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Q:
What is the difference between AIDS and HIV ?
A:
HIV is the virus that causes the disease AIDS. AIDS is the group of
illnesses acquired when the immune system is unable to defend against
infection. AIDS is the terminal stage of infection by the HIV. In the
early stages of HIV infection, infected person look and feel totally well.
Only when the immune system gets impaired do they begin to feel ill. The
time between infection with HIV and becoming ill with AIDS may range from
2-10 years or even longer.
Q:
Can donating blood put you at risk of HIV infection ?
A:
When you donate blood, blood is removed from your body not put into it.
Remember you cannot get the HIV unless infected blood enters your body.
You can easily avoid this by ensuring that only disposable needles and IV
sets are used during blood donation.
Q:
What is ‘Window period’ ?
A:
The blood test to detect HIV in the body (ELISA TEST) doesn’t become
positive immediately after the entry of virus into the body. It takes
between 1-3 months (maximum 6 months) for this test to become positive.
This time between entry of virus into the body and the blood test becoming
positive is known as ‘Window period’. The person is infectious i.e.
able to transmit the virus during window period.
Q:
Can I get AIDS virus in a barbershop ?
A:
Chances of getting infected with HIV in a barber’s shop are extremely
rare. However, it is best to ensure that the barber uses a new blade while
shaving you. Also make sure all his equipment- scissors, razors etc. are
clean and dry before he uses them
Q:
Can I share a toilet with someone who has AIDS ?
A:
Definitely. You cannot get and HIV infection from a toilet, public or
private, clean or dirty. The AIDS virus cannot survive outside the bodily
fluids or in the hope for very long.
Q:
Can I get the AIDS virus through kissing ?
A:
While dry kissing in which there is no exchange of body fluids is safe,
there is some risk of HIV infection being transmitted through deep kissing
particularly if some has got bleeding gums or cuts and sores in the mouth.
Q:
Can I get HIV from a mosquito bite ?
A:
No, it is not possible to get HIV from mosquitoes. While sucking blood
from someone mosquitoes do not inject blood from any previous person. The
only thing that mosquito injects is saliva, which act as a lubricant and
enables it to feed more efficiently.
Q:
Can I become infected with HIV through biting ?
A:
Infection with HIV in this way is unusual. There have only been couple of
documented cases of HIV transmission resulting from biting. In these
particular cases severe tissue tearing and damage were reported in
addition to the presence of blood.
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