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What is AIDS?
AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is a disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). AIDS occurs in the final stage of HIV infection, during which the immune system is weakened to such an extent that the person is susceptible to various diseases and certain cancers.
This virus acts by destroying cells of the immune system, the CD4 T-lymphocytes, making it deficient.
How is the virus transmitted?
HIV transmission can occur in the following ways:
- Sexual intercourse with a person who is positive for the virus
- Intravenous drug intake
- From mother to foetus, through the placenta
- Transfusions of contaminated blood and its derivatives (less common now)
- Breastfeeding by a virus-positive mother (rare)
What is the course of the infection?
The time between exposure to HIV and the onset of AIDS varies from person to person. The course of infection is divided into the following stages:
- The first stage is called acute infection or primary infection and usually starts after two to six weeks of exposure to the virus. The person may have flu symptoms or no symptoms at all.
- In the second stage, which can last for many years (up to 10 years), the symptoms subside. HIV gradually attacks CD4 T-cells and destroys the immune system.
- In the third stage, the number of CD4 cells has dropped below 200 and the immune system is no longer able to fight various infections and diseases. This stage of infection is known as AIDS and results in death.
What are the complications?
The main complications of AIDS are:
- Autoimmune diseases
- Cancer (Kaposi's sarcoma, lymphoma)
- Opportunistic infections, such as:
- Candidiasis
- Various enterocolitis
- Cytomegalovirus infection
- Pneumonia from Pneumocystis carinii
- Multiple leukoencephalopathy
- Microbiosis from salmonella or other microbes
- Tuberculosis
How is the diagnosis made?
Early diagnosis of the virus is crucial, as it has a decisive influence on the course of treatment and limiting the transmission of the virus. The tests that are done are:
- Various blood tests
- HIV Elisa/Western blot test, to find antibodies. These tests usually become positive after a few months.
- Detection of HIV genetic material (RNA) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
- Determination of lymphocyte counts (CD4 values) to check the adequacy of the immune system.
What are the methods of treatment?
At the moment, there is no treatment available to eliminate the virus from the body, nor is there a vaccination available to prevent it. However, there are medications available that effectively help a person to live a normal life while keeping the virus suppressed. If the patient is diagnosed and treated in time, he or she has a high life expectancy and is considered to have a chronic disease.
Therapeutically, antiretroviral treatment is recommended immediately after the diagnosis of the disease. The aim of antiretroviral treatment is to maximally suppress virus replication, improve the function of the immune system and prevent the development of drug resistance. Newer antiretroviral drugs are highly active, with fewer side effects and easy dosing regimens.
How can I protect myself?
Although there is no vaccine that prevents transmission of the virus, there are some measures that significantly reduce the risk. In particular:
- Safe sexual intercourse reduces the chance of contracting and transmitting the infection. The use of condoms is recommended for all sexual intercourse.
- Recent scientific reports recommend the preventive administration of medication to HIV-negative people who are at increased risk of infection due to unsafe sexual intercourse (PreP).
- Promotion by the state of specific programmes aimed at intravenous drug users.
- Early diagnosis and treatment are important, as once undetectable levels of the virus in the blood are achieved for at least six months, the virus ceases to be transmitted.
Bibliography
https://redumbrella.org.gr/plirofories-gia-to-hiv-aids/
https://eody.gov.gr/disease/aids/
https://mcmc.gr/sexoualika-nosimata/hiv-aids/
https://www.doctoranytime.gr/p/hiv-aids
https://www.iatropedia.gr/encyclopedia/aids-hiv-limoxi/
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