The Pop Quiz Answers Explained
Q1: There are more people living with HIV now than ever before?
A1: This is true
Why? There are a number of reasons:
- there is no cure for HIV so those people living with HIV cannot be cured and continue to live with the virus after infection
- in some parts of the world new diagnoses are still increasing
- overall worldwide HIV-related mortality is decreasing
Q2: There is a cure for HIV?
A2: This is false
Why? To date, no cure has been developed for people who are living with HIV as scientists are still learning about this virus. From the extensive HIV research already conducted, scientists have been successful in developing treatments to reduce the damage that HIV causes to a person’s immune system and have also developed some treatments that reduce the chance of becoming infected with the virus before and after exposure to HIV. As research continues, it is hoped scientists will be able to learn more about HIV and develop a cure for HIV in the future.
Q3: If you have HIV you have AIDS?
A2: This is false
Why? HIV is the virus that causes damage to a person’s immune system and, if untreated, is the virus that can cause AIDS. AIDS on the other hand, is a syndrome, it is not one disease but rather a group or combination of illnesses that develop because the body can no longer fight disease as it normally would. The presence of HIV in a body is not an AIDS Diagnosis and it is possible for people to have HIV for many years or for their whole life, but show no symptoms that define AIDS.
Q4 : In Australia, HIV can be transmitted via:
4a: Unprotected sex between two men?
A4a: This is true
Why? HIV is infectious in bodily fluids such as: blood, semen, pre-ejaculate and the mucosal layer in the anus. A person can become infected with HIV if one of these body fluids containing HIV gets into their body and passes into their bloodstream. It is common for HIV transmission to occur during unprotected sex between two men as these fluids containing HIV can easily be exposed to a man’s body and then enter their blood stream.
In some research, HIV medicines have been shown to reduce HIV transmission during unprotected sex by reducing the amount of virus in a person’s body, however more research is needed in this area to be conclusive. Sex without condoms, even when on these medications, still carries a risk of HIV transmission and is not recommended. See your doctor for more information.
4b: Unprotected sex between a man and a woman?
A4b: This is true
Why? HIV is infectious in bodily fluids such as: blood, semen, pre-ejaculate and secretions lining the vagina and anus. A person can become infected with HIV if one of these body fluids containing HIV gets into their body and passes into their bloodstream. It is common for HIV transmission to occur during unprotected sex between a man and a woman as these fluids containing HIV can easily be exposed to a person’s body and then enter their blood stream.
In some research, HIV medicines have been shown to reduce HIV transmission during unprotected sex by reducing the amount of virus in a person’s body, however more research is needed in this area to be conclusive. Sex without condoms, even when on these medications, still carries a risk of HIV transmission and is not recommended. See your doctor for more information.
4c: Mosquito Bites?
A4c: This is false
Why? There are a number of reasons why mosquitoes cannot transmit HIV:
- HIV does not survive long enough outside the human body to risk infection by mosquitoes
- HIV cannot survive in a mosquito’s proboscis or abdomen
- when mosquitoes bite they deliver salivary fluid down through one passage and draw blood up through another; hence the direction of any infectious blood extracted by a mosquito is only ever into the mosquito’s own body never out into the next bloodstream they access
- unlike Malaria, HIV is not found in mosquito’s saliva, the fluid injected by mosquitoes when they bite
a mosquito cannot ingest enough infectious blood to risk infection with HIV
4d: Kissing?
A4d: This is false
Why? There are a number of reasons why kissing does not transmit HIV:
- saliva does not contain large enough concentrations of HIV to cause infection
- the lining of the mouth is very protective and creates a barrier against infectious fluids entering a person’s bloodstream
- even kissing with cold sores or other small mouth sores, risk of HIV transmission is considered to be negligible
- kissing is only ever a remote risk of HIV transmission when considerable open sores and fresh bleeding is present in both those kissing (for example, immediately after dental surgery)
4e: Sharing Injecting Equipment?
A4e: This is true
Why? Sharing injecting equipment is one of the most common transmission routes of HIV, this is because:
- infectious blood can remain within the bore (inside) of the syringe and when shared, can be flushed directly into the bloodstream of another person
- sharing any injecting equipment such as needles, syringes, spoons, filters or water can transmit HIV
4f: Breastfeeding?
A4f: This is true
Why? Breastfeeding is one of the most common transmission routes of HIV in many countries around the world because:
HIV is present in breast milk in high concentrations and can cause infection to a breastfed baby
HIV transmission from a mother to their baby can also occur during birth (both by caesarean or vaginal birth) and in utero before the baby is born. Whilst medical treatments cannot completely prevent the transmission of HIV from a mother to her child, medical treatments can substantially reduce the chance of HIV transmission. For more information, talk to your doctor.
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