AIDS, which threatens the immune system, is extremely harmful but preventable.

HIV/AIDS endangers the immune system and is extremely harmful.

The TV series "The Colors of Life" realistically reflects the lives and emotions of people living with HIV/AIDS in my country today, as well as public opinion and attitudes towards this special group. The series is profound, grand, and insightful, addressing the living conditions of people living with HIV/AIDS and related social issues from multiple perspectives, including humanity, societal norms, and ethics. The plot is dramatic, gripping, and deeply moving!

So, what exactly is this dreaded "AIDS" disease?

AIDS is a serious infectious disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). As a virus that attacks the human immune system, HIV targets the most important T4 lymphocytes in the immune system, engulfing and destroying large numbers of T4 lymphocytes, thereby damaging the immune system and ultimately causing its collapse. This leads to the body losing its ability to resist various diseases, resulting in illness and death.

Patients may initially experience flu-like or serum sickness-like symptoms, followed by a prolonged asymptomatic period, which then progresses to the pre-immunoassay stage (PIS). Ultimately, various severe opportunistic infections and malignancies develop, leading to IPS. Currently, there are no effective treatments or cures for this disease, and there are virtually no successful cases; hence, it is often referred to as a "super cancer."

The average incubation period for HIV in the human body is 12-13 years. Before developing AIDS, individuals appear normal and can live and work for many years without any symptoms. A joint assessment by my country's Ministry of Health, UNAIDS, and the World Health Organization in 2009 indicated that, as of the end of 2009, there were an estimated 740,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in my country, including approximately 105,000 AIDS patients; approximately 48,000 new infections occurred in 2009, and approximately 26,000 deaths were attributed to AIDS.

HIV has a weak ability to survive in the external environment and low resistance to physical and chemical factors. It is sensitive to heat; treatment at 56°C for 30 minutes or 100°C for 20 minutes can completely inactivate HIV. Pasteurization and most commonly used concentrations of chemical disinfectants can inactivate the virus. For example, 75% alcohol, 0.2% sodium hypochlorite, 1% glutaraldehyde, 20% acetaldehyde, acetone, ether, and bleaching powder can all inactivate HIV. However, ultraviolet light or gamma rays cannot inactivate HIV.

HIV is present in the blood, semen, vaginal secretions, and breast milk of infected individuals and patients.

In 1981, HIV was discovered in five gay men in Los Angeles, USA. Its emergence was accompanied by an inherent tendency to face discrimination. However, homosexuality is not synonymous with AIDS, and homosexuality itself is not related to the transmission of AIDS. While AIDS is indeed prevalent among some gay men, primarily due to unprotected sex, this has led to the misconception that AIDS is a "homosexual disease." One of the main sexual behaviors among gay men is anal sex. Compared to heterosexual intercourse, the rectum is less elastic and more fragile, with a thinner mucosa that is easily damaged. Even when using condoms, some anal sex partners often choose oil-based lubricants instead of water-based ones, making condom breakage very common. When the damaged area of ​​the rectum comes into contact with semen, the HIV virus can easily enter the body, causing infection. Furthermore, research reports have revealed that seminal plasma RNA virus particles in semen are a major culprit in promoting HIV infection, and certain substances in semen also contribute to HIV transmission. German researchers have found that prostatic acid phosphatase in human semen can significantly increase HIV infectivity. If unprotected sex occurs, the probability of infection among men who have sex with men is 5 to 15 times higher than that of men transmitting the virus to women and 16 to 30 times higher than that of women transmitting it to men under the same conditions.

The main routes of HIV transmission are sexual contact, blood transfusion, and mother-to-child transmission. These three routes share a crucial characteristic: HIV transmission requires the human body's internal environment. Although HIV is incredibly resilient and cunning, it is also very fragile. Scientists have discovered that HIV dies within minutes of exposure to air, and water disrupts its pH balance, causing it to eventually collapse. Essentially, HIV cannot survive outside the warm, moist environment of the human body, making human-to-human transmission impossible. Due to its fragility, and the extremely low levels of HIV in the tears, sweat, or saliva of HIV carriers, contact with HIV-positive individuals is virtually nonexistent. Ordinary social contact with HIV carriers, such as hugging, shaking hands, and kissing, will not transmit HIV. Sharing utensils, toilet seats, or breathing in the same space is safe; even swimming or using gym equipment together is generally safe. However, sharing personal items such as toothbrushes and razors should be avoided (as they may come into contact with broken mucous membranes and skin). Furthermore, some people worry that residual blood on mosquito mouthparts might carry HIV and could be transmitted to others. Experts believe this possibility is extremely low. Mosquitoes transmit diseases in two main ways: biological transmission and mechanical transmission. Biological transmission refers to pathogens undergoing development and reproduction within the mosquito's body before being transmitted to humans, such as the Japanese encephalitis virus. However, HIV neither develops nor multiplies within mosquitoes, so it cannot be transmitted biologically. A mosquito's mouth surface typically contains only a very small amount of blood; studies have found that the amount of residual blood on a mosquito's mouthparts is only 0.0004 ml. Based on this calculation, a mosquito would have to intentionally bite an HIV-infected person 2800 times consecutively, or have more than 200 mosquitoes simultaneously bite one HIV-positive person and then simultaneously bite another person, to accumulate enough HIV to infect another healthy person. In reality, scientists studying insects have found that mosquitoes usually don't immediately bite another person after sucking blood; they need a considerable amount of time to digest the blood they've ingested. Moreover, it's extremely rare for hundreds of mosquitoes to bite one person simultaneously. Furthermore, when a mosquito ingests blood containing HIV, the virus is digested and destroyed by the mosquito within 23 days, disappearing completely. Once a mosquito has engorged with blood, it will wait until it has fully digested the contents before biting again. Therefore, regardless of the route, the possibility of HIV transmission through mosquitoes is practically nonexistent.

Although AIDS is an extremely dangerous infectious disease, it is entirely preventable for individuals. The main preventive measures are:

1. Abide by laws and morals, maintain personal integrity, oppose premarital sex, and oppose promiscuity;

2. Do not engage in illegal activities such as prostitution or soliciting.

3. Do not use drugs in any way; stay away from drugs.

4. Do not use untested blood products to reduce unnecessary blood transfusions;

5. Do not receive injections, tooth extractions, acupuncture, cosmetic procedures, or surgery at medical institutions with inadequate sterilization procedures;

6. Do not share toothbrushes or razors;

7. Avoid getting the injured person's blood on your hands or in your daily work and life;

8. Correct use of condoms helps prevent HIV infection;

9. If you have a sexually transmitted disease, you should seek treatment promptly and actively, otherwise it will increase the probability of HIV infection.