Dear Readers,
M.M. is a 27-year-old female from Kingston who is feeling a bit depressed. One of her very good friends from school days has confided in her that she is HIV positive. M.M. would like to remain a true and supportive friend but she is also concerned that she has very young children who are with her most of the time. She doesn't want to expose them to HIV. M.M. asks Lifeline how safe is it for her assist her friend if she needs help.
M.M. asks a question about an issue which has to be dealt with frequently. How safe from infection are the family, friends and care givers of HIV-infected persons?
HIV is the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus. It is a virus (germ) which attempts to destroy the immune system of the human body. The immune system is very important as it consists of fighter cells, antibodies and other chemicals which together work to repel infection and cancers which may try to attack the human body. When the immune system is down,
infections which are usually only of
nuisance value can become killer. Because of this deactivation of the immune system, the HIV-infected individual may later develop the AIDS syndrome which is comprised of a wide range of different diseases, cancers and infections. HIV is a depressing disease, but excellent treatment is now available to control the virus multiplication in the body, and to restore the immune system so that the infected persons are much less likely to become ill. Individuals who are at risk of contracting the HIV virus are listed below.
High-risk individuals
If you are not one of these persons then you are not at risk of becoming infected with the
disease.
You are at risk if:
You have unprotected sex without condom.
Your sexual partner has unprotected sex with other individuals.
You have unprotected sex with an HIV-
positive person.
NOTE: There is still a small risk of HIV infection even when a condom is used at every sexual event with an HIV-positive individual.
You come in contact with blood products from an HIV-infected person.
You are a drug addict and share any needle which penetrates the skin. These should be used only once and discarded or should be medically cleared and sterilised after each use. This also includes tattoo and acupuncture
needles.
HIV is transmitted by blood and blood
products, semen, vaginal and cervical secretions and breast milk. HIV-positive mothers should never breastfeed their babies.
By commencing treatment which kills the HIV virus and restores, in part,, the person's immune system, the infected person becomes much healthier. By regular blood tests which check the immune system, the HIV-infected person can know how healthy he or she really is and can have the medication altered as is necessary.
Many individuals are HIV positive for years before developing any illness as their immune system continues to resist the HIV virus.
M.M. should continue to be a loyal and
supportive person to her HIV-positive friend, secure in the knowledge that she and her
children are unlikely to ever be in a situation in which they are at risk with this person.
Write to
Lifeline
P.O. Box 1731
Kingston 8
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