gel has been shown to be effective.Such a gel could be a defence for women whose partners refuse to wear condoms.New ways of curbing the spread of HIV are badly needed, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where nearly 60% of those infected with the virus are women.Many women are often forced to take part in unsafe sex, and are biologically more vulnerable to HIV infection than men, making a gel they apply an attractive option.Welcoming the results, UN agencies said they would convene an expert consultation in South Africa next month to discuss the next steps with the product.

Hope for women

It's the first time a microbicide gives positive that is statistically significant. The researchers say women who used the gel also showed a significant reduction in genital herpes, a common sexually transmitted infection, which itself increases the risk of HIV infection. The UN's HIV/Aids agency noted that nearly 20 years of research had gone into microbicides that can be controlled by a woman, independent of her partner.

This gives hope to women and for the first time ever there are results for a woman-initiated and controlled HIV prevention option.this microbicide would be a powerful option for the prevention revolution and help would help break the trajectory of the Aids epidemic.

Clinical trials are going to be carried out to cofirm results and once they have been shown to be safe and effective, WHO will work with countries and partners to accelerate access to these products.


Reference: BBC health

Early HIV treatment would save lives and money

HIV-related deaths could be reduced by 20% over the next five years if treatment begins earlier, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says in fresh guidance.There were over 5m people receiving treatment for the virus at the end of 2009, up more than a million from 2008 - the largest ever increase in a year.The guidelines would raise the number needing treatment to 15m by 2015.But there are concerns about funding as countries potentially cut back on aid.

Unveiling its first new guidance for four years at the Aids 2010 conference in Vienna, the WHO says it wants treatment with a cocktail of drugs to begin before the virus seriously undermines the patient's immune system. This means changing the threshold at which a drugs regimen should be started from 200 CD4 cells per microlitre of blood to 350, regardless of symptoms. These cells are the key marker of the health of the immune system.Starting treatment sooner could prevent opportunistic infections such as tuberculosis, which is the number one killer of those with HIV. According to Dr Gottfried Hirnschall (WHO director of HIV/Aids) earlier treatment has prevention benefits In addition to saving lives. Early treatment reduces the level of virus in the body which means HIV-positive people are less likely to pass the virus on to their partners.

Expanding treatment to more people will push the costs for 2010 up to $9bn, according to UN estimates. But experts stress that extra costs would be more than offset by decreased hospital costs, increased productivity, fewer children orphaned by Aids and a fall in new HIV infections.People with weaker immune systems who come late for treatment require more complex and costly drugs and services than those who start treatment earlier and are healthier.

According to WHO, The investments made today can not only save millions of lives but millions of dollars tomorrow.

Source: BBC health
Photo credit: BBC health,SPL

Focus:Tuberculosis in Nigeria

According to the Federal Government, over 460, 000 Nigerians currently suffer from tuberculosis (TB). Over nine million people are infected with the disease annually across the world. TB is an infection caused by a bacterium (germ) called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. it affects the lungs, but any part of the body can be affected. It's second to HIV as the leading infectious killer of adults worldwide and accounts for more deaths among women, especially in poor nations, than all other causes of maternal mortality combined. Its also the leading infectious cause of death among People Living with HIV/AIDS.


The problem with TB is the increase in drug resistant Mycobacterium strains which makes the infection more difficult to control/treat.While the rate of TB is stable or slightly fluctuates in many parts of the globe, the rate is still rising in many endemic areas where TB goes hand-in-hand with HIV/AIDS, and the effect of poverty in poor nations.

Factors that promote infection and its eventual graduation to disease includes poverty, crowded living conditions, poor sanitation, acute ignorance, alcoholism, HIV opportunistic infections and homelessness.Other conditions that could lead to TB are drug resistance, inadequate hospitals, live saving equipments and support. Smokers, particularly those that smoke weed are equally at risk.

Symptoms include prolonged cough for about two weeks( sometimes with blood), night sweat, weight loss, recurrent fever, tiredness and loss of appetite.

Nigeria, a country with about 150 million people is ranked fourth among countries with high TB prevalence and about 100,000 deaths are recorded annually. Reports shows that Lagos State has the highest number of TB recorded cases in Nigeria. This is perhaps due to the fact that lagos state is the most crowded city. In 2008 alone, the state had 10,000 infections which represent 11 per cent of overall figure for the country, followed by Kano which had 6,000 cases.

The Federal Government is partnering with foreign governments and non-governmental organisations to control the spread of the disease as well as eradicate it.


Photo credit: A.D.A.M

STD: Tips & Precautions

Worried about the repercussions of an unsafe sex escapade? Well, there’s more than just pregnancy and HIV to worry about. There are chances that you might contract STDs as well which may be very harmful to your health.

STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) are on the rise. Western countries have a good knowledge of the term and its consequences but many developing countries are still far behind when it comes to adequate knowledge about unsafe sex and STDs.
STDs can be quite fatal to the body in the long run and can cause several health and reproductive related issues. Here are a few ‘need to know’ facts about STDs.


