Live with the new AIDS

Live with the new AIDS

At the AIDS conference in Hanover, it is all about to break down preju

dices. For although in Germany as many HIV-infected people live like never before, is h

ow to deal with the virus is far from normal.

Ten years ago, he has settled and will be the focus in his practice, many HIV-positive. That the "doctor" himself for 13 years is infected with the HIV virus, few know his patients. Martin did not initially come to the stage of Lower Saxony in Hannover Congress Centrum Hall to attend the event, "HIV in the workplace" to participate. He preferred to remain anonymous, his answers to the questions put to him before he had even submitted a written statement. But now he is sitting but before the general public and reported in person by his everyday work.

It quickly becomes clear why he conceals his HIV infection better. Just recently a man came to him to have to make an AIDS test. When the doctor asked for the reason, he told his patient that he had heard, the tenant of a pub that he visits now and again, whether HIV-infected. Whether he had had unprotected sex with the man who wants to know the doctor. Of course not. He was not gay. But to be alone with the man in a room to be brought to the patients to get tested for safety's sake again. "I was only gone once the air," says Martin.

In Germany, as many HIV-infected people live like never before

"AIDS and Work" is just one of the themes at the fifth German-Austrian AIDS Congress (DÖAK) in Hanover, which ends this Saturday. Every two years, more than 1000 HIV clinician and researcher, especially from German speaking countries, to exchange ideas. It is spoken about new study results, as in Hanover over the chemo-prophylaxis, when to take the preventive antiviral drugs prevent HIV infection, or even on issues as they umtreiben the victims of the "community". And that's the motto of DÖAK fits especially to the socio-political focus of the event: "Science you perspective."

Thirty years after the discovery of a disease that was later given the name AIDS, many HIV-positive people complain that they are once their infection is known, is still excluded from society. It now live in Germany so many HIV-infected people than ever before. Around 70,000 people carry the AIDS virus in them, added each year nearly 3,000 newly diagnosed cases, although has, according to the Federal Centre for Health Education, condom use in Germany has now reached an all time high: the proportion of those with multiple sexual partners, always, often or occasionally use condoms was in 2010 at 86 percent. In 2000 there were 79 percent and 63 percent ten years earlier.

Nevertheless continue to become infected each year many young people in particular. One reason is a steady increase in years of other sexually transmitted diseases (among other Chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis), which could increase the risk of HIV infection massively. In addition, many HIV-positive people know nothing of their infection. And even they are often carriers of the virus.

With HIV infection can live with that, even working

At the same time, the proportion of older people infected since AIDS has become a fatal to a chronic disease. One in four HIV-positive is now older than 50 years. Thanks to the ever-improving medication groups, which are combined and used increasingly, without serious side effects, the majority of them work: nearly two-thirds of infected people are working, that is, comes to an average of 1,000 employees now a person who acquires the virus in them bears.

That AIDS but not with other chronic diseases like diabetes can be compared to shows, not least in working life. An HIV-positive, dealing openly with the disease, has little chance of getting a job. As a basic course will not be given the infection. "It's just too young, too old, overqualified or a foreign language does too little," Siegfried says the Black community board of the Congress. Who has a job that becomes infected and the infection makes public, is often bullied by his colleagues - even if it is a job with a church or social organization, as one of the participants told on the podium. Usually provide the absenteeism of the employee discontent: What is acceptable for a cancer, making it one AIDS patient to fast charge, because he is supposedly to blame for his situation. Polls show that many German still believe AIDS is a punishment for immoral behavior.

Gays often become infected, women rarely

No wonder that only three of 100 infected women ever dare to speak openly about their infection. Even within his own family to conceal most of their infection. But women are among the HIV-infected people are still clearly in the minority, only about 13,000 are affected in Germany. And it will change nothing as fast: last year the AIDS virus was diagnosed in 2700 men and 300 women would only be slightly.

Nearly two-thirds of those infected are gay men. It is worrying especially in the situation of the under-thirties, as Osamah Hamouda from Berlin's Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reporting. However, most young gay men were relatively often and regularly so that their infection would be detected early. This applies especially in the elderly and in people infected by heterosexual routes or have an immigrant background who do not. So be at 15 percent of newly diagnosed HIV-AIDS patients, the full picture already pronounced.

Suicides are not uncommon among those infected

AIDS occurs when an infected person's immune system is weakened already so strong that other opportunistic diseases occur. Them to a doctor can easily detect an HIV infection, even without testing. This is primarily a lung infection caused by a fungus (Pneumocystispneumonie), still a frequent cause of death. But in the era of "new AIDS", in which an HIV-infected people in Germany almost has a life expectancy as a healthy person - the difference is estimated at ten years - has also changed significantly the mortality of patients. Meanwhile, they most often die from heart and circulatory disease, which is also in the general population, the most common, followed by cancer and infections.

But is especially high in HIV-infected individuals with 15.4 percent the proportion of suicides. With the culprit is not only the discrimination and stigmatization by society, but often also a matter of stigma. Many HIV-positive people feel guilty and responsible for their problems. They do not accept their illness. The consequence of depression often are fought with alcohol and drugs are localized, such as statistics.

An early onset of therapy is cost-effective

Another aspect that is talked about on the DÖAK are the growing costs of treatment. By the end of 2010 almost 50 000 HIV-positive people are likely to antiretroviral treatment have received. So far, estimate the AIDS organizations in Germany that the treatment costs of an HIV-infected people in total around half a million €, but the costs are now increasing annually by more than five percent.

Norbert H. Brockmeyer, spokesman for the Competence Network HIV / AIDS and a member of the National AIDS Advisory Council of the Federal Health Ministry estimates that the average annual cost of 25,000 to 30,000 euros - "it's probably a little less." This adds up to a year to around 1.25 billion euros. With an estimated treatment duration of 30 years, resulting in this way, 40 billion euros.

"An early start of therapy is financially much less expensive than a later," says immunologist from the University Hospital in Bochum, "since so early occurring and costly treatments can be avoided." Also, overall economic is favorable, according to Brock Meyers an earlier initiation of therapy, "because the associated extended working life. "