What are some common misconceptions about the transmission of AIDS?

Answer 1

One of the most common misperceptions about HIV and AIDS is that AIDS is not transmittable. There is only one way to develop AIDS, and that is to be infected with HIV.

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is the virus that causes people to develop AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.) AIDS is a diagnosis of a condition, not a disease that can be transmitted.

HIV is acquired through contact with infected body fluid. Contrary to popular belief, it is relatively difficult to be infected with the virus. The virus is only transmittable through blood, semen, vaginal fluid or breast milk. Other body fluids (like saliva) carry no risk of infection.

HIV risk activities include needle sharing (injection drug use, tattooing and body piercing) and unprotected sex (oral, anal or vaginal.)

Answer 2

There are many misconceptions about the transmission of AIDS. Some are that AIDS can only infect homosexuals or drug users, that AIDS cannot be transmitted through oral sex, that you can tell if a person has AIDS by looking at them, and that AIDS can be spread by casual contact. All of these misconceptions are factually inaccurate.

Answer 3

There are said to be many myths about contracting the HIV virus. Some of the many myths are that if a person looks like a nice clean person the person would be safe, that it only affect the African American community, that older people won't get it and that if one does have HIV it is a death sentence.