HIV as it is shown and through how much. The incubation period of HIV, when the first signs appear

This is a disease caused by an RNA virus. HIV infection is a chronic, progressive condition. Its manifestations are associated with damage to the immune system, which begins to work insufficiently actively, poorly protects the body. This condition is called immunodeficiency.

Human immunodeficiency virus and AIDS are different concepts. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is associated with clinical symptoms, in particular, an increase in lymph nodes. In the future, weakened immunity cannot respond to the ingestion of bacteria, fungi and other infectious agents into the patient's body. Secondary infections join, from which the patient dies. In addition, AIDS is accompanied by the appearance of some malignant tumors.

The causative agent of the disease is a virus whose genetic material is able to integrate into the DNA of immune cells. It is transmitted through sexual contact and through blood. In the first decades of the epidemic, manifestations of the disease developed mainly in homosexuals, then in people who use drugs intravenously. In recent years, the disease has often been observed in women who have become infected sexually.

Infection in children usually occurs due to the transmission of viral particles from the mother during pregnancy or childbirth. There have been outbreaks of morbidity caused by the transfusion of infected blood. However, now such a possibility is practically excluded, since all donor biomaterials are carefully checked.

The human immunodeficiency virus causes the formation of antibodies to it in the body. They are not able to destroy the pathogen embedded in the DNA of immune cells. The detection of such antibodies is part of the diagnosis of the disease.

How many people live with HIV infection? With a severe course of the disease and the absence of medical care, death is possible after 3-4 years. However, some people who became infected at the beginning of the epidemic in the 80s of the last century are still living. Antiretroviral therapy has been used relatively recently, and it is not known how much it can prolong a person's normal life.

If the patient found out about his diagnosis in time, is observed by a doctor, starts the necessary treatment on time, then the risk of dying from complications of the virus is low. Such people are not dangerous to others and can fully and long live.

Methods of infection

HIV infection can only be transmitted from an infected person. The incubation period of the disease is 30 days, after which the patient feels healthy, but is already a danger to others. A large amount of the virus is found in such biological materials:

• blood;
• sperm;
• discharge from the vagina and cervical canal;
• cerebrospinal fluid;
• breast milk;
• internal organs.

There are few viral particles in saliva, urine and lacrimal fluid, and transmission through them is impossible.

There are 2 ways of transmission of the disease: contact-sexual and parenteral.

In the first case, the virus enters the body through mucous membranes or damaged skin. Particularly dangerous are anogenital and orogenital sexual intercourse, as well as unprotected sex in inflammatory diseases of the genital organs.

How HIV is transmitted non-sexually:

• when transfusing infected blood;
• when transplanting an organ from a sick donor;
• when using the same non-sterile syringe by different people.

How children become infected: in the prenatal period through the placenta, during childbirth. The probability of the birth of an infected child in a sick mother is from 25 to 40%. The risk increases when a woman is ill in the AIDS stage, she has a high viral load, prematurity, and during natural childbirth. The virus can also be transmitted through breastfeeding.

The best way avoiding infection is a responsible attitude to one's health and choice of a sexual partner. Everyone should know the ways of infection and avoid dangerous situations. The condom protects against the disease in 93 - 97% of cases of contact with an infected partner, and therefore is considered a reliable means of prevention. If infection nevertheless occurred, it is necessary to visit a doctor of a specialized center regularly.

Signs and manifestations of the disease

Manifestations of infection occur at the acute stage and at the stage of AIDS. After infection, nonspecific manifestations of pathology may occur - fever, sore throat, muscles, nausea. The patient may develop a skin rash, stomatitis, swollen lymph nodes.

First signs HIV infection go away on their own in 1-3 weeks. There is a latent period that can last for years and is not accompanied by symptoms other than swollen lymph nodes. At this time, the disease can be detected only by changes in blood tests.

With severe suppression of immunity, the stage of AIDS develops. It is characterized by the addition of a secondary infection. The patient's condition is deteriorating. Coughing is a sign of pneumonia. Diarrhea lasting more than a month, constant fever, weight loss are characteristic. Candidiasis, tuberculosis, herpes, fungal infections, toxoplasmosis join. There are malignant tumors - lymphomas, Kaposi's sarcoma. Signs of the disease in women in the AIDS stage include cervical cancer. The nervous system is affected, encephalopathy and dementia develop. As a result, the patient dies from the manifestations of one of the associated pathologies.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Stages

According to the classification of V. I. Pokrovsky, such stages of HIV infection are distinguished.

The incubation (initial) period lasts up to 2 months. At this time, there are no antibodies in the patient's blood, there are no clinical signs. However, a person can already become a source of infection.

The first stage, or acute period, is accompanied by fever, joint pain and other non-specific manifestations, reminiscent of a cold. Sometimes this phase is asymptomatic. The virus can already be detected in the blood of patients, but antibodies to it in the body have not yet been produced.

Then comes the latent stage. It lasts for several years. The patient is not bothered by anything, but when examining his blood, antibodies can be detected, and he himself is the source of infection. At the end of this period, damage to the lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy) occurs. Proper therapy can significantly prolong this stage.

At the AIDS stage, secondary diseases join:

• bacterial or pneumocystis pneumonia;
• candidiasis of mucous membranes and various organs;
• tumors (lymphomas, Kaposi's sarcoma);
• other fungal, microbial or protozoal infections.

