Question for those who have HIV or AIDS...and where else could I post this question to get the best answers...

without offending anyone?


the question is for my 7 year old...they are learning about HIV and AIDS in school this week, because apparently there has been a scare...one of the children who attend the school has a parent who has Aids...so alot of people freaked and pulled they're kids out...anyway..so they are learning about it, and the one thing my daughter has to write about and the question she has to work on is about people with HIV or AIDS keeping themselves healthy...like when they go out in public and stuff..using public restrooms, or when someone hands them their food..or drink? example..I'm at starbuck this morning, and the guy handed me my drink..with his hand over the lid..where my mouth would go? so like that type of situation..what do patients have to do? how do they insure that they stay safe and healthy? Thanks to all who give answers, but especially to those who educate us in the unknown. :)

okay...it seems my question was misunderstood...I didn't mean that the guy at starbucks could pass on the virus to me by touching my cup..what I meant was lets the say the person getting the coffee had HIV or AIDS..and the guy at starbucks was sick with like the common cold or some sort of virus..what precaution do patients take to keep themselves from catching everything..given the common cold can be fatal to them...like when they go out to eat, and the person behind them might be getting the flu..or worse..the waitress who touches the patients food..thats what I meant..I know the virus can't be spread by simple contact....my daughters part of the report is suppose to be on how the patients keep themselves healthy since not everyone is courteous enought to stay home when sick

I believe your question is how a person with HIV can keep from getting food borne and other common illnesses through common contact?

This is the same protocol as everyone else. Being aware of how foods are handled and prepared. Washing hands. Avoiding shaking hands (everyone should do this since many people fail to wash their hands after using the restroom, etc- it really is something to be avoided by EVERYONE!) Casual hugs are another thing to be avoided since colds and flu can be spread by casual contact as well. Yes, handshaking and hugging are ways to spread illness among ANYONE, HIV or no HIV.

Basically, using common sense is the best policy for everyone regardless of their HIV status.

HIV is not transmitted thru casual contact, so the guy at starbucks couldn't have given you the virus simply by touching your cup lid, he would have had to bleed all over it.
It is passed sexually thru micro tears in tissue that occur during sex, and passed thru shared use of needles for injecting illicit drugs.
It is easier to pass around the plague than it is to pass around HIV, if you are smart about who you sleep with, if you don't use illegal drugs and you simply maintain good hygiene.
Seen much plague lately? No. The reason HIV is as prevalent as it is, is due to our culture of instant gratification, and the idea that when you are young you are indestructible, so you participate in really foolish behaviors. Like sharing needles and having unprotected sex with someone you hardly know.
Even kissing and spitting will not transmit HIV unless the infected person is actively heavily bleeding from the mouth, and the other person has an open oral wound. HIV is a very sensitive virus, it cannot live outside its temperature range for more than a few seconds, so you cannot get it from surfaces, you cannot get it from casual contact. The people who jerked their kids out were ignorant and reactionary, and that is sad.

That is a pretty tough assignment for a 7 year old. Kids that age barely even know their home address.

A relative of mine had a relative who had AIDS (I know, confusing).

He ate from plastic spoons and plastic plates. He did his own laundry at the laundry mat. He didn't help wtih cooking. He had his own glass and his own bathroom which he kept locked because there were kids in the house and he didn't want them to get to his toothbrush, razor, etc. My aunt said that it was hard to see because she wanted to reach out to him, but at the time, he had full blown AIDS and had the scabs and sores. There wasn't as much knowledge as there is now and he wanted to protect his family. By making sure that his family was "protected" he was alienated........
Their immune systems are weak so he had to stay home during flu/cold/RSV season and no one could visit with a cold.

This is a bit deep for a seven year old. Make sure that you take the time to explain it to her. I hope that my 8 year old doesn't ask questions, because I truly do not know the answers. We learn a lot from our kids don't we? I know that I do:)

Please tell your Daughter, good luck to her on her report.

Once again the only has given you great information. I am a HIV educator/trainer- I teach agencies all about HIV. also my partner is HIV+, we have been together over 10 years and I am negative. As The Only stated you get HIV from lustful unprotected sex and sharing dirty needles.

You can not gt HIV from using the same toilet, drinking out of the same glass, coffee cup.

The best way he keeps himself healthy is a good diet, plenty of rest, taking his medications as prescribed and exercising. With this he keep all of his medical appointments. His viral load (the amount of HIV antibodies per mil-liter of blood) is undetectable. This means there is a little amount of HIV in his body. He had to be very careful with drinking alcohol as it will compromise the medications.

I can not get HIV from sleeping with him, kissing,touching him.
To be safe we do not share razors. He is a great chef and prepare a lot of our meals and do the major holiday dinners for both of our families.