All about AIDS and HIV: what they are, history, symptoms and treatment

AIDS - Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - is a serious disease of the immune system caused by the HIV virus - Human Immunodeficiency Virus - of the acronym in English. This disease when left untreated can lead to death, as the presence of the HIV virus weakens the body's defense system, leaving the person more susceptible to other infections by viruses, fungi or bacteria that are normally combated by the healthy immune system. So far, there is no definitive cure, as well as

vaccine.

When infected with the HIV virus - Human Immunodeficiency Virus - the person is called HIV positive or seropositive and can contaminate others through contact with his blood and / or body fluids, even though he does not show any specific signs or symptoms.

The virus replicates slowly within the body, affecting the defense cells of the human body, the CD4 + T lymphocytes, the main targets of HIV. It is these cells that organize and command the cellular response to microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and other aggressive agents that infect the human body.

The HIV virus, inside the human body, reaches the immune system by attaching itself to a component of the cell membrane, CD4, penetrating its interior where it multiplies. As a result, the defense system is slowly losing the ability to respond adequately, which makes the individual more vulnerable to infectious processes. When the body loses the ability to respond to these external agents, signs and or symptoms that define AIDS appear. This moment usually marks the beginning of treatment with antiretroviral drugs, which fight the virus reproduction. It is important to know that having HIV does not mean that you have AIDS. There are many HIV positive people who live years without symptoms and without developing the disease. But they can still pass the virus on to others.

History of the origin of AIDS

AIDS is believed to have arisen in the Congo in 1920 but it became known in 1981 in the United States, when the first infected people began to appear, who had Kaposi's sarcoma, a rare type of cancer characterized by the involvement of blood and lymph vessels and, consequently, the immune system. Although there is still no drug that can cure AIDS and / or eliminate the HIV virus, with the advancement of medicine, people can live for many years, provided they have all the necessary care.

The brief history of AIDS is as follows:

1920: The HIV virus was found in Congo, probably in primates, because they usually have viruses from the same HIV family. African chimpanzees have a 98% HIV-like virus that manifests itself in humans, so they are believed to have a common history. 1981: First cases of people with severe impairment of the immune system, who died of unusual diseases. All were homosexual Americans and had Kaposi's sarcoma, a type of cancer that became known as gay cancer. 1983: French scientists were able to identify the AIDS virus, HIV - 1, in blood and body secretions, such as breast milk, vaginal secretions and semen, where the disease is transmitted. 1986: Another HIV virus was identified, which was called HIV - 2, and the first AIDS drug was also created, Zidovudine (AZT), an antiretroviral that, while not eliminating the HIV virus, helped prevent the virus multiply within the body. That same year, the first cases in Europe emerged. 1996: The 1st cocktail of medicines was created, consisting of 3 remedies that help to fight the replication of the virus, increasing the life span of HIV positive people. That same year, cases arose in Africa, India and China. 2006: It was discovered that circumcision, which is cutting the foreskin that covers the head of the penis, could decrease the chances of men being infected with HIV by 50%. 2010: It was discovered that a vaginal gel containing antiretroviral drugs, when used correctly by women, could decrease the chances of women being infected with HIV by 50%. 2011: It was discovered that if people living with HIV were given treatment soon after being infected, the chance of contaminating their sexual partners was much less.

Difference between AIDS and HIV

AIDS is the name of the disease and HIV is the name of the virus that causes the disease, so it is not exactly the same. In addition, having the HIV virus is not the same as manifesting the disease and its symptoms. In other words, the person may be carrying the HIV virus, but be healthy, while the person with AIDS has an immune system infected by the HIV virus, which weakens the individual with various signs or symptoms of the disease due to multiplication and aggression. of the cells of the immune system.

There are 2 main types of the HIV virus: HIV 1 and HIV 2. However, these viruses have replicated in different ways over time, and therefore they have been classified as:

HIV 1: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I and O HIV 2: A, B, C, D, and E

When a person discovers that he has been infected with the HIV virus, it is necessary to know what type of virus he has, because there are different therapeutic schemes for each group. While the HIV 1 A group responds better to a dose of medication, the HIV 2 E group responds better to another type of dose. Thus, the doctor requests other more specific tests to find out the type of virus and its viral load, because the treatment of HIV is very individualized and the dose of medications is not exactly the same for all those infected.

How to get HIV

The HIV virus is found in blood and body fluids, such as breast milk, vaginal secretions and semen. Thus, a person can be infected with the HIV virus when he comes in direct contact with these secretions, which can happen in the following ways:

During breastfeeding, therefore, HIV + women cannot breastfeed and their children must be born by scheduled Caesarean delivery so that they are not contaminated; During pregnancy, when the woman does not know she has the virus, without the use of antiretroviral drugs during pregnancy and or during delivery, which when used reduce the chances of the newborn being infected; Sex without a condom (condom) with an HIV + person, whether vaginal, oral and / or anal; Sharing syringes for injecting drug use; Direct contact with blood of the HIV + person, in a traffic accident, cuts and / or other accidents with piercing objects such as knives, syringes, scissors or scalpel, among other situations involving blood contaminated by HIV1 or 2.

