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La prevención es el único medio de lucha contra la propagación del SIDA y seguirá siéndolo a pesar de que se encuentre un tratamiento o vacuna eficaz.
Prevención de la transmisión sexual
No existe ningún signo exterior que permita conocer si una persona es seropositiva o no.
Por lo tanto ante personas no conocidas, con las que se vaya a establecer una relación sexual, puede ser positivo valorar las consecuencias que puede tener la relación.
¿ Qué se puede tener en cuenta ?
Una relación ocasional, un sólo contacto, puede transmitir el VIH.
Debería tomarse tiempo para conocer a la pareja e intimar, preguntarse sobre comportamientos pasados y actuales.
Las relaciones sexuales, homo o heterosexuales, comportan un alto riesgo de transmisión del virus del SIDA.
La presencia de otras enfermedades de transmisión sexual, lesiones genitales, favorece la transmisión del virus.
La mayoría de las personas infectadas lo han sido en una relación sexual.
El contacto de la boca con el esperma o las secreciones vaginales suponen un riesgo de transmisión cuando existen lesiones en la boca.
La penetración anal es la que supone mayor riesgo.
< Más información: Las relaciones sexuales >
¿ Qué hago a pesar de todo ?
1.- Usar preservativo o hacer que lo usen.
El preservativo es eficaz en la prevención de todas las enfermedades de transmisión sexual (ETS).
El preservativo masculino
1. Comprobar su fecha de caducidad y retirarlo de su envoltorio con precaución de no deteriorarlo.
2. Colocarselo en el pene en erección antes de cualquier penetración.
3. Si carece de depósito, crearlo dejando un espacio libre de 2 cm a lo largo de la punta del pene y apretar la punta del depósito para expulsar el aire.
4. Desenrrollar el preservativo hasta la base del pene.
5. Para evitar que el esperma se derrame hay que retirarse y retirar el preservativo sujetándolo por la base antes del que pene se quede flácido.
6. El preservativo se debe utilizar sólo una vez y tirarlo a la basura con cuidado.
7. Evitar utilizar lubricantes de base grasa, como la vaselina, ya que pueden deteriorar el látex.
El preservativo femenino
Consiste en una fina bolsista plástica con un anillo flexible en sus extremos; el anillo más pequeño se introduce en la vagina apretándolo para darle una forma alargada y con un dedo se empuja hacia el interior con el fin de adherirlo al cuello del útero. El otro anillo queda fuera de la vagina.
Al igual que el preservativo masculino sólo debe utilizarse una vez.
2.- Evitar la penetración vaginal o anal.
Escoger actividades sexuales sin riesgo como pueden ser las caricias o la masturbación mutua.
< Más información: El preservativo >
Prevención de la transmisión parenteral
La forma más importante en la actualidad de transmisión del SIDA por la sangre es el uso compartido de los objetos que se utilizan para preparar e inyectarse drogas.
¿ Qué hacer ?
1. Abandonar las drogas o en su defecto su uso por vía parenteral (inyectadas).
2. Si a pesar del riesgo de transmisión del VIH se sigue siendo UDVP se debería:
No compartir nunca los objetos utilizados para preparar e inyectarse la droga.
Utilizar agujas y jeringuillas desechables y en su defecto desinfectar las usadas mediante alguno de los siguientes:
Introducir jeringa y aguja varias veces en lejía y enjuagarla después con agua.
Hervir jeringuilla y aguja en agua durante al menos 15 minutos.
Enjuagar aguja y jeringuilla en agua e introducirlas en lejía diluida al menos 15 minutos.
3. No recibir ninguna sesión de acupuntura ni realizarse ningún tatuaje si las condiciones de esterilidad del material empleado ofrece pocas garantías.
4. No utilizar objetos de aseo personal de personas desconocidas.
5. No donar sangre si en los tres meses anteriores se ha estado expuesto a un comportamiento o situación de riesgo.
Prevención de la transmisión madre - hijo
Al menos una quinta parte de los hijos de madres seropositivas pueden presentar riesgo de transmisión del SIDA.
1. Debería desaconsejarse el embarazo si alguno de los padres es seropositivo.
2. Se debería solicitar la prueba de detección en todos los embarazos especialmente cuando los padres han tenido o tienen comportamientos de riesgo.
3. El caso de estar embarazada y ser seropositiva se puede acoger a los supuesto de interrupción voluntaria del embarazo (aborto).
