Discrimination and hatred towards PLWHA can trigger the spread of HIV/AIDS

Liputan6.com, Balikpapan – To coincide with the celebration of International AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency syndrome) Day, Wednesday (01/12/2021) Siloam Hospitals Balikpapan held a health talk education about HIV-AIDS entitled ‘Stay away from the disease, not the person’. Education is carried out to increase and remind people of knowledge and concern regarding HIV/AIDS through the live Instagram application.

Doctor Liliana Handranatan said HIV was still a frightening specter for some people. Lack of education and understanding about HIV makes people living with HIV-AIDS (PLWHA) often get discriminatory treatment.

“HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that damages the immune system by infecting and destroying CD4 cells. If more and more CD4 cells are destroyed, the body’s immune system will weaken, making it vulnerable to various diseases,” said the VICITY clinic doctor or Voluntary Counseling doctor. This special testing for HIV-AIDS is located at Siloam Hospitals Balikpapan.

HIV that is not treated immediately will develop into a serious condition called AIDS. AIDS is the final stage of HIV infection. At this stage, the body’s ability to fight infection is completely lost.

“So HIV is the virus, while AIDS is a collection of symptoms caused by decreased immunity,” explained Liliana.

4 Ways of Transmission of HIV

The most advanced stage of HIV infection is Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which can take years to develop if left untreated. Depends on the condition of each individual. However, not everyone who has HIV will develop AIDS.

“Broadly speaking, there are four ways this virus is transmitted. The first is through blood transfusions, the second is through semen or pre-ejaculate fluid, the third is through vaginal fluids, and the last is through breast milk,” said Doctor Lili, who also serves as a doctor. MCU at Siloam Hospitals Balikpapan.

HIV is not transmitted through saliva but through blood and semen and breast milk, so not from food contact. So for the family there is no need to worry when eating together with AIDS sufferers.

The first symptoms of HIV that appear are fever, headache, diarrhea, and canker sores. Usually for people with HIV positive to become AIDS it takes a long time with a duration of more than 10 years.

“If AIDS appears, the symptoms of a lowered immune system such as opportunistic infections will be able to enter the body, so it can cause TB infection, then significant weight loss, then can cause fungal infections and so on,” he said. Doctor Lily.

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