During this week, I watched Modules 5, 6, and 7 on Transmission and Prevention. One of the slides was about kissing. I've always wondered if one could get HIV from kissing. Up until now, the question was still uncertain. Accoridng to the CDC, casual kisses are safe. There is no exchange of fluids (CDC, 2009). Open mouth kissing, or "french kissing", has more of a risk. There is very little risk of contracting HIV through open mouth kissing, but there is a possibility that there could be an open sore in one of the mouths and HIV can be spread that way (CDC, 2009).
This week has been another crazy week - this seems to be the norm these days. As I mentioned before, I went through the slides for Modules 5, 6, and 7 and of course, my mind started going. In Module 5 - Myths, it goes through all the different ways people might think they could contract HIV if they didn't "know any better". Some of these ways are sitting on the same toilet as an infected person, breathing the same air, living in the same house or aprtment, mosquito transmission, or being in a bathtub, pool, or hottub (Douglass, Slides 1-15). Before taking this class I wondered about the hottub and pool and mosquito transmission. I now know that these are simply misconceptions. It is very easy to have misconceptions about HIV if you don't know about it.
Douglass, Sharon. Power Point Module 5 Myths, October 2009.
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/qa/qa17.htm
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Cathia, its amazing how many myths I had in my mind about HIV. I am glad I have decided to take this course as it has opened my eyes and mind to the truths of HIV. Modules 5,6 and 7 were equally as interesting to me as well!
ReplyDeleteI dont know how urban myths can get started about HIV tranmission through a sitting on the toilet seat. I suppose thats why they are called urban myths. I actually was thinking about this for a while and decided to propose to you that maybe someone would come up with this rumor in order to protect themselves on how they actually contracted HIV? Or do you think it started more just to isolated HIV positive individuals? In either case it is a wonder how these mis-conceptions linger in our society.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many myths about the ways you can contract HIV. Alot of people are not aware that open mouth kissing is a way to get infected. I think most of these myths arise because people are aware that HIV is on the rise, and they are being cautious, even if it means being a bit paranoid. That is why people should educate each other about HIV.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I never thought about getting HIV from kissing. People usually just make out with anyone who doesn't look like they have sores on their mouth or something and they don't think about HIV. Even though it is very rare to get HIV from kissing I am not kissing anybody I don't know very well because I wouldn't want to take the chance. Some of those myths are ridiculous though like sitting in a hot tub and mosquitoes. If you could really get HIV some of these ways, then everybody would have it.
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