Question
Am I a risk to my family?
2 August 2007. Related: All topics, Children, HIV transmission, Newly diagnosed.
Hi thanks for your answers that gives me great hopes.
I just got diagnosed HIV positive, as a married man with a child, I live in constant fear of infecting my family.
I feel as if i don’t belong to my house any more. I feel dirty each time I get in contact with them.
Am I safe to be with them?
Answer
Hi
First of all, it is going to take you time to come to terms with being HIV-positive. You are not at risk for passing HIV from any normal day-to-day contact so you are not a risk to your family and friends.
Although there is still stigma and shame attached to HIV, it is only a virus, and there is nothing to be gained by making yourself more miserable about this. You have just been very unlucky in having caught HIV, and now need to focus on the most positive way to deal with it.
However, your if you have not been using condoms with your wife, then she should also have an HIV test for her own health.
If your wife is HIV-negative, or while she is untested, it is really important to use a condom to protect her from HIV.
At some time this is something that you will need to talk to your partner about.
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