How to prevent AIDS

Written by Ye Xi Yong
Infectious Diseases
Updated on February 08, 2025
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The HIV virus primarily exists in the blood, semen, vaginal secretions, pleural fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, and breast milk of people with AIDS. It is mainly transmitted through sexual contact, including homosexual, heterosexual, and bisexual contact, as well as through blood and blood products. This includes intravenous drug injection, invasive medical procedures, and tattooing. There is also mother-to-child transmission, mainly through the placenta during childbirth and breastfeeding. To prevent AIDS, one must avoid the aforementioned behaviors. Everyday actions such as handshakes, hugs, and social kisses, as well as normal daily contact, do not transmit the HIV virus.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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How many HIV/AIDS cases are there in China?

According to epidemiological surveys from 2017, there are approximately 1.25 million HIV-infected individuals in our country. The annual number of new HIV infections is on the rise each year. Among the transmission routes of HIV, sexual transmission now accounts for 90% of all routes. In women, the main mode of HIV transmission is through men. Among male HIV carriers, about 70%-80% are infected through homosexual activities.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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Is a red spot on the arm AIDS?

Red spots on the arm are not necessarily an indication of AIDS; they could be a rash, folliculitis, or other skin diseases. The symptoms of AIDS are not very typical and lack distinct features. It is not possible to diagnose AIDS based on external signs and clinical symptoms alone. To confirm or rule out AIDS, it is necessary to conduct an HIV antibody screening, and a negative result can exclude the infection.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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initial symptoms of AIDS

People infected with HIV may experience a series of symptoms in the early stages of the disease, about two to three weeks after being infected with the virus. At this time, due to the virus's rapid growth and reproduction in the body, symptoms such as viral viremia can occur, including rash, fever, sore throat, and swelling of lymph nodes throughout the body. These symptoms are reversible and can subside after one to two weeks. Many people infected with HIV may not show any symptoms. The diagnosis of HIV is mainly confirmed through tests such as HIV antibodies, and it is not possible to infer HIV infection based merely on external symptoms.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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Is AIDS a terminal illness?

AIDS is not a terminal disease. AIDS patients undergoing systematic and standardized long-term antiretroviral therapy can suppress the virus to undetectable levels over the long term, preventing damage to the immune system or allowing an already damaged immune system to gradually recover to a state close to normal. Long-term antiviral therapy can maintain the body's indicators at essentially normal levels, making it unlikely to experience opportunistic infections or opportunistic tumors, and it is possible to live a normal lifespan. It is crucial for AIDS patients to receive timely and correct treatment, including long-term antiviral therapy.

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Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
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What department should I go to for AIDS testing?

AIDS is a severe immunodeficiency disease characterized by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus. Its main modes of transmission are sexual activity, blood, and mother-to-child transmission, with sexual transmission accounting for over 95%. Therefore, when we go to the hospital for AIDS testing, we generally need to visit the dermatology department or the department of venereology.