How Long Do Hiv Viruses Live Outside The Body

Hiv: How Long Does It Survive Outside The Body

AIDS is a serious and sometimes fatal condition caused by the HIV virus. Knowing how long HIV can stay outside of the body in order to prevent infection should be a top priority. The majority of the time, the virus loses its ability to infect between 90% and 99% of the time once it is placed on a surface. If an HIV-positive person touches something that another person has touched that has been contaminated with the virus, the likelihood of the person catching it is very low. Blood, sperm, vaginal fluid, rectal fluid, and breast milk are some of the fluids that can be contaminated with HIV. It is critical to understand the facts about HIV and how it can survive outside the body in order to prevent and educate people about it.

Can Hiv Pass From Mothers To Their Babies

Infection can pass from pregnant women living with HIV to their babies in the womb and during birth. Taking HIV medications during pregnancy and childbirth dramatically lowers the risk of a baby becoming infected with HIV.

After birth, transmission can occur through breast milk. The highest risk may be in the early months after birth. It is recommended that new mothers who are living with HIV formula-feed their babies rather than breast-feed.

If you are a woman living with HIV and you intend to become pregnant, or you find out that you have during your pregnancy, talk to your provider immediately about ways to minimize the chances that your baby will become infected, too.

Read Also: What Is The Meaning Of Hiv Aids

Signs Of Hiv Infection In Children

HIV- infected children may develop a number of signs and symptoms as a result of their HIV infection. However, HIV-infected children may have many years when they have no major health problems and they look, grow and act as other children. After a while the HIV virus may cause certain symptoms. However, some of these signs may also occur in children who have no medical problems at all. Or they may occur in children with other immune system problems.

Some of the more common signs in HIV-infected children include:

• Infections that keep coming back, do not go away or are more severe than in other children
• Swollen glands in more than one area
• White patches in the mouth, on the tongue or in the throat that dont go away
• Repeated fevers
• Slower growth and development than other children the same age
• Diarrhea that continues for several weeks
• Repeated ear infections
• Certain kinds of tumors or cancers

Also Check: Can You Catch Hiv From Drinking Off Someone

Can I Get Hiv From A Blood Transfusion

The blood supply in the United States is one of the safest in the world. Since March 1985, all blood and blood platelets in the U.S. have been screened for HIV using an HIV antibody test. This practice has virtually eliminated the risk of HIV transmission through blood transfusion in the U.S. No other blood products are suspected of transmitting HIV.

Hiv In Vaginal Fluids

It is not clear why this is the case, but it appears that hormones and the types of cells in the genital tract may play a role.

A baby can contract HIV through breast milk, so the CDC recommend that people with HIV do not breastfeed, regardless of antiretroviral therapy or viral load.

HIV can also transmit to a baby through pregnancy or birth. However, this is becoming less common with recent developments in care.

If a person with HIV is receiving effective antiretroviral therapy, and they give HIV medicine to the baby for 46 weeks after delivery, the risk of the baby contracting HIV can be

Read Also: The Most Effective Hiv Treatment Includes Quizlet

People Who Are At Increased Risk

HIV can affect anyone but people who are at a higher risk include:

• men who have had unprotected sex with men
• women who have had unprotected sex with men who have sex with men
• people who have had unprotected sex with a person who has lived in, or travelled in, Africa
• people who inject drugs
• people who have had unprotected sex with somebody who has injected drugs
• people who have another sexually transmitted infection
• people who have received a blood transfusion while in Africa, eastern Europe, the countries of the former Soviet Union, Asia or central and southern America

Donât Miss: What Does Hiv Stand For

Its Easy To Tell The Symptoms Of Hiv

The symptoms of HIV can differ from person-to-person and some people may not get any symptoms at all. Without treatment, the virus will get worse over time and damage your immune system over time. There are three stages of HIV infection with different possible effects.

Also, you also cant tell by looking at someone whether they have HIV or not. Many people dont show signs of any symptoms. And, for people living with HIV who are on effective treatment, they are just as likely to be as healthy as everyone else.

Don’t Miss: Is Hiv Part Of Std Testing

Vaccination For Hepatitis A And Hepatitis B

Vaccines for hepatitis A and hepatitis B are the most effective preventive measures against those viruses. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended these vaccines for all babies as part of routine healthcare since the 1990s.

The vaccine can be administered to people of any age. If you were not vaccinated as a baby, it is fine to be vaccinated now. Vaccination provides long-term protection from infection.

Even if you have recently been exposed to the virus, the vaccine may prevent infection. Ideally, vaccination takes place within 24 hours of a possible exposure.

There is no vaccine for hepatitis C. Our doctors recommend adopting certain behaviorssuch as avoiding shared needles and other risk factorsto prevent infection.

You May Like: How Can I Get Hepatitis B

Does Hiv Viral Load Affect Getting Or Transmitting Hiv

Yes. Viral load is the amount of HIV in the blood of someone who has HIV. If taken as prescribed, HIV medicine can reduce a persons HIV viral load very low level, which keeps the immune system working and prevents illness. This is called viral suppression, defined as having less than 200 copies of HIV per milliliter of blood.

