What is HIV ?

What is HIV ?

HIV ( human immunodeficiency virus )

    HIV is a virus that can cause illness this AIDS.Virus attack humans and attack the immune system (immunity) of the body, so the body becomes weak in fighting infection. Without treatment, a person with HIV can live for 9-11 years after infection, depending on the type. In other words, the presence of this virus in the body will cause a deficiency (lack) of the immune system. The distribution of the HIV virus can be through channeling Cement (reproduction), blood, vaginal fluid, and breast milk. HIV works by killing cells essentials needed by humans, one of which is the helper T cells, macrophages, dendritic cells. 

This virus weakens the body's ability to fight infection and disease.

Some of the modes of transmission of HIV / AIDS is as follows:

• Unprotected sex
• Sharing syringes with people who are HIV positive, especially among injecting drug users
• HIV positive pregnant woman to her baby during pregnancy, childbirth and / or breastfeeding time
• Through transfusion of blood / blood products contaminated with HIV

There is no cure for HIV, but there are treatments that can be used to slow the progression of the disease. This treatment will make infected people to live longer so they can live a normal life.

With early HIV diagnosis and effective treatment, people with HIV are not going to turn into AIDS. AIDS is the final stage of HIV infection. At this stage, the body's ability to fight infection is gone completely.

HIV / AIDS in Indonesia

Globally, HIV / AIDS has decreased. All this is due to the intervention that led to changes in patterns of communication, condom use, prevention of transmission from Mother-Child, circumcision and other prevention campaigns. New HIV infections has fallen in the last decade. In 2013, the world's HIV infections reached 2.3 million. Decreased by 33% since 2001.

Since the first discovery of HIV infection in 1987 until December 2013, HIV is spread in 368 of 497 districts / cities in all provinces in Indonesia. Bali is the first province where the discovery of HIV / AIDS infection.

Every 25 minutes in Indonesia, one person infected with HIV. One in five of those infected are under 25 years old. Indonesian Health Ministry projections showed, without any acceleration of HIV prevention programs, more than 500,000 people are HIV-positive will Indonesia in 2014. Papua, Jakarta and Bali that are at the forefront in the incidence of new HIV cases per 100,000 people. Jakarta has the biggest lift to new cases in 2011 which amounted to 4,012 cases.

The spread of HIV

HIV is a fragile virus types. Can not survive long outside the human body. HIV is found in body fluids of an infected person. The liquid in question is semen, vaginal fluid, anal fluid, blood, and breast milk. HIV can not be spread through sweat or urine.

In Indonesia the causes and spread of HIV / AIDS is divided into two main groups, namely through unsafe sex and alternate needles when using drugs.

Here is some other way of spreading HIV:

1. Transmission from mother to infant during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding.
2. Through oral sex.
3. Through a blood transfusion from an infected person.
4. Needles, syringes and other injecting equipment that is contaminated, for example, a sponge and cloth cleaner.

HIV Infection Test

If you feel at risk of HIV infection, the only way to find out is to have an HIV test accompanied by counseling. Immediately visit the nearest health facility (clinic VCT) for HIV testing. With this test will be known HIV diagnosis results on your body.

HIV testing and counseling services are referred to as VCT (Voluntary Counseling and Testing) or VCT (Voluntary Counseling and Testing). This test is voluntary and confidential. Before conducting the test, counseling is given beforehand. Counseling aims to determine the level of risk of infection and also the pattern of daily life. After this stage, dibahaslah how to deal with HIV test results.

HIV testing is usually a blood test to ensure the presence of antibodies to HIV in blood samples. Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system to attack certain germs or bacteria.

There are several places to have an HIV test. You can ask the hospital or the nearest health clinic. In Indonesia, there are several foundations and organizations that focus on matters of HIV / AIDS, among others:

• Community AIDS Indonesia
• PLHIV Indonesia
• The set Abiasa
• Yayasan Spiritia
• Yayasan Orbit
• Meanwhile, a government agency set up specifically to deal with HIV / AIDS is the National AIDS Commission (NAC).

If the result is positive, you will be referred to the clinic or hospital specialist HIV. Some other blood tests may be required. This test is to show the impact of HIV to your immune system. You also can talk about treatment options that can be done.

Step Treatment for Patients with HIV

Although there is no cure to completely eliminate HIV, but HIV treatment steps that exist at the moment is quite effective. Treatment options can prolong life for people with HIV and they can live a healthy lifestyle.

There are drugs known as antiretroviral (ARV) which serves to inhibit the virus damages the immune system. The drugs are given in tablet form that is consumed every day. You will be advised a healthy lifestyle. Eg healthy diet, not smoking, the annual flu vaccine and pneumococcal vaccine five years. It aims to reduce the risk of dangerous diseases.

Without treatment, people with immune system attacked by HIV will decrease drastically. And they tend to suffer from life-threatening diseases such as cancer. This is known as end-stage HIV or AIDS.

How HIV Prevention

The best way to prevent HIV is to have sex safely, and never share needles or equipment to inject anything. All who have ever had sex without a condom and sharing needles or injections, are at risk for HIV infection.

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