1st December is World AIDS Day. This disease affects the immune system, which is the body’s natural defense against diseases. If left untreated, serious illnesses can develop. Normally harmless infections, such as the flu or bronchitis, can get worse, be very difficult to treat, or even lead to death. In addition, the risk of cancer is also accumulated. A person doesn’t die from AIDS, they actually die from an illness that the body cannot fend off.
HIV has caused 36.3 million deaths from 1981 until 2020. It is one of the most devastating diseases that humanity has ever known. Some authors consider HIV/AIDS a global pandemic. However, the WHO currently uses the term ‘global epidemic‘ to describe HIV. Actually, 37.7 million people globally were living with HIV in 2020 and 1.5 million of them became newly infected. Sadly, 680 000 died from AIDS-related illnesses in the same year.
What’s the difference between AIDS and HIV ?
HIV (Human immunodeficiency Virus), is a virus that targets cells in the immune system. Over time, the immune system begins to fail that’s called immunodeficiency, and this increases the risk of infections or tumors. But with a weak immune system, the body cannot fight these complications that we refer to as AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).
Having been infected with HIV does not necessarily mean that you have AIDS. AIDS is the last stage of infection.
- After the infection of the body with the HIV, the body produces antibodies. The person goes from the HIV negative stage to the HIV positive stage.
- In the asymptomatic phase (2 to 5 years), the virus continues to attack the immune system, there are not really “typical” symptoms.
- The acceleration phase: immunity continues to run out little by little.
- The AIDS phase: the immune defenses are so weak that one (or more) disease develops. An HIV-positive person has AIDS when they develop an opportunistic disease. Without antiretroviral treatment, the person eventually dies.
Types of HIV
There are two main types of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV): HIV-1 and HIV-2. Both can cause AIDS. However, they are very different from each other.
Worldwide, the main virus is HIV-1. HIV-1 accounts for approximately 95% of all infections worldwide. It is estimated that the genetic difference between HIV-2 and HIV-1 exceeds 55%.
HIV-1 can be found all over the world, but HIV-2 is almost limited to West Africa. HIV-1 spreads more easily than HIV-2, and HIV-1 infection progresses to AIDS faster.
Causes of HIV
HIV can be transmitted through the exchange of body fluids from infected people such as blood, breast milk, semen, and vaginal fluids. It can also be passed from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding. You cannot be infected through everyday contacts such as kissing, hugging, shaking hands, or sharing personal items, water, or food.
Symptoms of HIV/AIDS
Symptoms induced by HIV vary depending on the stage of infection. While people living with HIV tend to be most infectious during the first few months, many are unaware of their situation until later stages. In the first few weeks after the initial infection, people may remain asymptomatic or develop flu-like symptoms with fever, headache, erythema, or sore throat.
As the infection weakens the immune system, other signs and symptoms may appear, such as swelling of the lymph nodes, weight loss, fever, diarrhea, and cough. If left untreated, serious illnesses are likely to develop such as tuberculosis, severe bacterial infections, or certain cancers, such as lymphomas or Kaposi’s sarcoma, among others.
HIV diagnosis
Testing for the presence of HIV in the blood can be done in a laboratory or at home using auto-tests.
- The classic test: it searches the blood for the presence of HIV antibodies (no need to be fasting to perform this assay in the laboratory).
- The rapid test: a drop of blood is taken from the fingertip, the result is given in 30 minutes. If the result is positive, a standard blood test should be performed to confirm or not the presence of the virus
- the auto-test: The result is obtained in 15 minutes.
Treatments of HIV/AIDS
This virus is so difficult to treat because its mutation rate is so high. Since HIV belongs to the retrovirus family, drugs used today against infection are called “antiretroviral” (ARV). While they do not make HIV disappear, they only protect the body’s immune defenses to prevent the onset of opportunistic disease. Anyone who is HIV positive begins antiretroviral therapy that also reduces the risk of HIV transmission but does not prevent it.
At this moment, there is no effective cure for HIV. But with proper medical care, you can control the virus.
HIV/AIDS prevention
Although many researchers are working to develop a vaccine for the prevention of HIV, there’s currently no vaccine available at the moment. However, taking certain steps can help prevent the transmission of this virus.
- Male condom: to be effective, the condom should be used alone, and preferably with a water-based lubricant. The use of two condoms on top of each other with oil or Vaseline increases the risk of tearing.
- Female condom: Less common than the male condom but just as effective, the female condom can be placed in the vagina several hours before sex. As with the male condom, it is not advisable to use two at the same time. The female condom is also for single use.
- Avoid sharing needles or other utensils. HIV is transmitted through blood and can be infected through the use of materials that have been in contact with the blood of HIV-infected persons.
- The Prep: Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis is a treatment to be taken before (and after) possible contact with HIV. It is intended for people who do not have HIV. It reduces the risk of infection with HIV but does not cancel it 100%.
- The PEP : People who have been exposed to HIV should contact their healthcare provider for information about obtaining post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). PEP can reduce the risk of HIV infection. It consists of three antiretroviral drugs for a period of 28 days. PEP must be started within 72 hours of coming into contact with the virus for it to be effective. It’s only recommended following higher risk exposure, particularly where the sexual partner is known to be positive.
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