When you see the red ribbon, what comes to mind?
I hope its not the movie or the book?
Well, at the end of this blog, you should have another addition to the list of things that comes to mind.
The 20th century came with its own fair share of "little foxes that spoil the vine"
Midway into the century a new disease came to limelight.
Its no other but the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, HIV which was isolated in the blood sample of a man in DR Congo in 1959.
Ever since then, the human race has been plagued with the devastating effects of this virus.
What makes the virus devastating is because, if not picked early, it could go unnoticed while damaging important cells in the body as it continues to replicate
In such cases, it progress to full-blown Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, AIDS.
As the name implies, it attacks the immune system cells and causes them to be used up or destroyed.
Hence, the defence mechanisms of the body are brought so low.
This is why its called an immunodeficient state.
If the body gets into this state, it can no longer fight against other unwanted infections. Hence such an individual is exposed to more infections thereby worsening the condition.
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These type of infections that plague people with reduced immunity are called Opportunistic Infections (OI's).
They are basically "opportunists" as they tend to take advantage of any state of reduced immunity.
Notorious among these opportunist is Tuberculosis amongst many others.
Hence, we have the term, HIV-TB co- infection, because they mostly go hand in hand.
The reason for this is what I tried to explain earlier.
As with most medical conditions that may seem unexplainable to the general populace, many myths arise.
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Myths of HIV
• HIV is a Death Sentence:
This only held true in the earlier years of the emergence of the disease because there was little knowledge about the treatment and management of such an illness.
However, with lots of research and the advent of anti-retroviral drugs, the narrative had largely changed.
A lot of people living with HIV and consistent with their medications live as long as they would probably have lived without progressing to AIDS.
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• I can't have Kids because of HIV:
Several factors determine the rate at which an infected person can transmit the virus to another person.
However, with newer and better methods of monitoring, women with HIV can now have their babies without transmitting the disease to them.
• HIV can be contacted by staying around an infected person:
An understanding of the routes of transmission is important to debunk this myth. One of the main route of transmission asides sexual intercourse is through blood contact.
Hence, things like sharing toothpaste, sharing toilets, hugging, kissing, drinking from the same cup, sharing utensils hold no water as a means of transmission.
• I can get HIV from Mosquito bite:
As much as I do not like mosquitoes 🦟 , I would need to vindicate them from these claims that they can spread HIV.
Mosquitoes do not inject blood from someone they previously bit into the new person.
Also, the virus doesn't even last long in them.
How is HIV Transmitted?
The virus can be transmitted via the following route:
Sexual Intercourse
Mother to Child Transmission- either during Pregnancy, Delivery or breastfeeding.
Blood Transfusion - Poorly screened blood.
Sharing of sharps- Razors, Needles, Hair clippers e.t.c
Needle Prick Injury- Occupational hazard for health workers
Screening and Diagnosis
The screening test for HIV is a rapid diagnostic test just like that for Malaria or even Pregnancy.
It's called rapid because you get the result in less than 20 minutes.
They usually test for the presence of antibodies against the virus within a person's blood or saliva.
Antibodies are substances that the body's immune cells produce against any infection or foreign material.
So they are "Anti-" i.e "against"
If a person tests positive or is reactive using the rapid tests, he or she would need to go for further testing for confirmation.
Window Period
This is the period within which a person is exposed to the virus and when the body is able to produce detectable antibodies against the virus.
Each tests have their window period.
The implication of this is that, a negative test result within that window period would ideally need to be repeated after the window period is over.
Most diagnostic tests have their window period between 2 weeks of exposure to 6 months.
Hence a negative test should be repeated within 6 months.
Treatment is Free!!!
After confirming that a person has been infected with the virus, he/she must commence treatment immediately.
Some tests would be required before the person is commenced.
These are baseline investigations alongside tests to rule out presence of other co-infections like Tuberculosis, Hepatitis e.t.c
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In a bid to curtail the spread of this dangerous infection, most countries, if not all provide free treatment to people living with HIV.
This takes off the burden of patient having to bear the cost for the drugs.
As the drug is meant to be taken for life.
The importance of taking the drug is that it reduces the rate of progression of the disease to advance stage (AIDS) and it also increases the rate of transmission.
This is a win-win situation, the infected person can get to live a healthy life and also, he or she poses a lesser threat to the society in terms of spreading the disease.
Post Exposure Prophylaxis:
This is also free.
To be taken for daily for 28days.
Monitoring
Before the commencement of HIV medications and at intervals subsequently, 2 parameters are of great importance to both the patient and the doctor.
1. Viral Load:
As the name implies, this is the amount of the virus present within the cells of the patient.
The higher the number of viruses, the higher the degree of damage they cause to the body and hence the faster the progression of the disease to AIDS.
2. CD4 count:
The immune system consists of certain specialised cells called CD4 cells.
These cells are important in fighting viral infections like HIV.
The HIV in turn is notorious for destroying these CD4 cells.
Hence, in a case where the virus grows unchecked, (e.g lack of use of medication), more and more of the CD4 cells are destroyed, therefore their number reduces greatly.
Hence this is also monitored before and during the commencement of medication.
A high viral load and a low CD4 count is therefore bad prognosis.
However, with early diagnosis and adherence to medications, the tables are usually turned.
The viral load now becomes low and the CD4 count increases
Stop the Stigma!
Person's living with HIV are usually plagued with stigma and social discrimination because of the disease.
This is largely as a result of the ignorance of the general populace on the disease.
Of course, safety precautions must be taken especially for high risk individuals like health workers.
Take the Rights path
In alignment to the theme for the World Aids Day, 2024, we have been encouraged to take the Rights path as regards your health.
It's your right to know your health status.
It's your right to get treatment for HIV if infected.
Its your right to live a healthy and fulfilling life even with HIV
Thank you for reading my blog... (last image was cretaed by me using canva app)
Happy World Aids Day!
Don't forget to Take the Rights Path and spread the news too