World AIDS Day. How is HIV combated? [WE EXPLAIN]

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In 1988, WHO declared December 1 as World AIDS Day. The red bow is a symbol of solidarity with people infected with HIV, AIDS and their relatives. In Western Europe, the number of virus carriers is declining. As predicted, will it be possible to combat HIV by 2030?

1. Currently, there are about 38 million people infected with HIV in the world – four Poles hear the diagnosis every day
2. The virus can remain latent for up to 10 years; at this time, it disrupts the immune system
3. The most effective method of fighting HIV today is antiretroviral therapy, which slows down the course of the infection and prevents the carrier from infecting others
4. It is planned to stop the AIDS epidemic by 2030
5. You can find more similar texts on the TvoiLokony home page

HIV virus in Poland and in the world

The HIV virus that started the AIDS epidemic reached the US from the Caribbean in the late 60s. Its origin is not known to this day. Scientists speculate that the virus spread from animals to humans in Central African communities and spread further as a result of population migration.

At the moment, 38 million people live with HIV in the world. This number is similar to the number of inhabitants of Poland. Every day in our country four people find out that they are carriers.

How does AIDS kill?

HIV causes an infected person to come to gradual destruction of the immune system – until the onset of AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), i.e. a complex of many infections and the development of various cancers. After entering the body, the virus begins to multiply.

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The first period of HIV infection, i.e. acute retroviral diseaselasts from several days to several months. This is when persistent headaches, muscle and joint pains appear, fatigue increases and body weight is significantly reduced. Inflammation in the throat increases. A rash may appear on the body. Sweating is also increased, accompanied by recurrent low-grade fever and fever.

Next HIV attacks the lymph nodeswhere it breeds for several months. In the latency phase, which lasts up to 10 years, it increasingly disrupts the immune system. The lymphocyte count drops – approaching a life-threatening value. A weakened body loses its ability to defend itself against microbes. Becomes susceptible to infection. Neoplasms initiate, and the possibility of their cure – due to the patient’s condition – becomes negligible.

Can HIV be contained?

The United Nations has set itself the goal of that by 2020, the number of HIV infections in the world will drop to 550 annually. It aims to achieve the so-called three 90. The idea is that 90 percent. HIV-positive people were aware of HIV infection, 90 percent. of them received antiretroviral treatment (ARV) and 90 percent. among the patients undergoing therapy, they had undetectable levels of the virus in their blood. This is the first step on the way to halting the AIDS epidemic in 2030. While there has been a marked decline in new infections over the past 15 years, many countries are still far from meeting these targets. The global number of new infections in 2019 was 1,7 million. It is a signal that there is still a lot to be done in the process of reducing the HIV and AIDS epidemics in the world.

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In 2017, 159 HIV infections were recorded in the WHO European region. As much as 420 percent. (82 thousand) of those infected come from the eastern part of the region, 131 percent. (14 thousand) from the west, and 22,3 percent. (4 thousand people) from the central one. The highest rates of HIV infection are recorded in two countries – Our Country and Ukraine. Belarus is just behind them. The reason is the major neglect of HIV education, prevention and access to HIV testing.

The largest group of people infected with HIV are young people. In Europe, the majority of new carriers are people aged 19–30 (36%), although a large percentage are also people over 50 (16%). The most effective way to reduce the number of infections is to spread the word – both about it routes of HIV spread, as well as methods of prevention and treatment.

According to the data of the Department of Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases and Supervision of the NIPH-NIH, in 2019 there were 1615 cases of HIV infection in Poland.

The report for the period from January 1 to October 15, 2020 published by the same unit shows that the number of people diagnosed with HIV infection compared to 2019 has significantly decreased (from 3,5 to 1,29 cases per 100 thousand people). This decline, however, may be related to the COVID-19 pandemic and concerns about having a blood test for diagnosis.

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Antiretroviral treatment – a weapon in the fight against HIV

HIV infection does not pose a direct threat to life – you can function with the virus for many years. This year, the oldest man in the world with HIV died – a hundred-year-old who had carried the virus in his body for at least 26 years. The most effective method of fighting HIV today is antiretroviral therapy (ARV), which can also be used prophylactically. The sooner it takes hold antiretroviral drugs (preferably within 2-3 hours after a risky event), the greater the chance that the virus will not enter the body. Antiretroviral therapy in infected people inhibits the multiplication of the virus and minimizes the risk of the emergence of diseases caused by HIV.

Antiretroviral therapy should be continued in HIV positive individuals. However, it should be remembered that ARV drugs have side effects, interact with other drugs, and the body may become resistant to them over time. According to estimates, an adult patient with HIV takes tens of thousands of doses of various antiretroviral drugs throughout his life.

The traditional regimen of ARV therapy is three-drug. Last year, however, it was possible to reduce the toxicity of the treatment by using two drugs that give the same control over the virus. The two-drug regimen benefits primarily patients, but also the state budget. In Poland, patients have access to modern antiretroviral therapy and are treated in accordance with European guidelines. ARV treatment of HIV-infected and AIDS-infected people has been carried out since 2001 as part of the health policy program of the Ministry of Health. At the end of 2018, 11 patients, including 063 children, were treated with ARV in Poland.

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So far, two cases of complete eradication of HIV have been reported in medicine. In 2007, doctors in Germany managed to achieve this for the first time. This year, good news has come from the UK. Patients were cured thanks to strong chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation.

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