Caring For An Infected Person

Caring For An Infected Person

If you are caring for someone with HIV or AIDS, it is important for you to take care of your own health for two very important reasons:

• Germs that may cause only minor sickness in you can have very serious consequences if transmitted to someone with a weakened immune system.
  
  
• Staying healthy will give you the strength to care for someone who is likely to get sicker as time goes by. Make sure you eat a healthy diet, exercise and get enough rest. If you live with the person you are caring for, try to take time for yourself. This will help reduce stress and burnout.
  
  

Here are some other tips that will help.

• Cook or peel all fruits and vegetables including organic ones because the germs on their skins can cause illness.
  
• A person with HIV should not eat uncooked meat or fish, raw eggs, unpasteurized milk or organic lettuce.
  
• Wearing rubber gloves, wet mop the floors with a mixture of 1 part bleach to 9 parts waters at least once a week and flush the dirty water down the toilet.
  
• Never share a razor or toothbrush with someone who has HIV.
  
• Wet garbage such as diapers, bandages and menstrual pads should be put into plastic bags to prevent leakage.
  
• When handling needles, hold the sharp end away from your body. Put used needles in a sturdy plastic container that has a lid (not glass because it may break), and give it to your health care professional for safe disposal. Some municipalities have programs for the proper disposal of needles; ask your local health department if such a program is available in your area.
  
• If you do stick yourself with a needle, don't panic. Put the needle in the needle container. Wash the place where you were stuck for at least 15 minutes using warm, soapy water. Then call your doctor or clinic, explain what happened and ask what to do next.