Author: Zhang Wei (Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University)
When we accidentally come into contact with the body fluids of hive (human immunodeficiency virus) infected people, such as saliva, sweat, vaginal secretions or semen, the first thing that pops up in our minds is "Will I get AIDS?" ”。
This kind of worrying thought has been lingering in the mind, so will these situations spread AIDS in the end?
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Where does HIV "live"?
The blood, semen, vaginal secretions, thoraco-ascites, cerebrospinal fluid, amniotic fluid, skin breakages and ulcer exudates of HIV-infected people are highly contagious.
Hive-infected people also contain viruses in their milk, which is contagious.
Saliva, sweat, urine, and tears are not contagious.
Blood, semen and vaginal secretions from HIV-infected people are the main sources of AIDS transmission.
The reason may be due to the fact that HIV is very weak in viability outside the human body, and both high temperature and ultraviolet light can easily kill HIV outside the body.
In general, HIV can only be transmitted if virus-containing blood enters another directly from one person or is mediated by semen and vaginal secretions during sex.
Therefore, modern medicine generally believes that it is safe for people's skin to come into contact with the bodily fluids of HIV-infected people without skin damage.
However, if the skin is broken and there is also exposure to body fluids containing HIV, there is a risk of infection.
Second, daily contact outside the "three major ways" is generally not infected
Daily contact with AIDS patients such as shaking hands, hugging, kissing or sharing utensils, telephones, toilet seats, faucet handles, tables and chairs, and public baths is generally considered not to be infected.
Even if you come into contact with the body fluids of AIDS patients, you don't have to worry, and it is generally believed that the virus is not transmitted through saliva, tears, urine, and sweat.
HIV is not transmitted through air, food, water, clothing, bedding, money, and other items.
All kinds of domestic pets and animals do not carry HIV, and the virus cannot be transmitted through bites or scratches of animals.
Insect bites do not transmit HIV, and blood-sucking insects, such as mosquitoes, cannot inject blood into the next person they bite after biting an AIDS patient.
Is "safe" contact absolutely safe? What do I need to be aware of?
Although HIV is not transmitted through these life contacts, care is needed to avoid accidents.
1. Kissing
Although the saliva of HIV-infected people contains the virus, no cases of HIV transmission through kissing, sharing of utensils, etc. have been identified.
Western ceremonial lips touching cheek kisses are also safe. However, this presupposes that the lips, tongue and oral mucosa are intact.
When the mucous membranes of the lips, tongue, and mouth are damaged or ulcerated, mouth-to-mouth kissing, especially deep and long kisses, is still at risk of infection.
2. Shake hands
When the skin on both hands is not damaged, it is safe to shake hands. If the skin of the hand is broken, there is a theoretical possibility of infection, but the current study has not found AIDS patients who are transmitted by this route.
3. Hug
It is safe to hug politely and with clothing to cover. If there is direct skin contact, and there is a wound on the skin or there is a skin disease, there is a certain risk of infection.
4. Use condoms for sexual intercourse
The correct use of condoms during sex can reduce the chance of spreading AIDS to a certain extent, but condoms may rupture and slip during sexual intercourse, so the use of condoms to prevent AIDS is not absolutely safe and reliable.
5. Shared tableware, toilet, telephone, table and chair, public bath
AIDS is generally not transmitted through daily contact such as shared utensils, toilets, telephones, tables and chairs, public baths, etc.
The premise of this is also that the toilet seat and public bath have been disinfected, and there is no contamination of the patient's semen, menstrual blood or vaginal secretions, and the skin of healthy people has no wounds, ulcers, skin diseases, etc.
Therefore, when we use public facilities, it is best to pay attention to personal hygiene issues.
In summary, these daily life contacts do not spread AIDS, and we do not have to be too vigilant or even "talk about aids".
At the same time, we must also improve our moral character in the use of public facilities, not only for ourselves, but also for the protection of others.
In addition, we must especially protect our skin, which is the first barrier for the human body to resist disease.
*The content of this article is a popularization of health knowledge and cannot be used as a specific diagnosis and treatment recommendation, nor is it a substitute for face-to-face consultation by a practicing physician, for reference only.
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