- Currently it is possible to live with HIV/AIDS and have a good quality of life because it is a controllable disease if it is detected early and antiretroviral treatment is started immediately.
- In Mexico, unfortunately, there are many people who live with HIV and do not know it.
- Currently, more than 201,439 cases have been registered in the country.
World Day for the Fight against HIV/AIDS is commemorated every December 1st. It is one of the biggest health problems that emerged in the 20th century. Although there is still no cure to date, at least significant progress has been made. Among the most important are the antiretroviral treatments because they have made the infection stop being fatal and can now be treated.
HIV is spread through the exchange of bodily fluids from an infected person, such as blood, breast milk, semen, or vaginal secretions. It can also be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy and childbirth. The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes that it is not possible to become infected through ordinary everyday contacts such as kissing, hugging and handshaking or by sharing personal items, water or food.
Treatment for infected people
It is important to note that people with HIV who are on antiretroviral therapy and have suppressed their viral load do not transmit the virus to their sexual partners. Early access to antiretroviral treatments It is therefore crucial not only to improve people’s health but also to prevent the transmission of the virus.
“Antiretroviral treatment has transformed HIV infection. From being a disease that was considered deadly, now it can be considered a chronic disease that allows people to have an expectation and quality of life similar to that of the general population”, mentioned Marco Banda, Medical Manager for the Franchise of HIV at GSK Mexico.
In the most recent version of the national antiretroviral management guide published by CENSIDA in September 2021, the combination was included dolutegravir/lamivudine, as an alternative to start treatment in patients who have not started antiretrovirals and also as an alternative to change in people with virological control.
Antiretroviral therapy is beneficial even when started in advanced stages; however, delayed therapy may not repair damage caused by persistent viral replication that occurred during the early phases of infection.
Current panorama in Mexico
In Mexico, unfortunately, there are many people who live with HIV and do not know it. Whether due to ignorance and the belief that this disease is only found in certain populations with some risk factors, they do not consider a diagnostic test necessary.
Currently there are more than 201 thousand 439 cases of HIV registered in Mexico. In the last year, a total of 11,869 new cases were registered; being the states with the highest rate of new cases diagnosed Quintana Roo (40.26), Colima (22.29), Campeche (21.66), Tabasco (20.00) and Yucatán (19.22).
The risk of contracting HIV has nothing to do with sexual orientation or preference, and it is a myth that must be eradicated. Anyone who has already started their sexual life should take an HIV test and if it comes out reactive, approach personalized treatment.
Although constant research continues to improve each and every one of the aspects of efficacy, toxicity and interactions with different medications, success lies in identifying patients and promoting adherence to the multidisciplinary treatment they may receive.
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