Receiving a blood transfusion a few years ago was one of the ways of being infected, but in recent years all blood from blood donors is tested for HIV 1 and HIV 2. If the virus is present in the blood tested it is discarded, but if there is any contamination the infected person receives the appropriate treatment. Thus, all donated blood is safe and HIV-free, and is no longer a source of contamination.

The factors that increase the risk of transmission are HIV-infected people with a high viral load, AIDS itself, receptive anal sex, sex during menstruation, sex with people with soft cancer, syphilis, genital herpes, and / or others sexually transmitted infections.

It is important to note that the virus is not transmitted through hugs, kisses and / or touching HIV-positive people. Thus, it is important to support the person with the HIV / AIDS virus, as well as not to avoid personal and social contact.

HIV symptoms

Right after being infected with the HIV virus can be observed:

Tiredness, low fever, sore throat, Headache, night sweat, diarrhea, Oral candidiasis, pain in muscles and joints, sensitivity to light, motion sickness, vomiting, weight loss, small sores inside the mouth.

These symptoms last a maximum of 14 days, and can easily be mistaken for a simple flu. As these symptoms do not attract attention and seem commonplace, it is normal for a person to only discover that he / she has the virus months or years after the contamination when performing a specific blood test for HIV 1 and HIV 2. the result will be negative due to the immunological window of the virus. Know the HIV immune window.

Usually these symptoms do not last more than 1 week and then disappear completely. The virus starts to replicate inside the human body in a silent way, about 8 to 10 years, without generating any symptoms, being this phase called asymptomatic.

AIDS symptoms

The first symptoms of AIDS appear when the body's defense system is very compromised, which favors the appearance of diseases. In this phase, there are:

Nausea; Vomiting; Diarrhea; Night sweat; Fatigue; Sinusitis; Oral and vaginal candidiasis; Swollen lymph nodes; Slimming evident and without apparent cause.

AIDS symptoms are very evident and the immune system is increasingly compromised, which favors the occurrence of opportunistic diseases, such as toxoplasmosis, Kaposi's sarcoma, hepatitis, herpes and candidiasis, among others. Here's how to recognize the symptoms of AIDS.

How to know if I have HIV or AIDS

The only way to confirm that a person is infected with the HIV virus, and that they can develop AIDS, is to have a specific blood test called anti-HIV 1 and anti-HIV 2. This blood test is available in all clinics, hospitals and laboratories, and can be carried out free of charge by SUS, in testing centers around the country.

This examination must be performed by all women who wish to become pregnant, it is part of the prenatal care of all pregnant women monitored at SUS or private clinics, and all donated blood is tested. However, anyone can get tested for AIDS if they think they may have had contact with viruses because they used injecting drugs or had sex without a condom, for example.

The best time to get tested for HIV is between 40 and 60 days after the risky behavior, that is, after the moment when the person thinks he or she may have been infected, because if the test is done before those 40 days, its result may be false negative. Understand the result of the HIV test.

Treatment of HIV and AIDS

The treatment of AIDS is done with antiretroviral therapy, which consists of using a cocktail of drugs indicated by the doctor and that must be taken every day and which aims to strengthen the immune system and prevent the replication of the virus. All AIDS treatment is provided free of charge by SUS, which makes use protocols available.

Treatment should be done for life and requires periodic tests, such as complete blood count, liver and kidney evaluation, tests for syphilis, hepatitis B and C, toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus, chest x-ray, tuberculosis test annually, pap smear, profile immune system and viral load.

These are used in combination, with varying doses, which can be modified according to protocols and which can be prescribed and changed whenever necessary, depending on the need that the person has, being the doses related to the stage of infection / disease. Find out more details of AIDS Treatment.

Because HIV and AIDS has no cure

The HIV virus replicates in different ways and so drugs that seem to be able to stop their replication quickly cease to have an effect, because the virus adapts within the body itself, and can be replicated in another way.

Several studies are looking for a way to eliminate existing viruses and prevent their replication within the body. There is a report of only 1 case of AIDS cure, but with so many particularities that it is impossible to replicate the same treatment for all affected people. An HIV vaccine can also be a solution, however, its formula has not yet been found. Understand why there is still no vaccine against the HIV virus.

How to prevent HIV and AIDS

In order not to be contaminated with the HIV virus, and consequently not to develop AIDS, it is recommended:

Use male or female condoms in all sexual contact, whether during caresses or vaginal, anal or oral penetration. The correct use of condoms can reduce the risk of being infected by more than 95%; Do not share used syringes; Avoid contact with blood or secretions from an individual, who may be contaminated; Identify and treat any sexually transmitted diseases because they increase the risk of contamination with the HIV virus.

HIV + patients must also take these precautions to avoid being contaminated again with another type of HIV virus, because there are several subtypes of viruses, which can make it difficult to control viral load.