HIV / AIDS is the acronym that stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
The HIV 1 virus was discovered in the early 1980s. In the case of a deficiency of the immune system, the body’s defenses diminish which can lead to the development of serious diseases or even death. As the disease progresses, it increasingly interferes with the immune system making the infected person more susceptible to other types of diseases and opportunistic infections, which usually do not affect people with a healthy immune system.
In Angola, according to Anaso, the Angolan Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) to combat the disease, HIV-AIDS affects around half a million people, of whom only 78,000 receive antiretroviral therapy. There are an estimated 11 to 12 thousand deaths per year and the number of AIDS-related cases continues to generate unfounded myths and beliefs and lead to discrimination and exclusion. It is for this reason that we must inform, stop prejudice and encourage support and help.
How is HIV transmitted?
HIV is transmitted primarily through unprotected sex (no condom), needle and syringe exchange, transfusions of infected blood or of a mother infected with the virus to her child during pregnancy, at birth or during pregnancy. breastfeeding. Other bodily fluids, such as saliva or tears, do not transmit the virus.
What are symptoms?
Individuals infected with the HIV virus at a primary stage (or acute as it is also identified) may experience flu-like symptoms. This first phase can often go unnoticed. After this first phase the symptoms tend to disappear spontaneously and may take several years until the infected person is diagnosed as having HIV.
How to detect an HIV infection?
Virus detection is performed by a test that confirms or excludes AIDS virus contamination, and the results are generally reliable only 3 months after exposure to risk.
Prevention?
HIV / AIDS infection still has no cure, and prevention is a very important factor in the fight against this disease. Situations and risk factors should be avoided:
– Do not share needles and syringes or other sharp objects.
– Do not perform any kind of unprotected sex (without a condom
– In the event of sexual abuse, the competent authorities should be notified immediately and a hospital examination should be carried out as soon as possible so that measures can be taken for post-exposure prophylaxis to prevent becoming infected with HIV, as well as with other sexually transmitted diseases.
In case of a positive result of infection, the partner or persons with whom the virus has had sexual contact should be immediately be notified.
What HIV treatment is there?
Although there is still no cure or vaccine, progress in medicine has led to a considerable increase in life expectancy with antiretroviral treatment which helps slow the development of the disease and increase life expectancy of the patient infected with the virus.
An HIV infection is and remains a deadly disease, however. Early diagnosis promotes more effective treatment.
