Here are “Ten Elementary Questions” on the subject of HIV and AIDS.  The answers, simple and concise, will hopefully clear doubts and enlighten.

1. What is HIV?

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is the virus that causes AIDS. This virus can be passed from one person to another when infected blood, semen, or vaginal secretions come in contact with an uninfected person’s broken skin or mucous membranes*. In addition, an infected pregnant woman can pass HIV to her baby during pregnancy or delivery, as well as through breast-feeding. People with HIV have what is called HIV infection. Some of these people will develop AIDS as a result of their HIV infection.

* A mucous membrane is wet, thin tissue found in certain openings to the human body. These can include the mouth, eyes, nose, vagina, rectum, and opening of the penis

2. What is AIDS?

AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.

• Acquired – means that the disease is not hereditary but develops after birth, from contact with a disease causing agent (in this case, HIV).
• ImmunoDeficiency – means that the disease is characterized by a weakening of the immune system.
• Syndrome – is the group of symptoms that indicate or characterize a disease. In the case of AIDS this includes the development of certain infections and/or cancers, as well as a decrease in the number of certain cells in a person’s immune system.

3. Where did HIV come from?

For many years scientists theorized as to the origins of HIV and how it appeared in the human population.  Then in 1999, an international team of researchers reported the discovery of the origins of HIV-1, the predominant strain of HIV, in the developed world. A subspecies of chimpanzees native to west equatorial Africa had also been identified as the original source of the virus. The researchers believe that HIV-1 was introduced into the human population when hunters became exposed to infected blood.

4. How does HIV cause AIDS?

HIV destroys a certain kind of blood cell (CD4+ T cells) which is crucial to the normal function of the human immune system. Loss of these cells in a human body, leads to the development of AIDS. Studies of thousands of people have revealed that most people infected with HIV carry the virus for years before the immune system gets damaged and causes AIDS. Sensitive tests have shown a strong connection between the amount of HIV in the blood and the decline in CD4+ T cells and the development of AIDS. Reducing the amount of virus in the body with anti-retroviral therapies can dramatically slow the destruction of a person’s immune.

5. What is the difference between HIV and AIDS?

Simply put, HIV is the “virus”.  AIDS is the “disease” caused by the virus called HIV.

6. Can mosquito bites cause AIDS?

No. Mosquito bites do not cause AIDS. HIV is a virus that infects humans, and there is no evidence at all that it can be transmitted by insects. 

7. Can HIV be transmitted through supernatural means?

No. HIV can not be transmitted through supernatural means or by black magic – even if one does believe in the supernatural or black magic.

8. How can one get HIV?

HIV is not an airborne or food-borne virus, and it does not live long outside the body. HIV can be found in the blood, semen, or vaginal fluid of an infected person.  HIV is transmitted are through three main ways:

• Having sex (anal, vaginal, or oral) with someone infected with HIV.
• Sharing needles and syringes with someone who has HIV.
• Exposure (in case of infants) to HIV before or during birth or through breast feeding.

9. Can I get HIV from casual contact (like shaking hands, hugging, using the same toilet seat, drinking from the same glass or the sneezing/coughing of an infected person)?
No. HIV is not transmitted by day-to-day contact in the workplace, schools, or social settings. HIV is not transmitted through shaking hands, hugging, or a casual kiss. You cannot become infected from a toilet seat, a drinking fountain, a door knob, dishes, drinking glasses, food, or pets.

10. How can one prevent getting HIV?
There is the ABC formula that helps prevent HIV:
A: Abstaining from vaginal or anal intercourse or oral sex.
B. Being faithful to one uninfected partner i.e. being in a mutually monogamous relationship.
C. Condom-use every time one has sex, for those who are sexually active.