More than 2,000 Uruguayans have HIV and do not know it



[ad_1]

The number of deaths recorded by the HIV-AIDS virus in Uruguay increased from 2012 to 2016. For the first time in five years, the number of deaths decreased in 2017, with 161 deaths, compared to the 172 cases of death. Previous year. While the clue could be interpreted as good news, infectious disease specialist Eduardo Savio warned El Observador that descent does not necessarily mean an advance to celebrate.

It's good news, because today no one should die of AIDS in Uruguay, there are very effective drugs available all over the country, "said the doctor who attended the first HIV case recorded in Uruguay in 1983. "If the dead continue to appear, as happens, of course, in all parts of the world, we must accept that even people are not aware of the epidemic they still do not protect themselves adequately and, in addition, complicates things much more, "said Savio.

Read also: The WHO calls for non-discrimination in the fight against AIDS

According to the latest data published by the Ministry of Public Health (MSP), there are 12,684 people in Uruguay infected with the AIDS virus, and more than 2,000 do not know that they have the disease. "Without diagnosis, there is no treatment," warns the doctor. isque is, he said, that the patient has not controlled the virus in his body or in the rest of society, because a citizen could infect the population indistinctly.

"When there is early treatment, we have two advantages: the patient's immune system does not collapse anymore and, moreover, this person ceases to be a source of transmission for the rest of the patient. society, "says the specialist. According to Savio explained, patients who start treatment on time, and comply with the discipline indicated by the doctor, have an undetectable viral load in the blood. This means that the virus is fully controlled and, even if it is, the patient does not transmit it.

Also read: The child who contracted HIV at the age of 8 and who grew up without being able to tell anyone

"Nowadays, if a treatment does not work, the medication is changed, and so on until the patient finds the one who succeeds in his body, and if the person complies with what is indicated and proves to have an adhesion of ## EQU1 ## 39, at least 90%, "the disease" will become undetectable, "said Salvio. If the patient does not respect the rigor of the therapeutic procedure, the virus reappears, begins to mutate and replicates itself again. That is, it falls back on the disease.

Treatment consists of ingesting a daily dose of medication for life. It is even necessary to respect the hours at which they should be consumed, said the doctor. Currently, the number of pills can vary between two, three or four units. A much more entertaining figure than what should be consumed in the late 1990s, for example, when the patient had to take 15 tablets a day.

Savio said that in Uruguay it is necessary to develop a greater awareness of the danger posed by the disease. "The MSP could lead more campaigns that encourage early diagnosis, not only the day of commemoration of the disease, but always," said the specialist, also mentioning the need to stimulate and educate the population to She would ask for the HIV test to prevent dispersion. "Although the disease is not cured, today it is completely controlled and no one should die for it," he said.

Read also: How to eradicate the AIDS epidemic in Latin America and the Caribbean

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infects cells of the immune system, altering and, eventually, canceling function, until it becomes deficient. At that time, the system does not fulfill its main function, which is to defend: the fight against infections and diseases that occur in the body.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), however, is the term applied to more advanced stages of HIV infection, when the virus develops and can generate other serious collateral diseases such as tuberculosis, pneumonia or cancer.

A patient can coexist with HIV and never reach the AIDS stage. Even if you comply with the treatment, there is great potential that the viral load in the blood becomes undetectable, which is synonymous with untransmissible. The patient lives as a normal person without major difficulties.

In the case where the patient does not receive treatment on time, the situation is the opposite: the disease will be completely settled in the body and it is likely that the patient will aggravate (or even die) due to lack of treatment. therapeutic badistance. At present, Uruguay has effective treatments to maintain the controlled and undetectable viral load in patients and, in addition, the drugs contain reduced side effects.

HIV can be transmitted badlly, bad, or orally to an infected person through the transfusion of contaminated blood or the sharing of needles, syringes, or other sharp instruments. Similarly, a mother can pbad it on to her child during pregnancy, delivery, and badfeeding.

"We must break the stigma and discrimination that weigh on HIV-positive people." The virus is not contagious even after a hug, "said Susana Cabrera, director of the HIV / AIDS program area. AIDS at MSP, at a press conference on the occasion of National HIV Day.

Minister Jorge Bbado announced that in the coming days, a new drug will be incorporated into Therapeutic Therapeutics (MTF) for HIV treatment considered to be "one of the best" in the world, said the Minister.

Statistics in Uruguay

The latest data published by the MSP indicate that, last year, 797 new HIV cases were diagnosed and 161 people died of the disease. In total, 12,684 people have the virus, but more than 2,000 live without knowing they have it. This black number of people who do not know it is not a statistical data but an estimate made by the MSP on the basis of mathematical calculations, explains Savio. The department with the highest prevalence in the country is Montevideo, while Flores did not record any diagnoses last year.

The age group with the highest number of diagnoses is between 25 and 44 years old, with 43.6 patients infected every 100 000 inhabitants. It is followed by adults aged 45 to 64, with a rate of 28.3 per 100 thousand inhabitants. As novelty, the ministry announced that vertical transmission, one in which the infection pbades from mother to child, has been reduced to less than 2%.

The male condom remains the most effective resource for preventing the disease. It is 98% effective, is disposable, is used once and can be used for badl, bad or oral bad.

Each user of the National Integrated Health System has a monthly coupon booklet of 15 condoms, which can withdraw at no cost in ASSE and in exchange for a private drug ticket.

Source:

[ad_2]
Source link