On World AIDS Day, experts tell the real story of HIV testing and speak up for "Ai"

December 1, 2022 is the 35th "World AIDS Day", in response to China's call for "fighting AIDS together, sharing health", the "Voice for 'Ai'" public welfare activity hosted by the China Health Promotion Foundation and supported by Wanfu Health and JD Health was officially launched
。 Based on hot topics such as "what to do if you accidentally get infected with HIV" and "Is AIDS so terrible", the event selected real stories from user comments of Wanfu HIV test strips, and invited Cao Ningxiao, an expert in AIDS and STD prevention and treatment from the STD Control Center of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Gao Jing, an expert recommended by the National Center for Mental Health and Mental Health Prevention and Treatment, Ma Ping, chief physician of the Department of Infectious Diseases of Tianjin Second People's Hospital, and the China Health Promotion Foundation "Health Science Popularization into Wanjia" Peng Yunping, vice chairman and secretary general of the organizing committee, four experts came to personally talk and respond, aiming to dispel the public's fear of AIDS and improve the scientific understanding
of HIV prevention and treatment.

What should I do if I accidentally get HIV?

"I contracted HIV
last year.
At that time, I bought 3 boxes of test strips for inspection, and the result was that each test strip was two shallow bars, all of which were weakly positive
.
I was stunned for half an hour when I saw the results, and then I went to the hospital to diagnose and prescribe medicine, and this year is the second year
of taking medicine.
I used to think that HIV was far away from me, but now I feel so close, I advise everyone not to have a fluke mentality, and must not have high-risk behaviors
.
"This is the confirmed experience
published by a person living with HIV.

Associate Professor Cao Ningxiao, an expert in AIDS STD prevention and treatment at the Center for STD Control of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said that the duration of the symptom-free period of HIV is generally 4-8 years, and undiagnosed HIV-infected patients, especially those infected in the acute stage, are an important cause
of HIV infection.
Studies have shown that more than one-third of new HIV infections in the United States originate from people
who are infected with HIV but have not been diagnosed.
The AIDS stage is the terminal stage after HIV infection, which can manifest as various opportunistic infections or tumors
.
For individuals, early detection and prompt initiation of antiviral therapy can reduce viral load and viral reservoir
as soon as possible.
Early treatment can also protect and restore the body's immune function, not only reduce the risk of morbidity and death, but also help improve the quality of life and prolong life
.
Studies have shown that with the increasing coverage of treatment in recent years, AIDS-related morbidity and mortality occur mainly in people
with late detection of infection.

At the same time, knowing HIV status can prompt individuals to control high-risk behaviors
.
Prompt detection of HIV-infected pregnant women can reduce the risk of
infection in infants through antiviral therapy.
In our country, "detection as treatment" is recommended for all people living with HIV and patients, and free HIV antiretroviral treatment
is implemented.

How can you tell if a person is infected with HIV?

"There was a high-risk behavior in July, the previous result was negative but still not at ease, a little cold or cough, can freak yourself out, every day is torment
.
During the test, as a big man, he cried while waiting for the results
.
15 minutes result, negative
.
More than 120 days have passed since that high-risk behavior, and it should be fine
.
In the future, avoid high-risk behaviors, and I wish everyone to be negative
.
One user who has been tested multiple times for high-risk behavior wrote
.

Ma Ping, chief physician of the Department of Infectious Diseases of Tianjin Second People's Hospital, said that according to the recommendations of the "Expert Consensus on Expanding HIV Testing to Promote Early Detection", if you have had sex that you are not sure whether it is safe and are worried about the risk of contracting HIV, you can consider testing at least once
.
People who share needles, inject drugs, commercial sex, and people at constant risk of infection should be tested at least once
a year.
People with a higher risk of infection, such as polysexual partners or sexually active MSM with new sexual partners, should be tested every
3~6 months.

In addition, people who have been diagnosed with STDs or viral hepatitis, people who are suspected or diagnosed with TB, outpatients whose clinical signs or symptoms suggest HIV infection, and people who have recently had or are concerned about exposure to HIV need to repeat testing
, regardless of whether they have been tested before.

Regarding the window period of HIV antibody testing, Ms.
Peng Yunping, vice chairman and secretary general of the Organizing Committee of "Health Science Popularization into Ten Thousand Homes" of the China Health Promotion Foundation, explained that whether or not infection can be detected immediately after HIV infection, and there is a window period for testing, that is, a period
from HIV infection to the detection of antibodies, antigens or nucleic acids in the blood.
The window period for antibody testing is generally 4 to 12 weeks
.
It should be reminded that the diagnosis of AIDS must be reported by the relevant departments, and the online purchase test strip test is only a preliminary screening, if the result is positive or not assured, it is necessary to go to the hospital or disease control in time for confirmation or review test
.

Is AIDS that scary?

"I don't know when it started, but I started thinking cranky, suspecting that I was infected with HIV, and I was severely 'HIV-phobic'
.
When I go out to eat with my friends, I subconsciously distance myself from them, and when I talk to others, I will also want to avoid it, and even be depressed for a long time
when I am bitten by mosquitoes.
Yes, this is my 'fear of Ai', fear of interfering with normal life
.
Now I have to touch my hands when I take a taxi and ride a shared bike
.
I never had a high-risk behavior, but I was afraid
.
"So said an 'AIDS-phobic' person
.

Gao Jing, a recommended expert of the National Center for Mental Health and Mental Health Prevention and Control and a member of the Sex Education Committee of the Chinese Sex Society, said it has been 40 years since the first case of AIDS was detected in 1981
.
Human fear of AIDS has a long history, HIV is mainly sexually transmitted, many people will feel that it is a dirty disease, because the patient is not honest, leading to prejudice and discrimination
.

Daily life contact does not lead to infection, HIV-phobia is a psychological defense mechanism, the key is not to overdo it, trust science, try to divert attention or seek help from a psychologist
.

If you are unfortunately diagnosed with an infection, it is completely normal to have feelings such as denial, compromise and depression, and you can adjust your mental health in the following ways:

1.
First of all, go to a regular medical institution as soon as possible to start treatment, regular follow-up, similar to other chronic diseases, AIDS can be controlled
.

2.
Stay away from the mixed information and negative energy on the Internet, and seek help from doctors, including psychiatry, if necessary
.
You can also talk to trusted family friends or join a support group about how you're feeling and manage stress
.

3.
Regular work and rest, do not stay up late, immunity is closely related
to sleep.

4.
Exercise appropriately to enhance physical fitness
.

5.
Cultivate hobbies and help relieve stress
.
Also consider learning relaxation methods such as meditation, yoga, or deep breathing
.

6.
Maintain healthy eating habits
.

Finally, to help patients build confidence in life, the support of those around them is very important, so that we can reject discrimination and exclusion
together.