The main way to prevent AIDS is to use a condom in all sexual relations. These can be purchased in supermarkets, pharmacies and drugstores, but they are also distributed free of charge in health centers and in AIDS prevention campaigns carried out by the government.
In addition, other important forms of AIDS prevention are:
- Use disposable syringes and needles; Wear gloves to handle wounds or body fluids; Follow AIDS treatment during pregnancy to avoid contamination of the baby; Do not breastfeed the baby in case of AIDS.
HIV is transmitted through blood and other body secretions, and it is by avoiding contact with these substances that contamination can be avoided. However, there is also a drug called Truvada, which is indicated to prevent HIV, which can be taken before exposure to the virus or up to 72 hours afterwards. Learn how to use and what side effects of this remedy.
How to put on the male condom
You need to know how to put the condom on properly to be protected. The male condom must be placed on the erect penis before any intimate contact, and you must first check the date of the condom and press the tip of the condom to prevent the accumulation of air and unwind to the base of the penis.
Watch the following video and see the step by step that teaches you how to put the condom on correctly:
AIDS transmission occurs through contact with blood, vaginal discharge, sperm, or breast milk contaminated with the HIV virus.
The HIV virus, when entering the individual's body, will weaken his immune system and cause symptoms such as fever, general malaise, dry cough and sore throat that usually only appear 3 to 6 weeks after infection and that they can be mistaken for a flu or a cold. Thus, if the person has had any risky behavior, such as intimate contact without a condom, or used syringes from an infected individual, they should have an HIV test after 40 to 60 days to confirm whether or not they have AIDS.
How AIDS is transmitted
AIDS transmission only occurs when there is direct contact with the blood or secretions of an infected individual, and it is not transmitted through kisses or contact with the sweat of an infected individual, for example.
| If you get AIDS through: | AIDS is not caught by: |
| Sexual intercourse without a condom with an infected individual | Kiss, even on the mouth, hug or handshake |
| From mother to child through childbirth or breastfeeding | Tears, sweat, clothes or sheets |
| Direct contact with infected blood | Use the same cup, silverware or plate |
| Use the same needle or syringe as an infected individual | Use the same bathtub or pool |
Although AIDS is a very contagious disease, it is possible to live, have lunch, work or have a loving relationship with someone infected, because kissing, sharing kitchen utensils or shaking hands, for example, do not transmit AIDS. However, if the person with HIV has a cut on his hand, for example, it is necessary to take some precautions, such as not shaking hands or wearing gloves to avoid contact with blood.
See what are the symptoms of AIDS and how to get tested for HIV:
Vertical transmission of AIDS
Vertical transmission of AIDS refers to contamination that passes from the mother with AIDS to her baby, whether through the placenta, labor or breastfeeding. This contamination can occur if the mother's viral load is very high or if she breastfeeds the baby.
To avoid vertical transmission of AIDS, it is recommended that the mother follow the treatment, even during pregnancy, to decrease her viral load, and it is recommended that she does not breastfeed her baby, and should offer another woman's breast milk, which can be obtained from the human milk bank, or adapted milk.
Learn more about treating AIDS in pregnancy.
Did I get AIDS?
To find out if you have AIDS, you need to go to the infeciologist or general practitioner, approximately 3 months after the intercourse, to have a blood test and, if the intercourse has happened with a patient infected with HIV, the risk of having the disease is greater.
Thus, anyone who has had any risky behavior and suspects that they may have been infected with the HIV virus should take the test, which can be done anonymously and free of charge, at any CTA - testing and counseling center. In addition, the test can also be done at home safely and quickly.
It is recommended to take the test 40 to 60 days after the risky behavior, or when the first symptoms related to AIDS appear, such as persistent candidiasis, for example. Know how to identify the symptoms of AIDS.
In some cases, such as healthcare professionals who have bitten themselves with infected needles or for victims of rape, it is possible to ask the infeciologist to take a prophylactic dose of HIV drugs, up to 72 hours, which decreases the risk of developing the disease.