4. Si a pesar de todo se decide tener un hijo se debe buscar consejo y cuidados médicos.
lunes, diciembre 24, 2007
WHAT IS HIV?
What is HIV?
by Jill Cadman
July 2003
What is HIV?
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.
While many viruses can be controlled by the immune system, HIV targets and infects the same immune system cells that are supposed to protect us from illnesses. These are a type of white blood cell called CD4 cells.
HIV takes over CD4 cells and turns them into virus factories that produce thousands of viral copies. As the virus grows, it damages or kills CD4 cells, weakening the immune system.
What is AIDS?
AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. AIDS is the most advanced stage of HIV infection.
HIV causes AIDS by attacking the immune system’s soldiers – the CD4 cells. When the immune system loses too many CD4 cells, you are less able to fight off infection and can develop serious, often deadly, infections. These are called opportunistic infections (OIs) because they take advantage of the body's weakened defenses.
When someone dies of AIDS, it is usually opportunistic infections or other long-term effects of HIV infection that cause death. AIDS refers to the body’s immune-compromised state that can no longer stop OIs from developing and becoming so deadly.
What is the Difference Between HIV and AIDS?
You don't have AIDS as soon as you are infected with HIV. You can be HIV+ for many years with no signs of disease, or only mild-to-moderate symptoms. But without treatment, HIV will eventually wear down the immune system in most people to the point that they develop more serious OIs.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines someone as having AIDS if he or she is HIV+ and meets one or both of these conditions:
0. Has had at least one of 21 AIDS-defining opportunistic infections
0. Has had a CD4 cell count (T-cell count) of 200 cells or less (a normal CD4 count varies by laboratory, but usually is in the 600 to 1,500 range)
How Do I Know if I Have HIV?
Most people can not tell that they have been exposed or infected. It can take up to 12 weeks for an HIV test to come back positive. However most people respond much faster. Within two to four weeks of exposure to HIV, you might have flu-like symptoms such as fever, swollen glands, muscle aches, or rash.
The only way to know for sure if you are infected is take an HIV test. If you are infected, your immune system will make antibodies to fight the virus. The HIV test looks for these antibodies. If you have them in your blood, it means that you have HIV infection.
Do I Need to Get Tested for HIV?
The CDC estimates that more than 25% of HIV+ people are unaware of their HIV status. Many of these people look and feel healthy and do not think they are at risk. But the truth is that anyone of any age, gender, race, sexual orientation, or social or economic class can become infected. It is your actions (or the actions taken against you), that put you at risk. You should be tested if:
0. You have had vaginal, anal, or oral sex without a condom
0. You have shared needles or syringes to inject drugs (including steroids or hormones)
0. You are uncertain of your partner’s status or your partner is HIV+
0. You are pregnant or are considering becoming pregnant
0. You have ever been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease
0. You have hepatitis C
Why Should I Get Tested?
If you test HIV+ there are effective medications to help you stay well. But you cannot get the health care and treatment you need if you do not know your HIV status. Being unaware of your status also makes it more likely to unknowingly pass HIV to others.
If you test HIV- you can take steps to stay that way. You can also spare yourself unnecessary worrying.
What Tests are Available?
The most common test for HIV is the antibody test (called ELISA). It can be done on blood, saliva, or urine. According to the CDC, it is more than 99% accurate. Results are generally available within two weeks. (There is a rapid ELISA test that gives results in less than half an hour.)
A positive result means your body has developed antibodies for HIV, so you are infected with the virus. To be completely certain, positive results are confirmed with a more sensitive test called the Western blot.
A negative result means your body has not developed antibodies and are probably not infected. To get truly accurate results, it's necessary to wait three to six months after your last possible exposure to the virus before being tested. That is because the immune system can take anywhere from three to twelve weeks to make antibodies. In this "window period," someone may get an unclear result or a false negative.
Where Can I Get Tested?
You can get tested at your doctor’s office, a clinic, the local health department facilities, or at a hospital. In addition, many states offer anonymous HIV testing. You can also purchase a kit that allows you to collect your own blood sample, send it to a lab for testing, and receive the results anonymously. (Only the "Home Access" brand kit is approved by the Food and Drug Administration.)
It is important to get tested at a site that provides counseling. Counselors can answer questions about high-risk behavior and suggest ways you can protect yourself and others in the future. People who test HIV+ can receive support and referrals to health care and other services. The counselor can help you through the whole testing process – from start to finish.
