For Families
- 1. What do I do if I think I am infected with HIV?
Remember, you must have done things that put you at risk for HIV infection. Those behaviors include:
- sharing needles with an infected person
- having unprotected sex with an infected person
The only way to know if you have HIV is to be tested.
Your doctor may advise you to be counseled and tested if you have hemophilia or received a blood transfusion between 1978 and 1985. If you are worried, talk to someone about getting an HIV test that will show if you are infected. That person might be a parent, doctor, or other health care provider, or someone who works at an AIDS counseling and testing center.
Call the CDC INFO line, 1-800-CDC-INFO, to find out where you can go in your area to get counseling about an HIV test. You don't have to give your name, and the call is free. You can also call your State or local health department. The number is under "Health Department" in the government section of your telephone book.
- If somebody in my class at school has AIDS, am I likely to get it too?
No. HIV is spread by unprotected sex, needle sharing, or infected blood. It can also be given by an infected mother to her baby during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding. People infected with HIV cannot pass the virus to others through ordinary school activities such as:
- showering together in the gym locker room
- playing sports
- sharing water bottles
- sharing utensils
You will not become infected with HIV just by attending school with someone who is infected with HIV or who has AIDS.
- Can I become infected with HIV from "French" kissing?
There is the potential, especially when either partner has advanced gum disease or other conditions where blood is present, for contact with blood during "French" or open-mouth kissing. For this reason, experts recommend against engaging in this activity with a person known to be infected with HIV. However, the risk of acquiring HIV during open-mouth kissing is believed to be very low. CDC has investigated only one case of HIV infection that may be attributed to contact with blood during open-mouth kissing.
- Can I get HIV from a toilet seat or other things I use a lot?
No. HIV does not live on toilet seats or other everyday objects. You do not have to worry about doorknobs, phones, money, or drinking fountains.
- Can I get HIV from a mosquito or other insect?
No. You won't get HIV from bites from mosquitoes. The AIDS virus does not live in a mosquito, and it is not transmitted through a mosquito's salivary glands like other diseases such as malaria or yellow fever. You won't get it from bedbugs, lice, flies, or other insects, either.
- If I have never injected drugs and have had sexual intercourse only with a person of the opposite sex, could I have become infected with HIV?
Yes. You do not have to be homosexual or use drugs to become infected. Both males and females can become infected and transmit the virus to a male or female through sex. If a previous sex partner, of either sex, was infected, you may be infected as well.
- Can I become infected with HIV from oral sex?
It is possible, though not as likely as infection through anal or vaginal sex.
- Oral sex often involves semen, vaginal secretions, or blood-fluids that contain HIV.
- HIV can be transmitted when someone gets semen, vaginal secretions, or blood from an infected person into his or her body.
- During oral sex, the virus could enter the body through tiny cuts or tears in the mouth.
- Condoms or other protective barriers should be used to prevent contact with body fluids.
- Is it possible to become infected with HIV by donating blood?
No. There is absolutely no risk of HIV infection from donating blood in the United States. All blood donation centers use a new, sterile needle for each donation.
- I had a blood transfusion after 1985. Is it likely that I am infected with HIV?
No, it is unlikely. All blood donations have been tested for antibodies to HIV since 1985. The American Red Cross and other established blood collection centers use an extensive two-part screening process of all prospective blood donors. The donor is asked about his or her likelihood of being infected through his or her behavior. If the person's answers reveal that he or she may have a chance of having HIV, he or she is not permitted to donate blood. If the answers reveal no risk of HIV infection, the person is able to donate blood.
Once the blood is donated, it is tested for the presence of antibodies to HIV, including other infections and diseases. All blood donations that test positive for HIV are discarded. Today, the American blood supply is extremely safe.
If you are still concerned about the very small possibility of HIV infection from a transfusion, you should see your doctor or seek counseling about getting an HIV antibody test. Call the CDC National AIDS Hotline, 1-800-342-AIDS (2437), or your local health department to find out about counseling and testing sites in your area.
- As long as I use a latex condom during sex, I won't get HIV infection, right?
If you choose to have sex, a latex condom can provide protection from HIV. Latex condoms have been shown to prevent HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases. You have to use them consistently and correctly each time you have sex-vaginal, anal, or oral sex.
Get more information on HIV & AIDS for family members.