HIV medicine can also make the viral load so low that a standard lab test cant detect it. This is called having an undetectable level viral load. Almost everyone who takes HIV medicine as prescribed can achieve an undetectable viral load, usually within 6 months after starting treatment.

As noted above, people with HIV who take HIV medicine as prescribed and get and keep an undetectable viral load can live long and healthy lives and will not transmit HIVto their HIV-negative partnersthrough sex.

HIV medicine is a powerful tool for preventing sexual transmission of HIV. But it works only if the HIV-positive partner gets and keeps an undetectable viral load. Not everyone taking HIV medicine has an undetectable viral load. To stay undetectable, people with HIV must take HIV medicine as prescribed and visit their health care provider regularly to get a viral load test. Learn more.

Read Also: Can You Get Hiv From Kissing Someone

Isnt Hiv Only A Risk For Certain Groups Of People

Like most illnesses, HIV doesnt discriminate between types of people and the infection can be passed on to anyone via one of the ways mentioned above.

Some people are more vulnerable to HIV infection if they engage regularly in certain activities that are more likely to transmit the virus. However, its a common misunderstanding that HIV only affects certain groups.

While not everyone has the same level of HIV risk, everyone can reduce their risk of infection.

More On Hiv Transmission Risks At Thebodycom

To find out more about how HIV is passed on, we recommend the following articles:

In addition, our Q& A experts sometimes address questions about transmission risks in our Ask the Experts forums. Here are some of those questions and our experts responses:

• hiv survival outside of the body divergence of opinionsIve seen many people say that the virus dies very quickly when exposed to air but Ive found information elsewhere saying HIV can survive for 5-6 days outside the body in room temperature and drying does not affect its infectivity.
• How long does HIV survive outside the body?I recently touched a door handle that had urine on it. I got the fluid on my palms and I was wondering if you could catch HIV like that. I think the urine had been there for about six hours.

Don’t Miss: Can You Get Hiv From Having Sex One Time

For How Long Does The Hiv Virus Survive Outside The Body

Answered by: Dr Anuj Sharma | World Health Organization, Country Office for India, New Delhi

Q:Why is it said that the HIV virus dies once it is outside the body? All viruses become inactive once outside the body is that not so, and moreover, as far as I know a virus never dies and can always get into its reproduction mode once inside the host cell. So, in this regard I want to know that if suppose I put a drop of HIV infected blood on a slide, keep it exposed for some time, say a couple of hours, and then if I bring an open wound in contact with the dried blood, will the person get infected with HIV?

Conditions Hiv Needs To Survive

HIV could only survive outside the body under these specific conditions:

• Colder temperatures: Outside the body, temperatures below 39 degrees F are ideal for HIV. HIV does not do well at room temperature, or around 68 degrees F. It continues to decline as it reaches and goes beyond body temperature, or 98.6 degrees F.
• Ideal pH: The ideal pH level for HIV is between 7.0 and 8.0. A perfect pH for HIV is 7.1. The virus can’t survive pH levels above or below that.
• Dried blood: HIV can survive in dried blood at room temperature for up to six days. The concentrations of virus in dried blood are typically low to negligible, though.
• No UV exposure: HIV survives longer when is not exposed to ultraviolet radiation. UV light quickly degrades viral DNA. It also degrades the lipids that make up the virus’ shell. This makes it incapable of attaching to other cells and infecting them.

It is technically possible for HIV to survive outside of the body if these conditions are met. Still, infection under these circumstances is very unlikely. So far there have been no documented cases of someone getting infected from a discarded syringe in a public place.

In 2018, a child needlestick study concluded that not one case of HIV occurred following contact with a discarded needle.

In 2015, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed only one needlestick infection since 1999. That case involved a lab researcher working with live HIV.

Don’t Miss: What Are Signs Of Hiv Virus

How Common Is It

In 2006, the Public Health Agency of Canada reported the incidence of HBV as 2.0 cases for every 100,000 or about 650 cases reported annually in Canada. In the year 2013, the incident rate was 0.5 per 100,000 . Incidence of the disease varies from region to region but has been declining due to increasing use of the vaccine and universal immunization programs.

Can You Breastfeed If You Have Hepatitis C

You can breastfeed your baby if you have a hepatitis C infection. Researchers have never found a case where a mother with hepatitis C has passed the infection to her infant through breastfeeding.

Hepatitis C is transmitted through contact with infected blood. Breastmilk doesnt come into contact with blood. However, if your nipples or the areola are cracked or bleeding, you should avoid breastfeeding until theyre healed.

Use a breast pump to express milk until your nipples are healed, and talk with your infants pediatrician about supplemental milk. Once the cracked or scabbed areas are healed, you can resume breastfeeding.

