Wath is the VIH?
HIV stands for
Human Immunodeficiency Virus is the virus that when left untreated, progresses
to AIDS or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. With lel time have identified 2
types of human immunodeficiency virus: HIV 1 and HIV 2., The first, first
called LAV, was isolated in 1983 by a team led Pasteur Institute by Luc
Montagnier . Three years later he
isolated HIV2 which is located in the area of West Africa. HIV 2 is less
pathogenic than HIV1.
The virus attacks
the body's immune system, especially the white blood cells called CD-4 (also
called "T cells"). The immune system is one that fight infection to
keep your body healthy, T cells play an important role keeping the person
protected against infection. If the immune system is weak, it can protect the
body and is easy to get sick. It takes an average period of 10 years for
someone infected with the HIV virus develops SIDA.sin however, this average is
based on the infected person in a reasonable feed, someone who has problems of
malnutrition may develop AIDS more quickly. According to the report of the
United Nations Program on AIDS (UNAIDS) ages most affected by AIDS are between
25 and 34 years. every day there are 6,000 young people between 15 and 24 years
of age and 2,000 children under 15 years who are infected. One tenth of the
newly infected are under 15 years, leading to 2.7 million the number of
children currently living with HIV. It is believed that the majority
(approximately 90%) has been infected through their mothers through pregnancy,
childbirth or breastfeeding. Over 13 million children orphaned by AIDS, and
1,600 die daily. . The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that for this
decade at least 110 million people worldwide are infected with HIV.
How is it transmitted?
This virus is found
in blood and sexual fluids of an infected person and in breast milk from an
infected mother. The same transmission occurs when a sufficient quantity of
these fluids enters the bloodstream of another person, is so weak he can not
live off the blood or fluids that have been mentioned because it resists heat,
cold, humidity, dry air or disinfectants.
There are several
ways in which a person can become infected with HIV:
·
Unprotected
sex with an infected person. The practice of unprotected sex carries the risk
of infection
·
Contact
with the blood of an infected person. If a sufficient amount of blood that
belongs to an infection enters the body of another person, the virus can be
transmitted.
·
Use of infected blood products. A few years
ago, many people became infected with HIV through the use of blood transfusions
and blood products were contaminated with the virus. In various parts of the
world, this is no longer a significant risk, as blood donations are scanned for
the HIV virus.
·
Injectable Drugs. can be transmitted when
using equipment that has been previously used by infected people. In many parts
of the world, because it is illegal to possess, shared injecting equipment and
syringes.
·
From mother to child. can be transmitted from
an infected mother to her child during pregnancy, childbirth and breast feeding
AIDS can infect
anyone, and we all know how we can ensure infected or not, is not transmitted
by mosquitoes, flies, fleas, bees or other similar insects. Mosquitoes do not
transmit for two reasons:
1. The mosquito
sucks blood, but injects saliva. The blood has to be injected again.
2. HIV dies within
the body of the mosquito.
It is impossible to
be transmitted:
- When shaking
hands, hugging or kissing a person carrying or sick.
- For droplets of
saliva expelled a person talking, coughing, sneezing or simply breathing.
- For use phones of
people infected or ill.
- To use common
sanitary.
- By sharing eating
utensils.
- Through the
saliva or hair of pets such as dogs or cats
- Through sharing
clothing, towels, sheets or a sick or carrier.
- For swimming with
someone sick or carrier.
- By going to
school, work or share some social gathering, with a carrier or ill person.
- By donating blood
using disposable needles.
-For a haircut with
scissors used in hair salons.
- By eating food
prepared by an infected or ill.
- To give massages
to people infected or ill.
- To administer
rescue breathing. especially if there are no wounds or cavities in the mouth of
the healthy person, if so, it is best to ask someone else to do
Symptoms
Some people
experience a kind of flu, rash or swollen lymph nodes for a short period after
infection. . Secondary symptoms are:
persistent cough
for over a month;
_ Heavy sweating at
night;
Itchy skin rashes
_;
_ Canker sores;
_ Thrush (fungal
infection in the mouth and throat);
_ Herpes infection,
and
_ Swollen glands.
However, they are
also common symptoms of minor illnesses and do not necessarily imply that the
person is infected.
Often people
infected with HIV have no symptoms. It is important to remember that a person
with HIV can transmit the virus immediately after infection, even if you feel
healthy. It is not possible to say at a glance that a person is infected with
HIV.
The only way to
know for sure whether someone is infected is that the person to undergo an HIV
screening test.
How is treated VIH
Antiretroviral
drugs reduce levels of HIV in the body, so that the immune system can recover
and function effectively. Antiretroviral drugs allow HIV-positive many people
enjoy a long and healthy life.
That is, the
medications should be taken every day for the rest of the life of the infected.
Following the treatment is especially important because it increases the risk of drug resistance. The
side effects of HIV drugs can cause treatment compliance more difficult. In
addition, these drugs tend to be very strong. There are ways to reduce the
impact of these side effects, but sometimes it is necessary to abandon the
previous treatment and start an alternative treatment.
