How do you get infected with HIV (AIDS)?

 The key is for certain bodily fluids to be exchanged between two people -- one of whom has HIV.


Major ways include:

  • Unprotected sex (certain types are riskier than others).  This includes M/M (probably highest risk), F/F and F/M (probably the greatest current source of spread).
  • Blood transfusions in the early 80s (not now);
  • IV drug abuse with shared needles;
  • Accidental exposure of health care workers (needle stick, surgery nick)
  • HIV positive moms to newborns.


Other ways that are, at least in theory, possible (if very rare or undocumented): 

  • contaminated medical instruments (there is thought to be one case in Florida with dental intruments that had not been properly sterilized)
  • Any other fluid exchange.  For example kissing is thought to be very low risk.  OTOH, if both persons had open wounds inside the mouth...
  • Blood to blood contact (i.e., boxing).

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