The prevention
Sex education is paramount and must begin before the onset of sexual activity of adolescents. HIV infection is a sexually transmitted disease and one contaminant sexual intercourse can transmit the disease to healthy partner. The only means of prevention is the use of condoms during sex with partners whose HIV status is unknown.
It can also be transmitted in injecting drug use with contaminated material. It is necessary to use injection equipment for single use in France, this material is available in pharmacies without a prescription.
HIV infection progresses to AIDS, a disease fatal if not treated early enough. An HIV patient will be monitored regularly by a medical team and treatment will be offered in a timely manner.
The screening
A person infected with the AIDS virus must be detected as soon as possible on the one hand, to take all precautions so as not to infect sexual partners, on the other hand, so that it can benefit from medical monitoring and the initiation of appropriate treatment at the best time.
It is logical that at any risk sex with a new partner which is not known HIV status and without condoms, HIV testing is requested.
Pregnant women will have during their pregnancy an HIV test with other tests (toxoplasmosis, syphilis, rubella).
The supervision of a person with HIV
A person with HIV (vis-a-vis HIV) remains as a first step in good health but it is necessary to monitor the infection of the regular dosages of CD4 cells and viral load ie the number of virus in the blood. The patient will be followed medically and psychologically and will be regularly informed about the evolution of her infection, it may permanently contact the medical team which has supported.
The antiviral treatment
At a certain point in the evolution of the disease, when the CD4 decline significantly and that the viral load increases, the medical team will propose an HIV positive patient to anti-retroviral treatment. It is now composed of 3 drugs, known as triple therapy. Much progress has been made to simplify the number of tablets and frequency taken daily. However, it remains binding having to take treatment every day for many years. It is essential for a person with HIV to understand the value of triple anti-AIDS and preventing the abandonment over the years because of side effects or fatigue.
It is important that it be prepared and that she had discussed with his doctor. According to the proposed medications, side effects will vary. It is important to distinguish the side effects fairly common in early treatment (digestive, headache, fatigue.) And often fade, effects that may occur after several months or years of treatment (increase of sugar - diabetes), lipids (choléstérol.), changing the morphology, which may have an impact on risk of cardiovascular disease (myocardial infarction, stroke ,…).
It will particularly reduce cardiovascular risk in keeping or regaining a normal weight, taking well-balanced meals, having regular physical activity. It is essential to stop smoking, anti-tobacco consultation will be advised among smokers infected with HIV. The combination can delay the progress of HIV infection to AIDS. Despite the side effects, the patient can lead mostly normal lives.
It is essential to follow the treatment properly, according to the prescription of the medical profession and every day, regularly, at set times, with or without meals. This is the first treatment initiated which has the greatest chance of being effective. We must not let it pass. A treatment failure sign the emergence of resistance to the virus molecule prescribed.
He is represented by a resumption of viral multiplication and a decrease in CD4 lymphocytes. The failures of treatment are almost always caused by poor adherence, ie poor monitoring of prescription medication: forgetfulness, hours taken not observed. sometimes antagonistic combinations of drugs (which can have side effects if taken together). It will sometimes change drugs, the risk of failure will be greater. When it appears an infectious disease or cancer, they will be treated as though there were no HIV infection.