AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) is a disease of the human immune system caused by HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). There is a loss of protection against even the simplest infections, which makes someone with AIDS extremely vulnerable to developing a variety of illnesses, infections, and cancers. There is currently no vaccination available and a person can be infected by infectious material such as blood, semen, and vaginal fluid. The greatest risk for contracting HIV is through sexual contact with an infected partner. And the risk of HIV transmission in athletics is minimal. The highest risk sports of HIV transmission are boxing, martial arts, wrestling, and rugby. Furthermore, there is a moderate risk of transmission by playing basketball, hockey, football, and soccer. Finally, the lowest risk of transmission is by playing badminton, baseball, and archery. Even with these claims there is still no definite answer to whether an asymptomatic HIV carrier (someone with no symptoms) should participate in sports. The American with Disability Act of 1991 states that athletes infected with HIV cannot be discriminated against and may be excluded from participation only on a medically sound basis. Neither the NCAA or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend mandatory HIV testing for athletes.
Crazy to think that there could be a possibility of contracting HIV through participating in sports, no matter how minimal. And the risk is there for athletic trainers as well, since they are in constant care and contact with their athletes. I wonder how many asymptomatic athletes are participating in sports today? I wonder if there is any way to actually find that out since athletes with HIV cannot be discriminated against? Overall, HIV and AIDS are things every athlete and athletic trainer should be aware of to best protect themselves and others around them.
Work Cited
Sutliff, Michael A., and Richard Bomgardner. HIV/AIDS--how to Maintain a Safe Environment. 65 Vol. , 1994. ProQuest. Web. 30 Apr. 2013.
This post is extremely interesting; I would have never thought that playing sports had any risk for contracting diseases that I previously would have thought were limited to only sexual/fluid transmission. And that an athletic trainer handling injuries is in slight risk of contracting it by treating an athlete! I do agree that infected athletes should not be discriminated against, and that transmission must be extremely rare, it's just a risk I would not have thought of at all. As an athletic trainer, it puts you in constant risk for your health just by helping someone. I wonder what kind of precautions trainers today have to take for these kind of things.
ReplyDeleteI also wanted to say that this is a really well written post. You present the information, have a thorough discussion emphasizing what you want to convey, and then conclude with your reaction and further questions. All of it is informative and thoughtful. Good job!