HIV/AIDS – The Top 10 Myths
Only 10 years ago, contracting HIV/AIDS was considered a death sentence. But today, people don’t have to die from AIDS if they are living with HIV. Text by Marion Scher
What’s most important is to know the difference between the facts and fiction surrounding this illness. Inform yourself – if you hear something that doesn’t sound right, visit your nearest clinic or hospital to find out more. Meanwhile, here’s a brief look at 10 of the most common myths that may have your stumped for answers.
1. Sexual Intercourse With A Virgin Will Cure AIDS
Obviously, this is not true. But in South Africa, belief in this lie has meant the rape of babies and children, spreading HIV/AIDS further and causing incredible stress, fear, anger and pain to so many families.
2. HIV Cannot Be Transmitted Through Oral Sex
It has been proven that because during oral sex, there is contact between semen/menstrual blood and the lining of the mouth, it is still possible to contract the virus in this way. This is especially true if the person’s mouth has sores, bleeding gums or inflammation.
3. You Can Get Aids Through Casual Contact With An HIV-Infected Person
You can’t be infected by shaking someone’s hand, hugging or “dry kissing” someone, or even using the same toilet as an HIV-infected person. Being near them if they sneeze or cough won’t give you the virus either.
The only way this illness can be transferred from on person to another is by bodily fluids – either semen, blood or, extremely rarely, by saliva. If you live with an HIV-infected person then there are certain precautions to take, such as not sharing a razor or toothbrush – but you will not become infected through everyday social contact with an HIV-positive person at home, school, work or travelling on the bus.
4. HIV Can Only Infect Gay Men And Drug Users
HIV doesn’t discriminate – it will infect anybody. It’s true that sexually active gay men have a higher risk of infection than heterosexuals but, as we see all around us every day, ANYONE and EVERYONE is at risk of getting this illness if they have unprotected sex.
5. An HIV-Infected Mother Cannot Have Children
HIV-infected women can still have children, but if the disease is at an advanced stage, the risk of a miscarriage is high. Generally, there is a 15 to 30 per cent risk of an infected mother passing the HIV virus on to her unborn child. But with the drug Nevirapine now freely available to pregnant women at State hospitals, there is an even greater possibility that a baby can be born without HIV.
6. Only Thin, Sick-Looking People Have The HIV Virus
If you think this myth is true, then you may be one of those people who believes you can avoid the disease by only sleeping with very fat partners. But it’s only if someone is in the final stages of AIDS that they will lose large amounts of weight. Someone can look quite healthy, even fat, and still have the HIV virus.
7. HIV Testing Can’t Be Trusted
When you have an antibody test to see if you have been infected with HIV/AIDS, you are undergoing one of the best-established methods of testing in medicine today. HIV antibody tests are far better than most other infectious disease tests, but there’s nothing wrong with having a second test to confirm your results.
8. There Is No Such Thing As AIDS – It’s Just A New Name For Old Diseases
Some people believe this because, for example, when as HIV-positive person dies because of, say, tuberculosis (TB), this is what’s put on their death certificate. The family, in many cases, would rather state that the person died of TB than HIV/AIDS.
9. AIDS Can Be Cured
Today, a person on anti-retroviral medication can stabilise their illness and live a full and healthy life. But there is absolutely no proof that anyone has ever been cured of AIDS.
10. Mosquitoes Can Spread The HIV Virus
There’s absolutely no evidence to back this myth up. When a mosquito bites a person, they don’t inject the blood of a previous victim into that person. They inject saliva into their victims, which can carry malaria or yellow fever for instance, but definitely not HIV.
