A Slice of Orange - January 2014 - Beating the AIDS virus, part 1

VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2014

A SLICE OF ORANGE Refreshing Your Health

BEATING THE AIDS VIRUS, PART 1 • Know the virus, know the syndrome • Passing the buck • Know your status • Breastfeeding by an HIV

positive mother

Beating the AIDS virus, part 1 START THE YEAR RIGHT BY WASTING NO TIME IN GEARING YOUR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE MOST DREADED VIRUS OF OUR TIMES—HIV. Everyone hopes that every New Year is better than the one before. But for the Philippines, this may not be the case when it comes to HIV/AIDS.

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When 2013 started, the Philippines was considered as a low-HIV prevalence country, with

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pine National AIDS Council reported that one Filipino contracts the virus every one hour

less that 0.1 percent of the adult population infected with HIV. But by July 2013, the Philip-

A SLICE OF ORANGE

VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2014

and 25 minutes. For July alone, there were

Dr. Bautista explains that HIV is

449 new reported HIV cases. By October

transmitted through:

2013, this number rose to 491 new cases.

Since the disease was detected in the Philippines in 1984, there have been 14,025 Filipinos infected, 1,289 have become fullblown AIDS. These numbers are only those that were tested, which means this is only the tip of the iceberg.

Know the virus, know the syndrome

• unprotected sexual intercourse, either

vaginal or anal, with someone who is

HIV positive

• transfusion with infected blood • sharing syringes and needles with some-

one who is HIV positive during drug

use or tattoos

• mothers to their unborn babies during

childbearing; and through breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding by an HIV

Despite all the “noise” about HIV/AIDS, peo-

positive mother

ple are still surprisingly unaware of important

A mother can transmit HIV to her baby

details about the subject. This ignorance, fu-

during breastfeeding. However, by not

eled by stigma, is the catalyst for the rapid

breastfeeding, a mother is also placing

spread of HIV.

her child at risk of infections and poor nutrition. Therefore, a mother with HIV

HIV is the acronym for Human Immunode-

should weigh the risks and benefits of

ficiency Virus. It is a virus that attacks the

breastfeeding vs withholding breast-

white blood cells (WBCs), which are the

feeding.

blood cells that help defend the body from infections. When HIV attacks the WBCs, the body’s defenses against other infections weaken. As the body’s immune system weakens, the body is attacked by a wide variety of serious and deadly infections, and the patient develops what we call AIDS or

Most experts consider oral sex a low-risk activity, but the risk is not zero.

Importantly, Dr. Bautista highlights that HIV is NOT transmitted through the following activities:

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. As

• Kissing

you can see, AIDS is a late manifestation of

• Casual contacts or handshakes

the HIV infection. However, in the early stag-

• Sharing living quarters, eating or

es of the infection, when the patient still has

not developed AIDS, he may not feel any-

• Mosquitoes and bed bugs.

thing and not know he is infected. Hence,

drinking with an infected person

This is not an easy decision to make, especially for a lay person who is not fully aware of the kinds and magnitude of risks each measure holds. Therefore, the first thing an HIV mother should do is to look for a breastfeeding counselor.

She should never make this decision on her own.

To avail of specialized HIV counseling and other HIV services, you may contact Icon Clinic, G/F OTM Building, 71 Scout Tuason St., Bgy. South Triangle,

he may continue to pass on the infection to

Quezon City. Mobile nos.: (0932) 877

other people.

4266 and (0917) 826 4266.

Passing the buck

You may also get more information from

According to Dr. Irces G. Bautista, a dip-

the AIDS Society of the Philippines. Visit

lomate of the Philippine College of Occu-

www.aidsphil.org.

pational Medicine, and the occupational health physician of ActiveLink, HIV has been

This simply means that you can safely work

shrouded with stigma because of its modes

with a colleague with HIV without fear of

of transmission.

getting infected.

A SLICE OF ORANGE

VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2014

Know your status

cial step during testing, because it will help

Since the HIV infection does not cause any

you cope with a positive result, and know

symptoms in its very early stages, a per-

the next steps after the results come out.

son infected may not know he is infected.

Pasig Social Hygiene Clinic Pasig City Hall, 5/F Drug Testing Room Tel. no: 643 1111 local 393 M-F Marikina Social Hygiene Clinic Marikina Health Office, Shoe Ave., near Amang Rodriguez Hospital Tel. no: 942 2497 M-F

Hence, it is very important, especially for

Most free HIV testing centers also give prop-

those at high risk, to get tested. People at

er pre-testing counseling. Some of these free

high risk are:

testing centers are:

• Those who had unprotected vaginal or

RITM Satellite Clinic Malate, Manila Tel. no: 353 8922 MTF Sat Sun

Pasay Social Hygiene Clinic G/F 106 Pasay City Hall Tel. no: 551 4180 M-F

Manila Social Hygiene Clinic 2/F 208 Quiricada St., Sta. Cruz, Manila across San Lazaro Hospital Tel. no: 711 6942 M-F

Klinika Bernardo EDSA across Nepa Q-Mart, Cubao, Quezon City, at the back of Ramon Magsaysay High School M-F, 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month

Makati Social Hygiene Clinic 7/F City Hall, JP Rizal St., Bgy. Poblacion, Makati Tel. no: 8701615 M-F

Project 7 Social Hygiene Clinic Project 7, Quezon City

anal intercourse with someone infected

with HIV

• Those who had unprotected vaginal or

anal intercourse with someone who is

unsure of his/her infection status

• Sharing of needles during drug use or tattooing.

HIV testing has two stages: a screening test and a confirmatory test only for those who showed positive on the screening test.

The HIV screening test is available in many hospitals and laboratories. However, in most of these facilities, pre-testing counseling is

Mandaluyong Social Hygiene Clinic Saniga Health Center, Lerma St., Mandaluyong M-F

not available. Pre-testing counseling is a cru-

Looking to enhance your corporate healthcare benefits?

E-mail us at benefits@activelinkbenefits.com.

The information in this newsletter is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care.

Consult a doctor for all matters relating to your health, particularly for symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention. © 2014 ActiveLink

Benefits Made Better

ActiveLink 7/F Electra House Building 115-117 Esteban St., Legaspi Village, Makati City www.activelinkbenefits.com

Batasan Social Hygiene Clinic G/F Batasan Hills Super Health Center Building, IBP Road, Batasan Hills, Quezon City In the next part of this two-part series, you will learn how to beat this dreaded virus through prevention and treatment.

A Slice of Orange

is a newsletter designed to help clarify basic health information and offer juicy tips on uplifting your health.

Editorial team Alvin Delfin Christine Llenes-Delfin Ivan Olegario, MD