Etiología y riesgo en la construcción clínica de la enfermedad VIH-sida: Ensayo de antropología de la medicina

in this article, the construction of risk in aids related clinical medicine is analyzed. the arguments and rhetoric in the presentation of the etiology of the illness, viral transmission and the relationship between organic and social processes by a group of medical professionals engaged in the care of persons living with hiv and interviewed during two moments of the epidemic (1993-1994 and 1998-2000) are studied. the paper reconstructs the narrative plot that relates scientific findings, epidemiological evidence, signs and symptons identified in patient care, diagnostic classifications, pathogenic presentations, and so on. it further identifies metonymies that link trasmission routes, social behaviors, cause and risk. the question of risk individualization in medical attention is addressed through the identification of aspects of sexual lives, gender relationships, drug consumption and ways of living of the affected persons that play significant roles in clinical work and contribute to the establishment of the individual possibility of contracting and/or developing aids and of adopting care behaviors, especially regarding the application of antiretroviral therapies.