HIV is not an extraterrestrial infection

According to a study by the National Institute of Health , “the incidence of HIV/AIDS in Colombia has shown a progressive increase over time, where in 2008 it was 13.7 cases per 100,000 inhabitants and in 2018, a week 46, is at 28.1 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.”

Quindío, Risaralda, Cartagena, Valle del Cauca and Barranquilla are the departments that are above the national incidence with a higher contagion in people who are between 25 and 34 years old.

According to Dr. Henry Mendoza Ramírez, internist and infectious disease specialist, performing diagnostic tests is “fundamental because early detection generates a better prognosis for the health and life of a person and their loved ones. It is essential when you are sexually active to avoid complications.”

Taking the test is the appropriate way to know the state of health, to carry out treatment in time if it is positive, to prevent transmission and reduce the danger to both the person examined and their loved ones and relatives.

According to the specialized health portal, Infosalus , one in four people is afraid of taking an HIV test. In the study revealed by Apoyo Positivo on this page, 25.71% confess to feeling dread when taking the test.

Dr. Mendoza clarifies that “this is not an extraterrestrial or other species infection, it is as human and the risk of acquiring it is as present as having unprotected sexual relations.”

By 2017, almost 40 million people were living with the human immunodeficiency virus -HIV-, just over 21 million had access to treatment and approximately 10 million human beings did not know that they had the virus.

With respect to this last figure, it is necessary to be aware and know the benefits of knowing a person's serological status. To find out, it is necessary to take an HIV test, an easy, painless and quick test.

With these figures, it is necessary to study the population that has the virus; knowing this is the gateway to treatment and prevention so that these figures do not continue to rise.

According to Mendoza “we must separate the perception of the patient who has the infection from the people who do not have it. The reality over the years is that the evolution in the management of the infection has been rapid and effective against the virus, in addition to promptly controlling any type of disease associated with HIV."

The infectologist assures that the efforts that have been made in medicine have allowed there to be medications with increasingly better tolerance, fewer adverse effects and with less consumption of medications to control the pathology.

This last option of considerably reducing the consumption of pills, not only in the number of tablets but also in less frequency, guarantees that patients are more adherent to the treatment and there is simplification of the processes, says Mendoza.

Nowadays, medications have evolved, the molecules have been simplified and two components can be found in the same pill, which makes it easier to take and keeps the patient taking their medication.

The Mandatory Health Plan also has generic antiretroviral (ARV) medications, with sufficient studies to guarantee their quality, cheaper and some of them gluten-free, for allergic patients. New medications and laboratories have entered the local market. Argentina is one of the countries that has entered to compete in the local market with the development of generics for this pathology.

It should be noted that a human being can be asymptomatic even if they have the infection for years and the symptoms can be multiple depending on the biological condition of the subject, their immune system or other diseases. To summarize, there is no general symptomatology that indicates that you have the disease, since the easiest way to discover it is to take responsibility and take the exam indicated by your family doctor.

Julián Pérez* has not had a stable partner. At the end of last year, after having unprotected sexual relations with a co-worker, he began to feel sweating, sweating, coughing and sores appeared in his mouth. He thought he may have been infected. However, he went to the laboratory on several occasions to take the exam. Initially, the fear and shame were stronger. However, three months ago the exam was performed. “I have had very difficult days, I have not been able to work, sleep, and I have a problem.” immense fear, I don't want my life to end here,” he says.

After a positive diagnosis, Julián suffers from depression and suicide frequently crosses his mind.

According to the psychologist from the University of Los Andes, Sebastián Cadavid, “any person who has had the disease for more than two years knows that today, having AIDS is, in all proportions, similar to having diabetes, high blood pressure or lupus.” because antiretroviral medications have advanced a lot and have become part of their lives... Many patients regret having made decisions that led them to become infected, such as going to public places or having unprotected sex, however, it is a controlled pathology. that must be faced without fear.”

Do you have HIV?

If you are not sure about taking an HIV test, you can take the following test to find out for sure. Please answer the following questions:

• Do you live in an area with a high rate of HIV?
• Have you or your family lived in an area with a high rate of HIV?
• Have you ever paid or been paid or offered anything in exchange for sexual acts?
• Have you ever been diagnosed with or sought treatment for another type of sexually transmitted disease?
• Have you ever had tuberculosis?
• Are you a man and have you had sexual relations with another man without a condom?
• Are you a transgender person and have you had sex without a condom?
• Have you used injection drugs and/or shared injection materials with others?
• Have you had sex without a condom with someone who may have answered yes to any of the above questions?
• Have you had sex without a condom with someone who is living with HIV and whose viral load you do not know is undetectable?
• Are you pregnant or thinking about having a child?