As the stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS decreased in past years due to a rise in education about the disease, there still remains some questions and uncertainties regarding its transmission. Poor hygienic practices in certain places like medical establishments have long been proven to increase the risk of HIV. That’s why the health protocol to keep their instruments clean must be strictly implemented in order to protect the health and well-being of people.
What is HIV?
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks cells that help the body fight infections. Because of this it can make a person more vulnerable to diseases. Although it’s no longer a death sentence HIV is still a complicated disease that requires immediate treatment. Otherwise, HIV can lead to AIDS which is the end stage of the HIV infection, caused when the body’s immune system is greatly suppressed because of the virus. It’s spread through contact with bodily fluids of a person with HIV.
Can Dry Blood Transmit HIV?
While it’s pretty common knowledge that HIV can be transmitted through unprotected sex or sharing of drug paraphernalia with an infected person, can transmission occur through dried blood? The answer is that it’s highly unlikely. Blood from a small cut of a person with HIV can survive outside of the body and be active for a few days but the amount of virus in that dried blood would be very small and make it difficult to transmit the disease.
As the virus is exposed to air, it becomes ineffective. The virus would also be killed due to a warm temperature, ultraviolet light from the sun and certain acidity levels within the air. When favorable conditions do not exist when the virus is outside of the body, then the likely-hood of transmission is slim.
Living With the Disease
Although there is no cure for HIV or AIDS, it’s no longer the death sentence it once was. There is now antiretroviral therapy (ART) that is the treatment for those living with HIV. It can help to control the growth of the virus and improve quality of life.
While there has certainly been an increase in education and awareness regarding HIV, there are still some questions surrounding its transmission by a good portion of the public. Having such knowledge will eliminate ignorance and help to keep people healthy.
