. To me, this i!
             s the worst type of transmission because babies are defenseless and have no idea what is happening to them when they are so young (Treto). Even when the children of HIV-infected mothers are fortunate enough to avoid the virus, there is still yet another incidence of heart problems 12 times that of the children in the general population (Folks 4). Practices such as open mouth kissing, sharing toothbrushes, and sharing razors should be avoided. Researchers have recently identified a protein in saliva that prevents HIV from infecting white blood cells known as secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor SLPI (Folks 4-5). There is no evidence of HIV being transmitted through insects because when the virus enters the insect, the insect does not become infected and cannot transmit HIV to the next human it feeds on or bites (Alvin Silverstein 18). Detection and Diagnosis In 1983 a blood test was invented to detect whether a person's blood contained antibodies against HIV, which was an ind!
             ication that the person had been exposed to the virus. Three years ago an additional blood test was invented to detect HIV antigens. This enabled doctors to identify HIV even before the donor's immune system had time to make antibodies. When new strains of HIV are identified from around the world, they will need to be evaluated for detection by these tests. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta Georgia established an authoritative definition for the diagnoses of AIDS. They concluded that the CD4 T-cell count in an HIV positive person must be below 200 cells per cubic mm of blood, or there has to be the clinical appearance of an initial AIDS-defining opportunistic infection, such as PCP (a type of pneumonia), oral candidiasis, pulmonary tuberculosis, or invasive cervical carcinoma (cancer in the cervix of women) (Virginia Silverstein 23). Occurrence There were more than 580,000 reported cases of AIDS in the United States bet...