HIV/AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) is an infectious disease caused by a virus called HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), which destroys the immune system of the person who suffers from it.
It is called a syndrome because the patient may present a wide spectrum of diseases and infections specific to this disease and common to others. It affects the immune system, which protects the body from germs and viruses, leaving it in a deficient state.
The disease is not transmitted genetically but is acquired through different transmission routes.
An HIV-positive person produces about 10 billion new HIV particles every day and produces and destroys approximately 2 billion immune lymphocytes that fight the virus.
A person is diagnosed with AIDS when their CD4 cell count is less than 200 or when certain opportunistic infections appear.
Currently, the quantification of viral load is considered crucial as an indicator of disease progression and prognosis, as well as for the administration and control of treatments.
More than 10 years can pass between transmission and the development of the disease.
Is HIV and AIDS the same thing?
No, AIDS is one of the most developed stages of HIV infection. But the presence of the HIV virus in the body does not necessarily mean the person has AIDS. Therefore, three different forms of the virus are identified in the human body:
a) Asymptomatic form: the virus is present in some cells of the body, but the carrier is healthy and shows no symptoms. This can remain for several years.
b) Intermediate form: symptoms common to other diseases appear, such as weight loss and enlarged lymph nodes, among others. These symptoms persist over time without a clear explanation for their appearance.
c) AIDS: this is the most advanced form of the HIV infection when the immune defenses are low, and secondary diseases of three types start to appear:
1) Opportunistic infections: tuberculosis, pneumocystosis, toxoplasmosis, viral infections, etc.
2) Tumor processes: skin (Kaposi’s sarcoma), lymphoma, and central nervous system tumors.
3) Direct damage to the central nervous system or other organs by the virus.
Where does the virus reside?
It is present in all bodily fluids: blood, semen, vaginal fluids, breast milk, saliva, tears, and urine. However, only in blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk does the virus acquire a high enough concentration to transmit the infection.
How is HIV transmitted?
Three routes of transmission have been identified:
- Sexual: any type of unprotected sexual intercourse carries risks. The risk of transmission is higher in genital-anal relationships because of mucosal injury and in oral sex due to existing lesions.
- Blood and bodily fluids: uncontrolled blood transfusions, sharing needles, syringes, or drug-sniffing instruments (nasal bleeding).
- Vertical or perinatal: During pregnancy and childbirth, an HIV-positive woman can transmit the virus to her child.
How is HIV NOT transmitted?
Using condoms during sexual intercourse.
It is not transmitted through sneezing, mosquito bites, or sharing dishes or bathrooms. Wax depilation is not a transmission method either.
Saliva, tears, sweat, air, water, and food are not transmission vehicles.
It is not transmitted through sports, kissing, hugging, shaking hands, playing, working, studying, bathing in showers or swimming pools, or sharing clothes with infected individuals.
Blood donation does not cause transmission, as blood is always collected using disposable materials. A person receiving controlled blood transfusions is safe.
Any procedure involving a risk of cuts or punctures should be performed with disposable or sterilized materials.
Can a person who developed AIDS be treated?
Yes, while most treatments only delay disease progression, they have not been able to cure it permanently. Hence, prevention plays a crucial role due to the lack of a definitive solution.
There are three types of treatments:
1. Treatments against infections: antibiotics, antifungals, antiparasitics, antivirals, etc. These drugs are effective, but since the immune defenses may remain low, the risk of relapse is high, making long-term treatment necessary. These treatments are not always well tolerated, but some infections can be prevented with early prophylactic treatments (Primary Prophylaxis).
2. Treatments against tumors: chemotherapy, radiotherapy, etc. Although these treatments do not cure the disease, they can slow down its progression.
3. Specific treatments against HIV: currently, a combination of three or more types of medications is recommended. These drugs prevent the virus from replicating for long periods, thus slowing the disease’s progression, but they do not eliminate the virus completely. Research into new drugs is ongoing.
4. Early treatments: individuals who are HIV-positive and show signs of disease progression (CD4 count below 500/ml and viral load above 10,000 copies of the virus per cubic milliliter of plasma) may receive antiretroviral treatment.
Prevention
Safe sex: always use condoms, regardless of the type of sexual relationship or partner.
Blood and material control: demand the use of disposable syringes and needles, and ensure that controlled blood is used in blood transfusions. Demand disposable materials in the dentist’s office.
Do not share needles and syringes: individuals who use drugs should avoid sharing these items, as well as straws or other instruments used for inhalation. The best recommendation is to avoid drug use due to the harm it causes to the body.
How to destroy this virus?
Chemicals:
Bleach: (sodium hypochlorite). Used in a 1/10 concentration for 15 minutes. Useful for disinfecting surfaces and bathrooms.
Alcohol (ethanol - isopropyl alcohol) 70 degrees: For 4 minutes. Used for disinfecting the skin. Formaldehyde derivatives (glutaraldehyde and formaldehyde). Used in concentrations from 0.5% to 2% for 30 to 60 minutes. Useful for disinfecting surgical and endoscopic equipment. Reduced activity by proteins.
Iodine derivatives (povidone, etc.) 2.5% concentration, 15 minutes. Used for disinfecting skin and mucous membranes.
Physical:
Heat: Above 56°C or boiling. Can be used for bedding and dishware.
Ultraviolet rays, X-rays, and gamma rays are ineffective.
Can an asymptomatic person spread the virus?
Yes. Even without showing any signs of illness, a person infected with HIV can transmit the virus.
Even if undergoing treatment, a person can still spread the virus. Therefore, infected individuals should use condoms during sexual relations, even if their partner is also HIV-positive, to prevent reinfection and an increase in circulating virus, which can lead to the development or worsening of the disease.
Can animals get infected?
No, HIV infection is strictly human. No animals have developed the disease.
Viruses isolated from African monkeys (green monkey, etc.) are cousins of HIV. They are not responsible for AIDS. HIV transmission is exclusively between humans.
Are women at greater risk?
Yes, women are more exposed to transmission in all forms of sexual relations because semen is the fluid with the highest concentration of the virus after blood, and due to female anatomy, semen may remain in contact with the genital mucosa for longer periods.
Is there a risk of transmission from sharing items with a carrier?
HIV is not transmitted through air, water, food, or by contact with the skin of an infected person or through objects they handle.
HIV infection is not transmitted by using a phone, public transportation, swimming in the same pool, or sitting on the same toilet.
In families with HIV patients, sharing kitchenware, clothing, or sanitary items has not led to transmission.
However, personal hygiene items that may be contaminated with blood, such as toothbrushes or razors, should not be shared, due to the risk of transmitting Hepatitis B or C.
Is there a risk of transmission through sharp objects?
Reusing sharp or cutting tools that have been in contact with the blood or deep tissues of an HIV-infected person represents a potential risk of transmission, unless they have been properly cleaned and sterilized.
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