Contents:
- Medical Video: Routine HIV Testing Recommended for Teens and Older
- What is HIV?
- How is HIV transmitted?
- How can we protect ourselves from HIV?
Medical Video: Routine HIV Testing Recommended for Teens and Older
There are more and more teens who are reported to be HIV positive. This shows that even teenagers can get infected if they don't know how to prevent it. It is very important for adolescents to provide adequate information about HIV so that they can better protect themselves from this global disease.
What is HIV?
HIV or the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, is a virus that causes a person's self defense system to weaken. HIV is responsible for the destruction of important cells that fight disease and infection. HIV then causes AIDS. If someone gets AIDS, it will be more difficult for their body to fight infection because their ability to deal with the disease is disabled. In fact, there is no effective drug for HIV; however, with proper care, HIV can be controlled.
How is HIV transmitted?
The only way HIV can be transmitted is through certain body fluids, exchanging any HIV-infected body fluids. Whatever the level of infection, transmission can occur. Certain body fluids including blood, sperm, rectal fluid, vaginal fluid, and breast milk.
HIV is most often transmitted through sex. When having free sex or with a partner who may be HIV positive, fluids from both will mix and then the virus can be transmitted, especially if there are tears in the vaginal or anal tissue, wounds or other sexually transmitted infections. Young women are more susceptible to HIV infection because of their body structure. Young women have a thinner vaginal membrane and are more susceptible to infection compared to adult women.
In general, HIV can be transmitted from vaginal or anal sex with someone who has HIV without using a condom, or taking drugs to prevent or treat HIV, or sharing needles or injectors with someone who has HIV. In addition, people can be at higher risk of infection if they inject themselves with drugs. We can also get infected when their skin is injured or pierced using needles, injectors, razors, knives, or other non-sterile devices.
There are several myths that you must straighten out. Mosquito or insect bites cannot cause us to get infected. If we touch or kiss someone who has HIV, or share food or toilet with someone who has HIV, we will not be infected.
How can we protect ourselves from HIV?
Avoid sharing needles or injection injectors outside medical facilities or without doctor's instructions. Use condoms properly every time you have anal, vaginal or oral sex. Don't change sex partners. It's also very good if you do the test every 3 to 6 months to treat the infection at the initial level.
