19 June 2024

AIDS

AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) : kondisi dimana HIV sudah pada tahap akhir. Jika sudah mengalami AIDS tubuh tidak lagi memiliki kemampuan untuk melawan infeksi yang ditimbulkan.

Causes
In Indonesia, the spread and transmission of HIV are most commonly caused by:

• Unprotected sexual intercourse

• Sharing non-sterile syringes when using drugs

Risk Factors
Groups of people at higher risk of infection include:

• People engaging in unprotected sex, whether homosexual or heterosexual

• Those who frequently get tattoos or piercings

• People infected with other sexually transmitted diseases

• Injecting drug users

• People who have sexual contact with injecting drug users

Symptoms
Stage 1:

• No symptoms for several years

• The patient experiences flu-like symptoms (a few weeks after infection, lasting 1–2 months)

• Fever, sore throat, rash, swollen lymph nodes, diarrhea, fatigue, muscle and joint pain

Stage 2:

• Generally, no further symptoms for years

• The virus continues to spread and damage the immune system

• The infection can now be transmitted from the patient to others

• Lasts for 10 years or more

Stage 3:

• The patient’s immunity is weakened, making them prone to illness, which can progress to AIDS

• Persistent fever lasting more than 10 days

• Constant fatigue

• Difficulty breathing

• Severe diarrhea for a prolonged period

• Fungal infections in the throat, mouth, and vagina

• Purple spots on the skin that do not disappear

• Loss of appetite, leading to significant weight loss

Diagnosis of HIV & AIDS
Tests to detect HIV include:

• Antibody test: it takes 3-12 weeks for the body’s antibody levels to be high enough to be detected

• Antigen test: can be done 2-6 weeks after the person is suspected of being infected with HIV

If the screening results are positive, further tests are required:

• CD4 count

• Viral load (HIV RNA) test

• Resistance test (immune resistance)

Treatment
Currently, there is no cure for HIV, but there are medications that can slow the virus’s progression. These medications are called antiretroviral (ARV) drugs.

HIV & AIDS Complications

• Pneumocystis Pneumonia

• Candidiasis

• Tuberculosis

• Cytomegalovirus

• Cryptococcal Meningitis

• Toxoplasmosis

• Lymphoma

• Kaposi's Sarcoma

• HPV-related cancers

• Wasting syndrome

Reviewed by: dr. Shinta Hidayani Utami

Source: Siloam Hospital Health Article

Photo: freepik.com