There are several stereotypes about HIV/AIDS patients that must be eliminated.
World AIDS Day: Aside from the physical pain, HIV/AIDS sufferers are battling two battles at once: the disease and the social stigma that comes with it. It’s no surprise that the condition leaves physical and mental scars.
According to specific research, depression is widespread among HIV/AIDS patients, although its influences have yet to be thoroughly investigated. Patients’ mental health may worsen as the disease advances, and symptoms become more severe since they may lose their employment, stay single or lack intimacy in a marriage, and have insufficient social support.
Every year on December 1st, World AIDS Day is commemorated to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS. It has become one of the most well-known international health days to raise awareness, remember those who have died, and celebrate accomplishments such as improved access to treatment and preventative programs.
There are several misconceptions about HIV/AIDS patients that need to be eliminated. Although the virus is only transmitted through the interchange of certain body fluids such as blood, breast milk, sperm, or vaginal secretions, many individuals are afraid of touching, shaking hands, or eating meals with infected persons. On World AIDS Day, Dr. Dilip Gude, Consultant Physician, Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad, debunks some of these beliefs.
Myth #1: HIV is a fatal disease
“We now anticipate individuals with HIV to enjoy a normal life span with good treatment,” says Dr. Michael Horberg, Kaiser Permanente’s national director of HIV/AIDS.
“Since 1996, when highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) was introduced, a person with HIV who has good access to ART can expect to live a normal life span as long as they take their prescribed medications,” says Dr. Amesh A. Adalja, a board-certified infectious disease physician and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.
Myth #2: By looking at someone, you can determine if they have HIV/AIDS
When a person catches the HIV virus, their symptoms are usually inconspicuous. A person with HIV may experience symptoms comparable to any other virus, such as fever, lethargy, or general malaise. Furthermore, the initial mild symptoms usually persist only a few weeks.
The HIV infection can be efficiently treated if antiretroviral drugs are introduced early. A person with HIV who is on antiretroviral therapy is in good health and is no different from other chronic illnesses.
People typically identify HIV with classic symptoms, and however, they are indications of problems that might occur from AIDS-related diseases or complications. On the other hand, those symptoms will not be present in an HIV-positive person who receives proper antiretroviral treatment and drugs.
Myth #3: HIV infection is not a concern for straight individuals
True, HIV is more common among guys who also have male sexual partners. HIV transmission is higher among gay and bisexual young Black individuals.
“We know that males who have sex with men are at the highest risk,” Dr. Horberg explains. According to the CDC, this group accounts for over 70% of new HIV diagnoses in the United States.
Heterosexuals, on the other hand, accounted for 24% of new HIV infections in 2016, with roughly two-thirds of them being women.
Myth #4: HIV-positive people can’t healthily have children
Working with her healthcare practitioner to start ART therapy as soon as feasible is the most critical thing a woman living with HIV can do when planning for pregnancy. Because HIV treatment has progressed so much, a woman’s risk of transmitting HIV to her baby can be as low as 1% or less if she takes her HIV medicine daily as prescribed by her healthcare provider throughout her pregnancy (including labor and delivery) and continues treatment for her baby for 4 to 6 weeks after birth.
Suppose a mother’s HIV viral load is more significant than desirable. In that case, there are alternative options for lowering the risk of transmission, such as opting for a C-section or bottle-feeding with formula after birth.
Women who are HIV-negative and want to have a child with a male partner who has the virus may take specific medications to reduce the risk of transmission to themselves and their children.
If a man has HIV and is on antiretroviral therapy (ART), the risk of transmission is almost non-existent if the viral load is undetectable.
Myth #5: HIV causes AIDS in all cases
AIDS is caused by HIV infection. However, this does not indicate that all HIV-positive people will get AIDS. AIDS is an immune system deficiency condition caused by HIV’s long-term attack on the immune system, linked with a compromised immunological response and opportunistic infections. Early treatment of HIV infection can avoid AIDS.
Myth #6: HIV isn’t a huge concern anymore, thanks to new therapies
Despite tremendous medical progress in the treatment of HIV, the virus can still cause problems, and the risk of mortality remains high for specific groups of people.
Depending on age, gender, sexuality, lifestyle, and treatment, a person’s chance of contracting HIV and how it affects them varies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides a Risk Reduction Tool that can assist people in assessing their own risk and taking actions to protect themselves.
Myth #7 HIV-negative people can engage in unprotected sexual activity
If a person has just been diagnosed with HIV, it may take up to three months for the virus to show up on an HIV test.
“Antibody-only tests,” adds Dr. Gerald Schochetman, senior director of infectious diseases at Abbott Diagnostics, “function by identifying the presence of antibodies in the body that arise when HIV enters the body.”
HIV positive might be discovered after a few weeks or up to three months after initial exposure, depending on the test. Inquire about the window period and the schedule of repeat testing with the person administering the test.
To confirm a negative result, people should undergo a second HIV test three months following the first. The San Francisco AIDS Foundation recommends getting tested every three months if they’re having regular sex.
A person must talk to their partner about their sexual history and consult with a healthcare expert to see if they and their relationship are excellent candidates for PrEP.
While there is no cure for HIV/AIDS, persons diagnosed early and who get proper antiretroviral therapy can live long and productive lives.
“While modern antiretroviral medications can maintain HIV at low levels and prevent it from multiplying and damaging the immune system for a long time,” Dr. Jimenez continues, “there is no cure for AIDS or a vaccination against HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.”
Simultaneously, the current theory holds that if a person can sustain viral suppression, HIV will not advance, and, as a result, the immune system will not be destroyed. There is evidence that those with viral suppression have a little shorter lifetime than people without HIV.
