Friend Of The World

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.