El VIH

VIH Human Immune Deficiency Virus The human immune deficiency virus or VIH is the agent that causes the disease known as acquired immune deficiency syndrome or AIDS. In other words, the VIH is the cause and AIDS is the disease. The immune system is the set of cells, tissues and organs that defend the body from viruses and parasites. It is responsible for producing substances called antibodies that fight infections.

Generally, the immune system kills viruses and stops the disease. However, the HIV attacks the immune system and it is not possible to eliminate it. Transmission The HIV is transmitted in various ways: by sexual contact regardless of gender, by blood or bodily fluids, from mother to child during pregnancy, birth or lactation,

Diagnostic

The HIV diagnosis is mainly performed from two tests called ELISA and Western Blot, which are used in the antibodies that fight that virus. A positive result needs to be confirmed with a second study to be able to do the HIV diagnosis.

Symptoms When a person is infected with HIV, they may have different symptoms. In the initial stage, they usually occur weeks to months after acquiring the virus. Symptoms can be: fever, sore throat, muscle and joints, inflammation of lymph nodes, that is, small balls under the skin, in the neck or in the armpit, and splintered in the face, neck and chest.

These symptoms can be confused with those of other diseases and generally go unnoticed. Later, the disease manifests with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, weight loss and lung, brain, eye and mouth infections.

AIDS is the final stage of the HIV infection, in which the immune system is so weakened that it can no longer be defended against infections. The so-called opportunistic infections, which would normally not affect individuals with a healthy immune system and cancers, become more frequent and aggressive. Finally, death can come. Treatment

Prevention

There are different actions you can do to prevent HIV infection, such as: Use a latex condom every time you have sex. Use only new syringes. Use only your own razor or razor blade. Practice, along with your partner, tests to detect HIV.

In case you have been exposed to the virus, either by sexual contact or by blood or bodily fluids, you must immediately go to the doctor and, with all confidence, discuss the risk event. If you take a VIH test, remember that you must repeat the test between 6 weeks and 6 months later.