Abstract des Autors

The dimension of HIV/AIDS epidemic are incessantly growing in Italy and all over the World. OMS estimated that 4,000,000 cases of AIDS and more than 16,000,000 cases of HIV seropositives exist among the adult population. It is estimated that more than 60% of HIV infections in Italy have occurred between the ages of 15 to 24; data provided by CONI estimate that more than 30% of practising sportsmen fall within these ages. This article discusses the possible presence of seropositive athletes who practise sport. The strategies of prevention of HIV infection in sport have to consider the possible risk at three levels: - the single seropositive athlete; - the other athletes present on the playing-field; - people who come to the aid of the injured athlete, the audience included. Although at present the risk of transmission in sport activities is low, occasions during which the risk of HIV infection between the seropositive athlete and people who assist him on playing-field could occur are more in detail analysed. Because of the presence of the risk, a series of health rules, which refer to General Cautions, and which aim to guarantee the rescuer protection and to avoid the discrimination of seropositives towards sport activity are presented. Verf.-Referat