December 1, Commemorating World AIDS Day, do you know about HIV AIDS?

Every December 1, 2023, the whole world commemorates AIDS Day. HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that damages a person's immune system by infecting and destroying CD4 cells. The more CD4 cells are destroyed, the weaker a person's immune system will be, making them susceptible to various diseases.

If HIV is not treated quickly, it will become AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). AIDS is the final stage of HIV infection. At this stage, the body's ability to fight infection has been completely lost.

HIV transmission occurs when people come into contact with a patient's body fluids, such as blood, sperm, vaginal fluids, anal fluids, and breast milk. HIV is not transmitted through air, sweat, tears, saliva, mosquito bites, or physical touch.

In 2020, according to Ministry of Health estimates, the number of PLHIV in 2020 will be 543,100. Lower than estimates in 2016. HIV prevalence in Indonesia varies widely, 25.8 percent among men who have sex with men, 28.8% injecting drug users, 24.8% of the transgender population, and 5 .3% of female sex workers. Based on data from the Ministry of Health, the increase in HIV cases in Indonesia is increasing by 5,100 cases every year. This high rate of transmission is due to low knowledge of prevention and the impact of the disease as well as having partners with risky sexual behavior

HIV in Indonesia has been going on for more than three decades and is concentrated in 4 key populations, namely men who have sex with men (MSM), waria (transgender), female sex workers (PSP) and injecting drug users (IDUs). Various efforts to prevent and control HIV in Indonesia are carried out by the government and society with the support of funding from the government, regional governments and international cooperation.

What are the stages of HIV?
A person with HIV who does not receive treatment will experience three phases. However, HIV treatment can slow or prevent the progression of the disease, with technological advances in HIV treatment, progression to phase 3, namely AIDS, now occurs less frequently than in the early years of HIV.
1. First phase (Acute HIV infection)
- A person has a very high HIV content in their blood and is very contagious
- Like flu symptoms
- If you have flu symptoms and think you are infected with HIV, get tested immediately.
2. Second phase (chronic HIV infection)
- At this stage HIV infection is asymptomatic
- HIV is still active and continues to grow in the body
- In this phase, a person is usually not sick but can transmit the HIV virus
- Someone whose treatment is not as prescribed may not reach the next stage, namely AIDS.
3. Third phase (AIDS)
- The most severe stage of HIV
- Easily infects other people
- His immune system is seriously damaged
- Without HIV treatment, people with AIDS usually survive for about three years