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Only 10% of Poles have ever been tested for HIV. Such a small percentage may result from the fear of the test itself and its result, or the impact of the news about the possible carrier of the virus on further life. In the article below, together with experts - prof. Justyna Kowalska and Dr. Magdalena Ankiersztejn-Bartczak - we deal with the biggest myths about HIV and answer the most important questions about the virus.

As many as 20% of people in Poland may not know that they are HIV positive. What's more, in our country the number of the so-called late presenters, i.e. patients with late diagnosis of the disease. Why do Poles avoid HIV testing? Some may be afraid of the test (and its results), some do not even suspect that they may be carriers. Meanwhile, as Prof. Justyna Kowalska from the Department of Infectious Diseases for Adults of the Provincial Infectious Hospital in Warsaw:

- Anyone who has had at least one sexual contact in their life with a person who did not know whether or not he is HIV positive and who had previously had partners may be at risk of contracting the virus. However, this risk is very low - only 1 in 1,000 heterosexual contacts are contagious. However, such cases do happen. The only way to know for sure if you are infected is to have an HIV test.

How is HIV testing done?

Tests for the presence of the virus are free and anonymous, they can be performed all over Poland - at any consultation and diagnostic point. You do not need to prepare yourself for the test, e.g. be on an empty stomach. It is also possible to consult an advisor who will help to determine which behaviors are / are not risky.

- In many places, a rapid HIV test is performed - it takes about 10 minutes and you can wait about 15 minutes for the results. A finger prick is required, it is just like using a blood glucose meter to test sugar for people who have diabetes. Unfortunately, HIV tests are available only on foreign websites, which only require the use of an oral swab. In this case, a finger prick is not required at all. However, confirmation of a positive quick test result always requires a classic test, which consists of a downloadblood - says prof. Justyna Kowalska.

How can you become infected with HIV?

- The main route of infection with the virus in Poland is through sexual contact, therefore anyone who is sexually active should perform such a test. However, it is worth remembering that the virus does not fly in the air, it does not spread by airborne droplets, so there are not many other ways of infection. In addition to sexual activity, it is contact with blood - but directly, into an open wound. There is no possibility of infection in a beautician, and a tattoo is also not that very risky, because for infection to occur, there must be a visible amount of fresh blood and this blood must enter the bloodstream. Neither at the dentist's nor during blood collection you can get infected. Therefore, HIV-positive people do not pose any threat to the environment, society, and their relatives. They create he althy families - with uninfected partners and uninfected children - emphasizes Dr. Magdalena Ankiersztejn-Bartczak, president of the Social Education Foundation.

What are the symptoms of HIV?

- The problem with the diagnosis of this disease is the fact that in most people it is asymptomatic. Although the first symptoms may appear within two weeks after infection, they are very non-specific. They resemble the flu, there may be diarrhea, fever. They pass spontaneously and usually go unnoticed. Only years later do the first immunodeficiencies make themselves felt. People who are infected do not have this awareness, they maintain sexual contact, which leads to the spread of the virus to other people - adds Prof. Justyna Kowalska.

How is HIV treated?

People with HIV are treated with antiretroviral drugs (ARV). Thanks to them, multiplication of the virus is blocked and the development of AIDS is inhibited. Drugs also normalize the functioning of the immune system. According to a study conducted by IQS on behalf of GSK, 7 out of 10 people using the therapy have a positive opinion of their quality of life, but 59% of virus carriers are concerned about the impact of long-term therapy on their he alth. Currently, there are treatments based on a combination of three different drugs, and a new therapy based on a combination of only two drugs is being implemented.

- Advances in ARV therapy make it 97% effective and very low-toxic. Patients benefit from this treatment for up to 50 years, thanks to which the survival rate of people with HIV is similar to those of the starting population. Therefore, we encourage you to test, because what we can offer is a normal life - the sooner we do the test, the sooner we introduce treatment. The therapy is available free of charge, often introduced using the "test and treat" methodtest and immediately heal. We test different biochemical parameters twice a year in HIV patients, but I think that this is still a big normalization - says prof. Justyna Kowalska.

What are the limitations of people with HIV?

- In Poland, people with HIV are cared for very well, because there are clinics dedicated exclusively to them. The problem arises in other he alth care facilities. The level of anxiety is so high that these people are often moved to the end of the line or doctors do everything not to admit them, for fear of infection, which is really unreal. Basic rules of hygiene and disinfection protect against it - explains Dr. Magdalena Ankiersztejn-Bartczak.

Motherhood and HIV

- If a child is born with the virus, this is the worst situation - says prof. Justyna Kowalska. - HIV infection is different in children than in adults. It is more dynamic, the virus is more ruthless to the young organism. Life prospects are a bit worse. Of course, I also look after people infected with the mother-child route, who are functioning and have he althy children, but the dream situation is to know before getting pregnant that you are HIV-positive. That is why I encourage all future and young mothers to examine themselves and their partners. In Poland, we still recommend testing for pregnancy twice.

- In pregnant women who know that they are HIV positive, the level of HIV is reduced to a very low level and thus the baby is he althy. Infected young mothers cannot breastfeed, but all other parental functions are performed in a completely normal way. If a woman takes medication, has a lowered level of the virus, there is no possibility that the child will be infected in everyday situations, says Dr. Magdalena Ankiersztejn-Bartczak.

Worth knowing

On the website www.projekttest.pl you can find all the necessary information on HIV testing and a map of test sites. In turn, the Foundation for Social Education, since 2022, has been running the Mobile Harm Reduction Project, which allows you to do research in a motorhome that visits many places in Poland.

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Category:

Infectious diseases