HIV-positive Project Runway star describes living with the disease

Mondo Guerra, former participant in the reality television program Project Runway, recently discussed with CNN the difficulties he has faced from living with HIV.

Guerra told the news source that his biggest day-to-day battle involves ensuring that he does not forget to take one of his many medications.

Individuals with HIV often have to take multiple antiviral and transcriptase-inhibiting prescription medications in order to avoid the complications of the disease, which can include skin lesions, Kaposi's sarcomas, tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis and pneumonia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The TV star added that he did not think the stigma of having HIV or AIDS has receded at all, and that the public needs to be more thoroughly educated on the dangers and modes of transmission of the virus.

HIV may be contracted through unprotected sexual contact, needle sharing, or may be passed from mother to child during childbirth. Those who suspect they have contracted HIV may consider looking into online testing services as soon as possible.

Men who have sex with men (MSM), like Guerra, account for a larger percentage of yearly infections than any other demographic. The CDC estimates that each year, 53 percent of new HIV infections occur in MSM.