Also Check: Is Hiv Transmitted By Sweat

How Long Does Hiv Live Outside The Body

Overview

There are many myths and misconceptions about how long HIV lives and is infectious in the air or on a surface outside the body.

Unless the virus is kept under specific conditions, the true answer is not very long.

Although it causes a serious disease that cant be cleared by the body, HIV is very fragile in the outside environment. It quickly gets damaged and becomes inactive, or dies. Once inactive, HIV cant become active again, so its the same as if its dead.

Preventing Hepatitis A B & C

The three most common types of hepatitis, a disease characterized by inflammation of the liver, are those caused by the hepatitis A, B, and C viruses. All viral types are contagiousthat is, they can be spread from one person to anotheralthough the methods of transmission vary.

NYU Langone doctors recommend specific preventive steps for each type to limit your risk of acquiring or spreading infection.

Also Check: How Can You Treat Hiv Aids

Hiv Cannot Survive Outside Of The Human Body

As the editor of a health magazine, you will almost certainly be aware that the virus that causes AIDS cannot survive outside of your body for very long. The virus will almost certainly die if you inject HIV-contaminated cells into a vacuum cleaner for a few minutes. Even if the virus successfully survives, there is no way it can spread disease. However, because the virus relies on bodily fluids such as saliva and blood to spread, it can spread from person to person. It is impossible to catch HIV on your bed sheet or clothes because it cannot be transmitted through everyday activities. Regular washing will almost certainly kill the virus.

Protecting Yourself And Others

In general, parents should care for the HIV- infected child in the same way they care for any child. However, you will need to do a few special things to protect yourself and others from the HIV virus.

• Use disposable gloves when coming in contact with the child’s blood or with body fluids that may contain blood.
• Wash your hands before and after touching body fluids or providing care for the child .
• Wear disposable gloves and use paper towels when cleaning up any large spills of blood or stool. Then clean the area with bleach.
• Do not let anyone share razors or toothbrushes with the infected child.
• Cover any open or oozing wounds or sores to prevent contact with bloody body fluids.
• There is no need to separate the HIV-infected child’s clothes from those of other family members unless they are heavily soiled with blood or other body fluids. Wash the child’s clothes in hot, soapy water if they are heavily soiled with blood or other body fluids.

Also Check: Can Untreated Std Turn Into Hiv

How Could You Get Hiv From Contact With Blood

The risk of HIV transmission through blood comes when the person has a detectable viral load and their blood enters another persons body or comes into contact with a mucous membrane. These are parts of the body with wet, absorbent skin such as the:

Theres also a risk if blood from a person who has a detectable viral load comes into contact with a cut or broken skin, giving HIV a way through the skin and into someones bloodstream. If blood gets onto skin that isnt broken, there is no risk.

In a medical setting, its possible for HIV to be transmitted by someone accidentally cutting themselves with a blade or needle they have used to treat a person living with HIV.

This is called a needlestick injury. The risk of being infected in this way is very low. However, if someone thinks they have been exposed to HIV through a needlestick injury, post-exposure prophylaxis may be an option.

Can Hiv Be Active In Water

If youre having HIV, you dont spread it through air or water.

Hiv Cannot Be Spread Through Casual Contact Or Kissing

It is not possible to contract HIV by sharing dishes or drinking glasses, sitting in a toilet seat, or sharing utensils. It is also not possible to acquire HIV through sweat, tears, saliva, or kissing. Can you drink alcohol to get the HIV virus out of your system? Sharing drinks or kissing without disclosing your partners HIV status are not ways to spread the disease. Deep kissing, in which large amounts of saliva are exchanged, is not a good way to get the virus. There have been only a few known cases of this condition.

Don’t Miss: Funeral Advantage Program Aids Seniors Reviews

Protecting Yourself From Hiv

Anyone who has sex without a condom or shares needles is at risk of HIV. The best way to prevent HIV is to use a condom for sex and to never share needles, syringes or other injecting equipment. Knowing your HIV status and that of your partner is also important.

Cuts, sores and bleeding gums increase the risk of spreading HIV so you should cover any cuts or sores before sex, or avoid sex until they are healed.

It is important to continue to practise safer sex even if you, and your sexual partner, both have HIV. This is because it is possible to expose yourself to a new strain of the virus that your medicine will not be able to control.

Further advice and information is available on the link below

There Are Ways That One Can Contract Hiv And There Are A Number Of Ways Some Folks May Think They Can Get Hiv But They Won’t

To clear up the confusion: This virus is passed from one person to another through blood-to-blood contact and sexual contact.

You’re not at risk for contracting HIV simply by touching blood with intact skin. Washing your hands with detergent soap immediately following any potential blood contact should easily kill the virus.

In addition, there’s a risk that HIV infected pregnant women can pass the virus to their baby during pregnancy, delivery or through breast feeding.

Other body fluids that can transmit HIV to doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals include spinal fluid joint fluid and amniotic fluid that surrounds a fetus.

Recommended Reading: How Long Before Hiv Symptoms