More than 20
antiretroviral drugs are approved for the treatment of this infection in the
United States and Europe, and new drugs currently under study. Although
treatment for HIV has become more accessible in recent years, access to
antiretroviral treatment has restrictions in parts of the world due to lack of
funds.
Tests to detect?
The diagnosis for
the presence of HIV or AIDS should be very careful and made with all
responsibility and ethics, the impact this disease has on the personal, family
and social taboos sick about it.
Diagnosis begins
with a complete medical history to record the lifestyle of the person,
especially sexual, so the person must be very honest and fully disclosed, with
the confidence that you consult the doctor must respect the ethical standards
that are part of the medical response. It is also important to discuss with
your doctor if you have been subjected to blood transfusions and when they
happened or has been in contact with human blood without protection, either
because they work with it or who has attended an accident.
The laboratory test
that requires the presence of HIV antibodies is known as ELISA, is performed in
clinical laboratories, health centers and clinics for sexually transmitted
diseases.
The first test for
HIV, it can sometimes be negative, because from infection to positive
seroconversion can spend a period of "blind" or false negative, so if
you have doubt or risk behaviors have developed is advisable to conduct a
further review in a period of about 6 months in which roughly 95% of those
infected with positive results. This period is very important because if you
trust the person can infect others. It is considered as a person infected with
HIV or HIV positive to having two positive tests and a positive supplemental
test.
However, being HIV
positive does not mean you have AIDS, should avoid sexual intercourse, which is
at risk of imminent death or that it is impossible to lead a normal life, just
means you have to take special care and great respect and control to their sexual
behavior.
How to prevent?
Despite the
reasonable studies and investments, there is currently no vaccine for HIV.
Microbicides (designed to prevent HIV transmission during sex) are still being
analyzed. However, there are other ways people can protect themselves from this
infection, which is the basis of HIV prevention around the world.
Information about
HIV and methods of transmission are an essential part of prevention. The HIV
information should be provided on the basis of the culture in which it is
offered. In addition, this information exchange can be performed in various
settings such as schools, campaigns in the media or peer education.
Preventing sexual
transmission of HIV
If a person has sex
with an infected can also contract the disease. The 'safe sex' refers to what
can be done to minimize the risk of becoming infected during sex. Mainly, using
condoms consistently and correctly. A person can be sure to protect against
this infection by choosing not to have sex, or doing things that do not involve
the entry of blood or sexual fluids of another person in her own body. This
type of sexual activity is all that is considered 'safe sex'.
Effective sex
education is important to offer young people the knowledge and skills to
protect themselves from sexual transmission of HIV. Comprehensive sex education
should develop skills and attitudes that encourage healthy sexual relations,
along with providing detailed information about how to practice 'safe sex'.
How to avoid
transmission of HIV through the bloodstream?
A person can
protect against this infection to ensure that no infected blood enters your
body.
Injecting drug
users who share needles or equipment for these practices are at risk of
infection. The needle exchange programs can contribute to reducing HIV transmission amongdrug users by providing clean needles and discard those that have already been used.
Health workers may
be exposed to infection at work. The most effective way to limit the risk of
infection is to use universal precautions with every patient, for example, hand
washing and use of protective barriers (gloves, aprons and goggles). When a
health worker is exposed to a potential risk of infection at work, it is
recommended post-exposure prophylaxis as a preventive measure.
Preventing HIV
transmission from mother to child
This type of
transmission can be prevented through the use of antiretroviral drugs, reducing
the chances that child will become infected from 25% to a percentage less than
2%. Once the child is born, safe feeding practices can also reduce the risk of
transmission of infection.
To take these
precautions, an HIV positive mother should know their status. Therefore,
testing for HIV during pregnancy is a crucial measure of prevention.
mothers can reduce
the risk of infecting their babies if:
-Take antiviral
drugs.
-Shorten the time
and labor.
-Not breastfeed
their babies.
Taking antiviral
drugs lower the risk of transmission from 20% to 8% or less. Shortening the
time of delivery reduces the risk of transmission and cesarean delivery is
reduced to 2%.
Rights of AIDS
patients:
Like any human
being ill, people with AIDS are entitled to care and affection of those around
them, without fear of being infected.
Your rights are
also the:
1. Be informed and
inform their sexual partners, and also a right to them and their responsibility.
2. Be treated as
people and defend their rights to respect, solidarity, love and support.
3. Receive
appropriate and timely medical care, quality and warmth.
4. To continue in
school or work if others know of their disease.
5. To keep the
secret to those who deem it necessary.
6. Unless
conditioned to work up public transport, travel, go to the hospital, shop,
shopping, cinemas or any other public place.
7. Unless forced,
or force someone to have sex.
8. to use and
preventive measures are used as condoms.
9. A comprehensive
assistance, physical, medical and psychological.
10. To be treated
well within his family.
