Health Management
AIDS RISK AND PREVENTION
AIDS (Acquired
Immune
Deficiency
Syndrome) is a
severe,
frequently
tragic viral
infection that
destroys a
person?s
resistance to
infection and
certain cancers.
It is a sexually
transmitted
disease, like
syphilis and
gonorrhea.
Because the
virus lives in
lymphocytes that
are part of the
make-up of
blood, it can be
transmitted
through blood or
blood products.
Paranoia of AIDS
has grown
causing many
misconceptions
that have only
served to fuel
the public fear
of AIDS.
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• AIDS
cannot
be
transmitted
through
casual
contact,
including
being
coughed
upon by
an
AIDS-infected
person,
sitting
next to
or even
living
in the
same
house
with an
AIDS
victim,
eating
food
that has
been
prepared
or
handled
by an
infected
person,
swimming
in a
pool
with an
infected
person,
or
caring
for an
AIDS
patient.
The only
definitely
known
way that
AIDS can
be
transmitted
is if
the
virus is
transmitted
from the
blood or
genital
secretions. |
|
• AIDS
cannot
be
transmitted
by
casual
contact
or
social
kissing. |
|
•There
is
absolutely
no
evidence
that
AIDS can
be
picked
up from
toilet
seats,
showers,
bath
tubs,
water
fountains,
telephones,
typewriters,
other
office
equipment,
drinking
glasses,
or food
touched
by an
AIDS
victim. |
|
•The
only way
that a
healthy
child
could
contract
the AIDS
virus
from an
AIDS-infected
child is
if both
children
were to
have sex
or
direct
blood
contact. |
Everyone is
susceptible to
AIDS. Above all,
know your sexual
partner. Casual
sex increases
the risk of
contracting AIDS
with the chances
increasing in
direct
proportion to
the number of
different
partners one has
sexual relations
with. For more
information on
AIDS or where
you can go for
confidential
AIDS testing,
ask your doctor. |
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