¿Qué sabemos sobre el VIH y el SIDA?

Summary

The video discusses the history and complexities of HIV/AIDS, tracing its discovery in the 1980s and its initial impact on marginalized communities. It explains how HIV is transmitted, its effects on the immune system, and why it is challenging to cure. Despite the lack of a cure, antiretroviral therapy (ART) allows people to live normal lives by controlling the virus. The video emphasizes the importance of early detection, prevention methods like PrEP, and accessible treatments. It also highlights ongoing research to find functional cures and promote better health outcomes for those living with HIV.

Takeaways

• 😀 HIV was first recognized in 1981 when rare diseases like pneumonia and sarcoma of Kaposi appeared, mainly affecting certain groups like homosexuals, drug users, and hemophiliacs.
• 😀 HIV is transmitted through contact with infected bodily fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk, but not through saliva, sweat, or casual contact.
• 😀 The primary ways HIV is transmitted today are through unprotected sex and shared needles among intravenous drug users.
• 😀 HIV infects specific cells like CD4+ lymphocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells, and osteoclasts, causing them to eventually die and compromise the immune system.
• 😀 The acute phase of HIV infection often presents flu-like symptoms, which can go unnoticed, while the chronic phase may last for years with no symptoms, even as the virus continues to replicate.
• 😀 HIV progresses to AIDS when the immune system is severely damaged, making the body vulnerable to opportunistic infections and some cancers.
• 😀 With early treatment, individuals with HIV can avoid developing AIDS, and their viral load can become undetectable, reducing transmission risks.
• 😀 Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a combination treatment that controls HIV replication, though it requires lifelong adherence to prevent the virus from resurging.
• 😀 HIV is difficult to cure due to its rapid replication, constant mutations, and the fact that it hides in dormant reservoirs within cells, making it hard for both treatments and the immune system to detect.
• 😀 There are promising experimental treatments aiming to cure HIV, such as gene editing (e.g., CRISPR), but further research is needed before they can become mainstream.
• 😀 Preventive measures like using condoms, not sharing needles, and getting tested regularly are key to reducing the risk of HIV transmission, especially for those at high risk.

Q & A

What unusual patterns were observed starting in 1981 regarding health issues?

In 1981, rare diseases started to emerge, such as pneumonia caused by fungi, Kaposi's sarcoma (a rare and aggressive cancer), and other uncommon infections. These appeared mainly in certain groups, including homosexual men, intravenous drug users, hemophiliacs receiving blood transfusions, and Haitians.

What is the primary cause of these diseases that emerged in 1981?

The primary cause of these diseases was later discovered to be the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

How is HIV transmitted?

HIV is transmitted primarily through unprotected sex and shared needles among intravenous drug users. It can also be transmitted via infected blood, semen, vaginal fluids, rectal fluids, and breast milk. Transmission can occur when these fluids come into contact with mucous membranes or damaged tissue.

What are some common misconceptions about HIV transmission?

Misconceptions include that HIV can be spread through casual contact such as swimming pools, sharing food, using the same bathroom, or even by mosquito bites. These are not correct, as HIV is not found in significant amounts in saliva, sweat, or tears, and mosquitoes cannot transmit the virus.

What types of cells does HIV infect?

HIV primarily infects CD4+ lymphocytes, which help combat infections. It can also infect macrophages, dendritic cells, and osteoclasts, all of which have the CD4 receptor needed for HIV entry.

Why is HIV so difficult to cure?

HIV is difficult to cure due to its rapid replication, with about 100 billion copies made daily. This rapid replication leads to frequent mutations, allowing the virus to resist treatments. Additionally, HIV hides in latent reservoirs within cells, where it cannot be detected or eliminated by treatments or the immune system.

What happens in the acute phase of HIV infection?

In the acute phase, which occurs 1-3 weeks after transmission, about 80% of individuals experience flu-like symptoms such as fever, sore throat, rash, fatigue, joint pain, and swollen lymph nodes. These symptoms are often overlooked as they resemble other common illnesses.

What is the difference between HIV and AIDS?

AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) is the final stage of HIV infection, which occurs when the immune system is severely damaged and the body becomes vulnerable to opportunistic infections like meningitis, encephalitis, tuberculosis, and certain cancers. HIV, however, does not necessarily progress to AIDS with proper treatment.

How does antiretroviral treatment (ART) work for HIV patients?

Antiretroviral treatment (ART) consists of a combination of drugs that prevent the replication of the HIV virus. While it does not cure HIV, it helps lower the viral load to undetectable levels, allowing people with HIV to lead normal lives. Treatment must be continuous, as stopping it can cause the virus to start replicating again.

What are the potential future cures for HIV being researched?

Current research includes gene editing to modify patients’ genomes to prevent the expression of the CCR5 receptor, which HIV uses to enter cells. Other methods being explored include 'shock and kill', which attempts to activate the latent virus for targeted destruction, and 'block and lock', which aims to keep the virus dormant permanently.