Author: M.S.c. M.D. Ivan Juan Padrón Rendón

HIV/AIDS remains one of the deadliest diseases worldwide. In 2023, around 630,000 people died due to AIDS-related illnesses, while malaria also has a significant impact on global mortality. In 2023, there were approximately 597,000 deaths from malaria in 83 countries Tuberculosis (TB) is another serious disease that affects millions of people. In 2023, there were around 1.4 million deaths from tuberculosis worldwide. These diseases represent a significant challenge to global health and require continued efforts for their prevention and treatment symptoms of HIV infection differ depending on the stage of the infection.

In the first few weeks after infection, some people do not have any symptoms, while others have a flu-like syndrome with:
• fever,
• headache,
• rash,
• sore throat.

As the infection progressively weakens the immune system, other signs and symptoms may appear:
• swollen lymph nodes,
• weight loss,
• fever,
• diarrhea,
• cough.

How is HIV transmitted?
It is transmitted through bodily fluids of infected people, such as blood, semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk. It can also be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy and childbirth.

HIV transmission occurs when HIV-infected fluid comes into direct contact with the bloodstream.
The ways HIV is transmitted are:
➢ Sexual: sexual intercourse with anal, vaginal or oral penetration (oral sex) without a condom.
➢ Blood: access of infected blood to the bloodstream through the exchange of syringes, needles, or other injection material, or any sharp or pointed object.
➢ Mother-child: during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding.
➢ It is not transmitted through daily life activities such as kissing, hugging, shaking hands or sharing food, bathing, showering, swimming pool, clothing, or through an insect bite.


How can I prevent HIV transmission?

Sexually:
➢ Correctly use a male or female condom in every sexual act with penetration with infected people or those who do not know if they are infected.
➢ It is advisable to use it from the beginning of the relationship and not only at the time of penetration.
➢ PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a medication that people take to prevent contracting HIV.
➢ Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) You must take the initial dose of this medication within 72 hours of your sexual encounter and then continue with additional doses for 28 days.

Blood:
Avoid sharing sharp or pointed objects or make sure they are sterilized beforehand.
➢ If you use injected drugs, always use sterile material, avoiding sharing syringes, needles and other injection equipment.

Mother-child:
➢ Take an HIV test and undergo medical follow-up.
➢ Perform a cesarean section.
➢ Avoid breastfeeding.



What is malaria?
Malaria is a disease caused by a Plasmodium parasite, which is very common in tropical countries. It is spread by mosquitoes of the Anopheles genus that carry the parasite that causes the disease. If this mosquito bites a human, the parasite can reach their blood. The eggs that are laid become more parasites and these feed on red blood cells until the person becomes ill. Symptoms appear 10 to 15 days after the mosquito bite. Without treatment, malaria can cause serious health problems.

What are the symptoms of malaria?
• High fever
• Chills
• Tremors
• Extreme sweating
• Fatigue
• General malaise (weakness) and muscle aches
• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting.
• Mild jaundice.

How to prevent it?
➢ Avoid mosquito bites, especially between dusk and dawn. Personal protection against mosquito bites between dusk and dawn is the first line of defense against malaria.
➢ It is recommended to combine the use of repellents or sleeping under a mosquito net.
➢ Eliminate puddles of water under or near your house, in the yard and in the garden, because puddles of stagnant water breed mosquitoes. You can dry the stagnant water, fill it with soil or stone, or drain it.
➢ Sleep under a mosquito net. Use it correctly, secure it under the mattress, it should be well warmed and without gaps.
➢ Eliminate weeds around your home.
➢ Clean your fish farm, removing weeds around it.
➢ Use larviphagous fish in decorative fountains.
➢ Use repellent and wear long-sleeved clothing and trousers.
➢ Place mesh screens on the windows and doors of your home to prevent mosquitoes from entering.
➢ Use medication when necessary to prevent mosquitoes from entering.
➢ Consult a doctor for a diagnosis and appropriate treatment if fever appears from one week after entering an area with a risk of malaria and up to 3 months after leaving it.




What is tuberculosis?
It is a disease caused by bacteria and spread from person to person through the air. Tuberculosis usually affects the lungs, but it can also spread to other organs.

What causes tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Germs spread from person to person through the air. People who have tuberculosis disease spread germs into the air by coughing, sneezing, talking, or singing. If you breathe air with germs, you can get tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis is NOT spread by:
• Shaking hands with someone.
• Sharing food or drinks.
• Touching bed linens or toilet bowls.
• Kissing.

The most common symptoms are:
• Persistent cough.
• Fever of 38º C.
• Constant tiredness.
• Weight loss.
• Night sweats.
• Loss of appetite.

In advanced stages, there may be blood stains in the sputum when coughing.

How can I prevent tuberculosis?
➢ The spread of tuberculosis can be prevented if infected people cover their mouth and nose when talking, coughing or sneezing.
➢ Identify infected people and subject them to treatment.
➢ Tuberculosis can be prevented with good hygiene and covering our mouth and nose if we are in contact with a sick person.
➢ Ventilate the rooms so that the air circulates and avoid the concentration of suspended particles that may contain the Koch bacillus or other germs.
➢ Eat healthy and balanced foods to strengthen your immune system and prevent diseases.
➢ Medical Checkups: If you have been in close contact with someone diagnosed with TB or have symptoms (such as persistent cough, fever, night sweats, weight loss), see a doctor for evaluation and testing.

For more information visit:
https://ourworldindata.org/hiv-aids
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malaria.
https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/UNAIDS_FactSheet_en.pdf
https://www.who.int/es/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hiv-aids
https://hivinfo.nih.gov/es/understanding-hiv/fact-sheets/conceptos-basicos-sobre-la-prevencion-de-la-infeccion-por-el-vih
https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/es/prevention/como-prevenir-el-vih.html
https://www.healthline.com/health/es/prevencion-del-vih
https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/features/Malaria-is-a-Serious-Disease-Espanol.pdf
https://www.paho.org/es/temas/malaria
https://www.who.int/es/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malaria
https://spmv.simposium.pt/media/13958/RECOMENDACIONES_PARA_LA_PREVENCION_DE_LA_MALARIA_EN_VIAJEROS_2018.pdf
https://www.who.int/es/news/item/24-03-2020-new-who-recommendations-to-prevent-tuberculosis-aim-to-save-millions-of-lives
https://www.who.int/es/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tuberculosis
https://www.cdc.gov/tb/esp/topic/infectioncontrol/TBhealthCareSettings.html