December 1st is World AIDS Day.
We are providing awareness-raising materials on the subject, so that you can stay informed and help pass on the message: understand, know and prevent yourself, the best means of protection against the HIV virus.
What is HIV?
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus acts on the cells of the immune system responsible for defending the body.
When infected by the virus, the cells of the immune system lose their effectiveness, until, over time, the body’s ability to fight common diseases decreases and it becomes prone to the appearance of opportunistic infections, such as AIDS.
This means that HIV is the agent that can cause AIDS.
What is the difference between being infected with HIV and having AIDS?
As with other infections, the immune system of a person infected with HIV produces antibodies against the virus, which can be detected in the blood by carrying out a simple test.
When these antibodies are detected, a person is said to be HIV positive.
An HIV-positive person may not have any signs or symptoms of the disease, appearing healthy for up to several years.
However, that person is infected and, because the virus is present in their body, they can transmit it to another person during that time.
AIDS only appears much later and is related to the progressive degradation of the immune system and the concomitant lowering of defenses against other diseases that usually don’t affect a healthy person.
Thus, AIDS – the final stage of an infection that can last several years – is only diagnosed when opportunistic diseases appear or when certain clinical tests have altered values.
The length of time between the virus entering the body and the diagnosis of AIDS depends on the care/support the person receives:
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Avoid re-infection;
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Personal care and hygiene;
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Appropriate medical follow-up and treatment;
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Support from family and friends.
With the correct use of new drugs that slow down the multiplication of the virus and drugs that prevent opportunistic diseases, the onset of AIDS can be delayed for several more years.
But remember, not everyone with HIV goes on to develop AIDS.
How is HIV transmitted?
Transmission can occur in the following ways:
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Blood: only transmits HIV if it is infected and enters the body.
The main cause of transmission via this route is sharing needles, syringes and other objects contaminated with HIV. -
Unprotected sexual intercourse: the sexual secretions of an infected person can very likely transmit HIV whenever there is penetrative sexual intercourse without a condom.
The risk is greater in sexual relations with unknown partners, multiple sexual partners or occasional partners, situations in which the use of condoms is essential. -
From the infected mother to her child: you can transmit the infection to your baby during pregnancy, during childbirth or during breastfeeding.
Symptoms
Initially, a person infected with HIV has no symptoms.
After contracting the infection, there may be flu-like symptoms:
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Fever;
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Headaches;
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Tiredness;
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Inflamed lymph nodes in the neck and groin.
Later, the symptoms become more serious, such as:
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Rapid weight loss;
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Serious infections;
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Pneumonia;
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Prolonged diarrhea;
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Lesions in the mouth, anus or genitals;
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Memory loss;
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Depression;
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Other neurological disorders.
Have you engaged in any risky behavior?
Test yourself with a blood test.
If it’s positive, start treatment now!
With the regular use of antiretroviral drugs, you can control the disease, prevent it from developing into AIDS and guarantee an increase in life expectancy.
Understand, know and prevent.
The best means of protection against the HIV virus.
