Guidelines for household contacts of reactive persons and people living with AIDS
The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus, which is capable of destroying the body's immune system. Because the body's defenses can no longer fight off infections, AIDS patients suffer from (frequent) serious illnesses.
Infection by this virus does not mean a person will develop AIDS nor have any illness right away. Anyone infected with HIV is potentially capable of spreading the infection to others. Sexual activity is the most common way of passing the virus to another person. In addition, transfusion or injection of infected blood may transmit the virus, and a pregnant woman may infect her new baby. Transmission of HIV infection through normal daily contact is not possible. Nevertheless, it is very important that household members take precautions that will prevent the spread of infection.
There are only four body fluids that pose a risk for HIV transmission under normal (non-medical) circumstances. These are Blood, Semen, Vaginal fluids, and Breast milk. Other body fluids like sweat, tears, saliva, urine, feces pose no risk for HIV transmission. Some fluids like urine or feces might give other types of infections and should be handled with care.
People with HIV infection can live at home and maintain a normal social life. Since the virus is not spread by casual (i.e. non sexual) household contact, family members, roommates, and visitors are not at risk of becoming infected. The following information is provided to assist families in daily living, and requires mainly good general hygiene.
Hand washing: is an effective way to prevent the spread of any germs. Wash hands with soap and water before preparing food, before eating, and after using the toilet.
Personal Articles: such as toothbrushes, razors and razor blades should not be shared among household members. These may become soiled with blood and could spread germs that may cause many illnesses.
Bathrooms: may be shared with other family members. Family members will not contract infections from the toilet seat, sink, shower, or bathtub. Surfaces (e.g. floors, countertops, sinks, showers, bathtubs) visibly soiled with blood or excretions should be cleaned with a household detergent or disinfectant (freshly prepared solution of one part household bleach with 10 parts cold water will kill HIV and other germs). To further protect yourself, you can wear household gloves or disposable gloves.
Preparing Food: The infected person may prepare food for other household members. HIV is not spread through food. Hand washing is important before handling food to prevent spread of other germs. If you cut yourself while preparing food, throw away the food that is soiled with blood. Cooking will kill any germs.
Dishes: Use hot soapy water, no special precautions are necessary. There is no need to wash separately those dishes used by the infected person.
Garbage Disposal: Normal household waste can be disposed of without additional precautions. A separate container, lined with a plastic, bag, should be available for waste such as dressings, tissues and other disposable items soiled with blood from an infected person.
Laundry/Dry Cleanings: Clothing and linens can safely be laundered with that of other household members. Laundry visibly soiled with blood, urine, stool or vomit should be wiped clean with a disposable towel and laundered in hot, soapy water. Heavily soiled clothing or linens should be placed in a plastic bag separate from other household laundry; the contents should be removed from the bag and washed in hot soapy water.
Disposable gloves should be worn when wiping soiled areas clean. If dry cleaning is necessary, any visible moist soiled areas should be wiped with a damp paper towel that should be discarded with other waste from the infected person.
Thermometers: the infected person should reserve a thermometer for use. It should be washed with warm soapy water after each use, soaked in rubbing alcohol for 10 minutes, dried and stored.
Children: Normal casual contact, including kissing and hugging, between an infected person and children does not pose any danger to the children.
Pets: Household pets are not dangerous to these infected persons provided the animals are healthy and have up to date immunization. If the infected individual cleans litter boxes, fish tanks, or birdcages, rubber gloves should be worn and hands washed immediately following removal of gloves.
Socializing: Infected persons can maintain a normal social life. No special precautions are required when visiting friends, eating in restaurants or engaging in casual day to day contact with others.
Sexual Practices: Condoms should be used during anal or vaginal intercourse, as well as oral sex. Condoms uses correctly and consistently form very good protection against infection with HIV and most other sexually transmitted diseases.
When using condoms, check the expiration date. Condoms kept in a cool and dark place can be used for 4 years after the manufacturing date. Never use oils, creams or Vaseline for extra lubrication when using condoms. Use a water based lubricant such as KY-Jelly or other brand.
Kissing: There has been no evidence of spread of HIV infection through saliva. Kissing, including tongue/deep kissing is safe. However, if there are bleeding gum irritations in the mouth deep kissing should be avoided.
Counseling: Household members may experience feelings of fear, confusion and sadness. It is important for these persons to seek expert counseling. The St. Maarten AIDS Foundation has counselors available to listen and give advice for friends and family members of HIV infected persons. Your family doctors, church leader, counselors at the Red Cross are other good sources of information.
The HIV cannot penetrate healthy skin. In order for it to enter the body, there must be a break in the skin. As a safeguard against contact with blood or body fluids, a person providing care for bleeding wounds should wear disposable gloves. This is a precautionary measure to ensure that the person is not exposed to the virus through tiny cuts in the hands that may be unnoticed.
It should be emphasized that persons living with HIV/AIDS, especially when their immune system is weak, are much more likely to catch any kind of infection from another person. (Common cold, flu, rashes, etc.). These simple infections can sometimes pose a major problem for a person with a weakened immune system.
The other way around, it is impossible to transmit HIV under normal household circumstances once these simple precautions are taken.
