HIV infection finally leads to the development of the AIDS. After the HIV infection it takes some years for the AIDS to set in. Once a patient starts getting opportunistic infections then the stage is termed as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). It is a very dangerous disease and there is no vaccine and definitive treatment available for the effective protection and treatment of the disease. Therefore the prevention is only cure for the disease. The transmission of the disease will be by blood, semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk into the body. Measures to prevent HIV infection are -

• Education is the most important tool to improve the social awareness regarding the disease and is the effective mean to prevent the transmission.
• Before going for unprotected sex HIV status of the partner should be confirmed.
• New condom should be used every time the vaginal or anal sex is performed. Old condom should be thrown away and should not be repeated at all. One can chose from polyurethane or latex condoms. Females can also use female condoms. One should not use oil based lubricant along with the latex condoms as they tend to weaken the condom. Along with latex condoms only water based lubricants should be used. While doing oral sex, flavored condoms, dental dam or plastic wrap can be used.
• Male circumcision reduces a man's risk of acquiring HIV through heterosexual intercourse by more than 50%.  Medically performed circumcision although carries a lot of other benefits also.
• Drug users should use new needle every time to inject the drug.
• Blood or blood products transfusion should be taken into account only after ensuring personally that the product is free from HIV. One should not only rely on the blood bank but he/she should check the certificate of the laboratory themselves.
• If someone has multiple sexual partners than he/she shall take the tests yearly to rule out any infection. Like women are advised Pap smear yearly.
• Although the number of deaths have decreased due to the AIDS by the newer drugs available in the market and due to the latest modalities of treatment but still one should keep in mind that AIDS is not curable and there is no vaccine available for the HIV yet.
• HIV infected persons should always follow the safe sex practices and should take effective protection so that they will not pass on infection to others.
• All the partners of HIV infected person need to be tested and if positive then they will need the proper medical care.
• Pregnant lady if infected with HIV should take appropriate treatment so that the transmission of the disease to the fetus is prevented.
• HIV infected person should not share needles or syringes, donate blood or organs, share razor blades or toothbrushes to prevent the effective transmission of the virus to others.