AIDS help?

There is a student at my school who MAY have been infected with AIDS. His mother is very ill now. I also heard teachers talking about how his mother was infected by a blood transfusion after giving birth to him. Kids don't want to sit next to him at lunch, and they bug him. What should I do?

Hey, Jenn - Actually, you've pretty much answered your own question. The guy's mother was infected from receiving infected blood during a transfusion ***after*** giving birth to him. The risk of this guy actually having HIV are slim to none. Infants born with HIV or who contracted it during breast feeding, back during the late '80's and early '90's, used to develop opportunistic infections frequently (more often than adults with HIV), and it was more common for those kids to not survive childhood, or at best, their teenage years.

Even if he is HIV-positive, well, unless anyone plans on either: sharing their IV drug paraphanalia with him when they shoot up at lunch, or everyone wants to have unprotected sex with him, or the kids in school have routine, "between the students" blood transfusions, then no one is at risk of being around the guy.

I'll say it again, just for emphasis - EVEN IF THIS GUY IS HIV-POSITIVE, the casual contact that students have at school WILL NOT PUT THEM AT ANY RISK of contracting HIV.

However, from your question, the chances that the guy is HIV-positive are right around non-existent. If you decide to be his friend, be prepared for some of the same treatment as he's getting. Sadly, there's still a huge stigma surrounding HIV. One other suggestion about being this guy's friend (if you decide to do it) - keep in mind he's not your "project". I doubt that he wants someone to hang around him and feel sorry for him. If you really want to be his friend, be just that - his friend. But congratulations on having the maturity to even ask about how to help. A lot of people out here will be pulling for you, as well as for him. All the best, sweetie, and good luck.

probably nothing. although it's not right, people dont want to be near people with aids. I sure don't. I know you need blood in order to contract it, but it doesn't matter to me. I worked with a guy for one day. about mid day i found out that he had aids and i was paranoid the rest of the day. He is what you would call a victim of circumstance. there is nothing you can do, but certainly don't be mean to him. He is still human.

comfort him. say that most people have this disease and you would help him get through it.

Be an adult an treat him like you would anybody else. Maybe its just a rumor.