Age doesn’t matter – but AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) still matter!
Like SARS-CoV-2 – the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) – HIV is contagious. But unlike SARS-CoV-2 (which can be spread when people cough, sneeze, speak, sing or breathe), HIV can be transmitted through sexual contact and injection or infusion of contaminated blood. An infected mother can also transfer the virus to her child before birth, during birth or after birth (through her milk).
HIV/AIDS was first reported in the Philippines in 1984. Since then, the numbers of those infected and died have continued to increase.
The Davao region is not spared. In fact, from 1993 to January 2022, a total of 5,256 cases of HIV/AIDS have been confirmed as per record from the Department of Health. More than half of the cases – 3,810 – were recorded in Davao City.
“Ito ay total cases na confirmed meaning to say some of these may have died; some of them are actually undergoing treatment. Lahat lahat na ito,” Dr. Jordana Remiterre, head physician of Reproductive Health and Wellness Center (RHWC), told those who attended the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City recently.
In the past, the figure was a little bit low because not too many knew where to get tested or the idea they had about HIV/AIDS was miniscule.
In fact, according to Maya Padillo, one of the scribes who attended the forum, said the RHWC doctor “attributed the increase in detection of cases to the opening of community-based centers.” In addition, “more people are now accessing the HIV/AIDS services.”
“Actually, tumataas siya in number or talagang ang mga behaviors katulad ng risk sexual behaviors that is why tumataas siya and then we always have new young population coming in na nagiging exploratory so tuloy tuloy pa rin ‘yung cycle,” Dr. Remiterre was quoted as saying.
Anal or vaginal sex without a condom is a risky behaviour. Oral sex carries little or no risk for getting or transmitting HIV. “Theoretically, transmission of HIV is possible if an HIV-positive person ejaculates in his partner’s mouth during oral sex,” hiv.gov explains. “However, the risk is still very low, and much lower than with anal or vaginal sex.”
Factors that may increase the risk of transmitting HIV through oral sex, according to hiv.gov, are oral ulcers, bleeding gums, genital sores, and the presence of other sexually transmitted diseases, which may or may not be visible.
Unknowingly, HIV is relatively fragile and can be easily killed by household disinfectants. But once it is inside the human body, there is no way a person can eliminate the dreaded virus.
Unlike flu, which already gives you the symptoms the following day after acquiring it, HIV infection can show no symptoms for several years. Studies have shown that it could be as short as three years or as long as 12 years.
Symptoms differ widely. In most cases, HIV infection starts with flu-like symptoms that resemble mononucleosis (the so-called kissing disease). These may persist for two weeks to a few months after HIV enters the body.
A person will only know that he or she is infected with HIV if he or she undergoes testing for HIV. “The HIV test works by detecting antibodies produced by a person after exposure to the virus,” explained Dr. Willie Ong, author of Doctors’ Health Tips and Home Remedies. “A common problem here is when to do the HIV test. If a person has become infected with the HIV virus, how long is the lag time before the person test positive?”
According to studies, most persons will develop a positive HIV test within 2-8 weeks after exposure. “Around 97% will develop these antibodies within 3 months of exposure,” Dr. Ong said.
“A few rare cases (less than 3%) will take 6 months to become positive,” Dr. Ong said. “Because of this, experts recommend that a person get an HIV test at 6 weeks and at 3 months after exposure. It is optional to take another test 6 months after exposure.”
Currently, there is no cure known for HIV but the virus can be controlled with proper medications called antiretrovirals.
“These antiretrovirals are provided for free by the government,” says Dr. Louie Mar A. Gangcuangco, an infectious disease researcher whose expertise in the HIV field is recognized internationally. “With healthy lifestyle and if antiretrovirals are taken every day, people with HIV can have an ‘undetectable’ virus in their blood.”
By “undetectable,” he means that the virus is still in the body but in very low amounts that it cannot be detected by the machine.
According to Dr. Gangcuangco, there are two benefits of taking medications for HIV. First, it prevents HIV from destroying the immune system of someone with the virus. Second, it prevents the spread of HIV because the virus will also be very, very low in the semen and other body fluids.
Another good news: there is now a medication, when taken every day, can prevent HIV infection. It is called pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP for short).
“This medication is a pill that contains antivirals,” explains Dr. Gangcuangco. “When HIV enters the body, a person who takes PrEP is protected against HIV infection. PrEP blocks the virus from reproducing in the body and is effective to prevent HIV transmission by more than 90%.”
Dr. Gangcuangco, however, dispelled the idea that PrEP can now replace condoms and other preventive measures for HIV. On the contrary, PrEP should be offered together with them. “PrEP is not meant to replace counseling and condom use but should be used as an adjunct to prevent HIV,” he explains.