The CDC's National AIDS Hotline can answer questions about HIV testing and refer you to testing sites in your area:
by Jill Cadman
July 2003
What is HIV?
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.
While many viruses can be controlled by the immune system, HIV targets and infects the same immune system cells that are supposed to protect us from illnesses. These are a type of white blood cell called CD4 cells.
HIV takes over CD4 cells and turns them into virus factories that produce thousands of viral copies. As the virus grows, it damages or kills CD4 cells, weakening the immune system.
What is AIDS?
AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. AIDS is the most advanced stage of HIV infection.
HIV causes AIDS by attacking the immune system’s soldiers – the CD4 cells. When the immune system loses too many CD4 cells, you are less able to fight off infection and can develop serious, often deadly, infections. These are called opportunistic infections (OIs) because they take advantage of the body's weakened defenses.
When someone dies of AIDS, it is usually opportunistic infections or other long-term effects of HIV infection that cause death. AIDS refers to the body’s immune-compromised state that can no longer stop OIs from developing and becoming so deadly.
What is the Difference Between HIV and AIDS?
You don't have AIDS as soon as you are infected with HIV. You can be HIV+ for many years with no signs of disease, or only mild-to-moderate symptoms. But without treatment, HIV will eventually wear down the immune system in most people to the point that they develop more serious OIs.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines someone as having AIDS if he or she is HIV+ and meets one or both of these conditions:
0. Has had at least one of 21 AIDS-defining opportunistic infections
0. Has had a CD4 cell count (T-cell count) of 200 cells or less (a normal CD4 count varies by laboratory, but usually is in the 600 to 1,500 range)
How Do I Know if I Have HIV?
Most people can not tell that they have been exposed or infected. It can take up to 12 weeks for an HIV test to come back positive. However most people respond much faster. Within two to four weeks of exposure to HIV, you might have flu-like symptoms such as fever, swollen glands, muscle aches, or rash.
The only way to know for sure if you are infected is take an HIV test. If you are infected, your immune system will make antibodies to fight the virus. The HIV test looks for these antibodies. If you have them in your blood, it means that you have HIV infection.
Do I Need to Get Tested for HIV?
The CDC estimates that more than 25% of HIV+ people are unaware of their HIV status. Many of these people look and feel healthy and do not think they are at risk. But the truth is that anyone of any age, gender, race, sexual orientation, or social or economic class can become infected. It is your actions (or the actions taken against you), that put you at risk. You should be tested if:
0. You have had vaginal, anal, or oral sex without a condom
0. You have shared needles or syringes to inject drugs (including steroids or hormones)
0. You are uncertain of your partner’s status or your partner is HIV+
0. You are pregnant or are considering becoming pregnant
0. You have ever been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease
0. You have hepatitis C
Why Should I Get Tested?
If you test HIV+ there are effective medications to help you stay well. But you cannot get the health care and treatment you need if you do not know your HIV status. Being unaware of your status also makes it more likely to unknowingly pass HIV to others.
If you test HIV- you can take steps to stay that way. You can also spare yourself unnecessary worrying.
What Tests are Available?
The most common test for HIV is the antibody test (called ELISA). It can be done on blood, saliva, or urine. According to the CDC, it is more than 99% accurate. Results are generally available within two weeks. (There is a rapid ELISA test that gives results in less than half an hour.)
A positive result means your body has developed antibodies for HIV, so you are infected with the virus. To be completely certain, positive results are confirmed with a more sensitive test called the Western blot.
A negative result means your body has not developed antibodies and are probably not infected. To get truly accurate results, it's necessary to wait three to six months after your last possible exposure to the virus before being tested. That is because the immune system can take anywhere from three to twelve weeks to make antibodies. In this "window period," someone may get an unclear result or a false negative.
Where Can I Get Tested?
You can get tested at your doctor’s office, a clinic, the local health department facilities, or at a hospital. In addition, many states offer anonymous HIV testing. You can also purchase a kit that allows you to collect your own blood sample, send it to a lab for testing, and receive the results anonymously. (Only the "Home Access" brand kit is approved by the Food and Drug Administration.)
It is important to get tested at a site that provides counseling. Counselors can answer questions about high-risk behavior and suggest ways you can protect yourself and others in the future. People who test HIV+ can receive support and referrals to health care and other services. The counselor can help you through the whole testing process – from start to finish.
The CDC's National AIDS Hotline can answer questions about HIV testing and refer you to testing sites in your area:
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