Sexual Contacts: It doesn’t necessarily require sexual contact between two individuals for STDs to be transmitted. Even an oral act of KISSING can put an individual at risk of contracting STDs.

Oral sex: You can get infected from oral sex of all sorts. Penetration isnt the only act that gives you a first class trip to STD Heaven.
Open sores in the private areas can easily spread STDs if they come in contact with the mouth or any other part of the body for that matter. For example, STDs like Herpes can spread even when the infected area comes in contact with other parts of the body. It is best to refrain from all kinds of sexual contact and activities, including foreplay until the infection is cured.


No physical signs: STDs DO NOT show on peoples faces (well, unless a herpes sore on the lips). So Guys/Ladies, when next you are checking out that HOT Girl/Guy in a bar/club..or wherever..rememeber..you just might be taking home free trial samples of STDs..No return policy here mate!

Virgins: Like mentioned before, intercourse is not the only way STDs can be transmitted. Oral and physical contact with the infected areas can result in the infection spreading to the other person and if you think you won’t be able to contract any such symptoms just because you are a virgin, you are terribly wrong. Also having Sex just ONCE with an infected person is all it takes.


Using Condoms: Condoms can prevent the transmission of sexual diseases like HIV and STDs to a great extent. However, they are not 100% accurate and can cause unfortunate accidents (for example, the condom breaks when inside the body of the partner). Nevertheless, it is always considered to use a condom for sexual intercourse, be it physical or oral.

Catching Symptoms: Many individuals feel that they have less chances of contracting STDs if they fail to notice the symtoms immediately. In contrast to this popular belief, there are certain STDs that show no signs or symptoms on the body until they reach an advanced stage, which in most cases is uncurable. In the worst case scenario, STD’s have known to cause infertility.
The best way to clear your doubts about contracting STD’s would be to take a test immediately. By being ignorant you could cause serious harm to your body and to your partner’s body as well. The saying "ignorance is bliss" certainly doesnt apply here.

Curable STDs: While most STDs are curable, you need to make sure to treat them in time to avoid complications at a later stage. Some STDs like Herpes cannot be cured though. Hence, it is completely necessary that you take the issue seriously and get yourself checked for infections if you indulged in unsafe sex.

Recurring STDs: There are strong chances for STDs to recur. This may be attributed to several reasons, the most common being neglect and callous attitude towards the necessary treatment.
Accordingly, some individuals start to skip their medications or treatment sessions once they notice the symptoms disappearing. However, what one needs to know in these cases is that the medication needs to be completed properly in order to avoid relapses.

Post Diagnosis Stage: If you have been diagnosed with a STD or see symptoms of the same appearing on your body, consult a doctor or a medical specialist immediately. Refrain from all kinds of sexual contact at all costs until you get cured.
On the other hand, if you suspect your partner is infected, advice him/her to seek medical help immediately before he/she risks the chance of passing the infection on to you.

STDs can have temporary and permanent affects on the body. The only way to stay away from them is to practice safe sex. It is better to indulge in sex with one trusted partner rather than enjoying sexual escapades with multiple partners ---> Players and Playettes take note

Remember to play safe and use condoms. Never wait for the infections to disappear on their own, should you get infected. Get medical help as soon as possible to avoid complications later in life.

Whats new : A contraceptive and STD protectant in one?

A researcher at the University of Newcastle in Australia is exploring ways to use quinones — a common organic compound — to react with enzymes in human semen. The technique could not only immobilize sperm but also disrupt the disease-causing mechanism of microbes that cause sexually transmitted diseases like chlamydia.

Source: newscientist.com, time.com

Whats new: Fighting Aids

HIV is no longer the death sentence it once was. Today's challenges lie in studying the molecular mechanisms of HIV/AIDS and in making interventions practical — even where money is tight.

Natural immunity
A tiny fraction of people with untreated HIV never seem to progress to AIDS. These people also tend to carry a gene variant called HLA-B57. Last month, Boston researchers showed that this genetic trait works by helping prime the body's T cells to recognize viral mutations more easily. Figuring out natural immunity could be a step toward a vaccine.

Saving baby
For mother-to-child HIV transmission to be halted, an infant's first antiretroviral dose should come within hours after birth. That's hard for women who deliver far from a clinic. One new solution: a small polyethylene pouch, not unlike a ketchup packet. After giving birth, mom simply pours the contents into her newborn's mouth.

Source: Time.com
Photo credit : Duke university

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy in Benin

Bruni-Sarkozy has become the ambassador for the Global Fund for HIV/Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The first lady of France has personally taken up the cause of protecting babies from becoming infected with HIV by their mothers at birth. There could hardly be a better, more important issue. She expresses real passion at the plight of women, who can be thrown out of doors by their husbands if they test positive for HIV (often it is the husbands who gave them the infection in the first place). And who could be anything but appalled at the thought that such women could then be double damned – by passing on the deadly virus to their children.

You can use beauty and celebrity to sell anything. Maybe Bruni-Sarkozy's will help to awaken the wealthy world to the tragedy of mothers with HIV and their babies.

Reference:

Photo: John Rae/The Global Fund

Sarah boseley, Guardian.co.uk