Aids is a disease that strikes fear in the hearts of people throughout the world.  This fear may be based on ignorance, experience or just plain apprehension.  But it is real.  Part of this fear is due to the rapid growth of aids in the population.  Another part is due to the fact that there is not yet a cure for the disease.  Yet one more factor is the confusion that exists in the minds of some as to how aids can be spread by infected individuals.

Aids is a viral disease which cripples the body's defense mechanism--called the immune system.  When this happens the body is unable to fight off certain infections and cancers.  As a result the person may die of these conditions if they cannot be controlled by medications.

The aids virus is now called the human immunodeficiency virus or HIV.  It's found in the tissues and body fluids of infected persons.  But the spread of aids takes place only in certain very specific ways.  Aids is not spread by casual contact even with people who have the disease.  Let me repeat that. Aids is not spread by casual contact even with people who have the disease.
 
Once the virus has entered the body, it may take several years for it to produce the disease called aids.  In fact, the person may live for several months or years without developing full-blown aids.  Interestingly, there are many people who have been exposed to the virus and have not yet come down with any symptoms.  Even when people develop the signs and symptoms of aids, the signs and symptoms may not all develop at the same time.  In fact, there are many cases where these signs develop over a long period of time.

The most effective way of spreading the disease is by having blood from an infected person taken into your blood stream.  Before 1985, this happened sometimes with blood transfusions.  Since that time, donated blood is tested for exposure to aids.  In addition, people at high risk for aids do not have their blood accepted for donation.  Now hemophiliacs and others who receive blood products do not need to worry about this problem.

The single most important way in which the HIV is transmitted, is through sexual activity.  Since the virus is also found in semen and vaginal secretions, sex with an infected person poses a high risk of getting the disease.  The risk seems to increase with number and frequency of sexual contacts. Condoms can help prevent contracting the disease in this situation.

Shared intravenous needle use also has the risk of transmitting contaminated blood from one individual to another.  Therefore, this activity can lead to becoming infected with the HIV.  Hospital workers are also at risk for becoming HIV positive if they handle infected blood.

Children of mothers who either have aids or who are HIV positive may also become HIV positive.  However, there has been no case of aids which has been traced to living with a person who has the disease.  It's important to realize that aids is not caught from sharing eating, or drinking utensils, food, air or living space with an infected person.

Alcohol and street drugs such as amphetamines, marijuana and nitrite inhalants have been found to damage the immune system.  The effects of cocaine, heroin and other drugs on the immune system are not yet known.  However, any of these chemicals may also decrease a person's judgment.

They may then engage in activities which carry a high risk of contracting the aids virus. No cure for this disease has yet been found.  However, there are some drugs that hold promise for helping people with the disease live longer, happier lives.  Since the outcome of developing full-blown aids is usually fatal, it's important to recognize not only how it is contracted, but also how it is not contracted.  There are many misconceptions about aids.  If you have further questions about this important disease, contact your doctor or health department.