HIV also known as the Human Immunodeficiency Virus is responsible for weakening of the immune system and HIV transmission can take place in a number of ways. It has been observed that HIV transfers through exchange of body fluids .If a person infected with HIV passes any kind of body fluid be it blood, genital fluid etc. to the receiver then the receiver is also infected with HIV.

The most common ways in which HIV transmission takes place are:

• Having sexual intercourse with an infected partner
• Passing on blood, injecting drugs using needles used by an infected person
• From an infected mother to her child during pregnancy, delivery or breastfeeding.

Modes of HIV transmission are:

UNSAFE SEX:
Since HIV is present inside the body fluid of an infected person, so it is also found in the sexual fluid of an infected male/female. In case of infected males, the semen which is generated during the intercourse and comes out of the penis, is the carrier of the HIV and this semen is passed into the women’s body through the vagina and the HIV is transmitted, during this time and if there is some cut or injury then the chances of getting infected are increased as there is direct transfer of HIV into the blood stream. If an infected female has a sexual intercourse with her male partner without any protection then the HIV present in her vaginal fluid during the intercourse is transmitted the men’s urethra or penis. Also the chances of HIV transmission increase during oral sex and anal sex.

THROUGH BLOOD:
In this case, the main causes included are blood transfusion or injecting drugs, getting tattoos and piercing done. If one needle is used by many people out of whom one is HIV infected then chances are that the other consumers of drugs with the same needle are also at a higher chance of infected with HIV. as when the syringe is used enters the body of the person with infected blood then it carries HIV along with it and when this needle further inserted into the body of another person then he also acquires HIV. In case of the blood transfusion if the blood contains HIV and this blood is further transfused then the HIV enters the body of the other person to whom the blood is transfused and becomes infected with HIV. In case of the tattoos or piercing, if the needle is used is on an infected person and then without sterilizing it is used on some other person then the other person becomes infected with the virus.

FROM MOTHER TO HER CHILD:
In infected pregnant woman can pass HIV on to her unborn baby during pregnancy, during her labor and delivery. HIV can also be transmitted through breastfeeding.

HIV transmission doesn’t take place when we kiss an infected person or during sneezing, coughing, sharing glasses, cups or insect bites. Thus we should follow safety measures in order to keep ourselves safe like protected sex, using sterilized needles, treating blood before transfusion etc.