Clinical signs of HIV infection in men and women are similar. There are manifestations of intoxication, fever, sweating, diarrhea, rapid weight loss.

In the terminal stage, exhaustion, intoxication, and dementia increase. The patient dies from concomitant infections.

Symptoms of the disease

For the first time after infection, there may be no symptoms of HIV infection. Some patients mistake them for the flu or another cold. Early clinical signs are called acute retroviral syndrome. It includes the following symptoms:

• stomach pain, nausea or vomiting;
• liquid stool;
• an increase in cervical, axillary, inguinal lymph nodes;
• headache;
• joint and muscle pain;
• skin rashes;
• a sore throat;
• weight loss.

Initial manifestations may have different severity, but they usually disappear on their own after 2 to 3 weeks. Many patients do not notice them.

After the disappearance of the first signs of the disease, an infected person may feel well for many years.

Patients can only be identified through a blood test. It contains antibodies to the virus. The analysis is prescribed by a doctor before any operation, during hospitalization, for pregnant women and in other cases. When confirming the diagnosis, the patient should be constantly monitored by an infectious disease specialist, regularly examined and, if necessary, begin treatment.

If antiviral therapy is not started on time, AIDS will develop - an irreversible damage to the immune system.

Late manifestations of the disease:

• persistent diarrhea;
• weakness;
• prolonged fever;
• loss of appetite and weight;
• cough and shortness of breath, signs of pneumonia;
• sweating at night;
• swollen lymph nodes;
• pain when swallowing;
• impaired consciousness, difficulty concentrating, personality changes;
• genital herpes;
• tingling and numbness of the extremities;
• sores in the mouth.

In women, infection should be suspected in one of the following conditions:

• more than 3 episodes of vaginal candidiasis during the year, not associated with taking antibiotics;
• recurrent inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs;
• abnormal Pap test or cervical cancer.

In children, the disease manifests itself not earlier than 4 months of life, often after reaching 5 years. Most often observed:

• growth retardation;
• enlargement of the spleen;
• oral candidiasis;
• fungal diseases skin;
• hemorrhagic rash;
• a decrease in the number of platelets, causing bleeding.

Kaposi's sarcoma and other tumors do not occur in children.

Diagnosis of the disease

Recognition of the disease is based on the identification of its risk factors (drug addiction, promiscuity) and clinical manifestations. Diagnosis of HIV infection is carried out with the help of laboratory tests.

The first sign of HIV, which appears 3 months after infection, is the appearance in the blood of specific antibodies to the virus. They are detected by enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) in 90-95% of patients. With a positive reaction, it is necessary to confirm the diagnosis using immunoblotting - the detection of antibodies to certain protein structures of the virus. However, false positive results are very rare.

The human immunodeficiency virus can be detected in the blood using the polymerase chain reaction. It determines how many viral particles (copies) are present in 1 µl of plasma. This is how viral load is measured. The detection of any number of antigens confirms the disease.

To assess the state of immunity in the blood, the number of varieties of lymphocytes is counted - T-helpers and T-suppressors. Normally, the ratio of helpers / suppressors is 1.8 - 2.1. When the disease is reduced to less than 1.0.

Everyone is encouraged to use the option of anonymous testing. Timely diagnosis of the disease will help to start therapy on time, slow down the course of the disease and save the patient's life. If the result is negative and doubts persist, it is recommended to repeat the ELISA test after 90 days.

Treatment of the disease

This disease cannot be cured yet. If the treatment of HIV infection is carried out according to the rules, in many patients viral particles in the blood are not detected. However, after the cessation of antiviral therapy, they reappear. One of the problems of treatment is the resistance (resistance) of the pathogen to drugs. The main reason for this phenomenon is the patient's unwillingness to follow the recommendations of a specialist. Resistance can appear very quickly and be cross, that is, to several drugs at once. However, in most patients, the effectiveness of treatment is very high.

Until recently, it was not entirely clear when and to whom to prescribe this or that medicine for HIV infection. Doctors have now established that antiviral therapy should be prescribed to all patients, regardless of the number of lymphocytes and viral load, when the first signs of infection appear, that is, immediately after the initial diagnosis.

Before starting the use of drugs, you need to make sure that the patient will take the drugs according to the desired scheme. The patient must be given information about the possible side effects of medications. He must understand that the medicine for the disease must be taken for life. Drug addiction, depression, social isolation reduce the likelihood of successful treatment.

The medicine for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus is a combination of two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors and one non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor. There are ready dosage forms containing the necessary components in one tablet.

These drugs block the process of incorporating the genetic material of the virus into the DNA of human immune cells, protecting them from infection. These include zidovudine, stavudine, didanosine, abacavir, lamivudil, zalcitabine, tenofovir. Ready-made combinations can be found under the names Truvada, Combivir, Epzicom or Trizivir.

Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors - delavirdine, efavirenz, nevirapine, etravirine, rilpivirine. They are part of the ready-made combinations of Compler and Atripla. This medicine can be taken one tablet a day.

Protease inhibitors block the viral enzyme so that the resulting copies are unable to infect healthy cells. These include amprenavir, atazanavir, indinavir, lopinavir and others. Taking them in combination with other medicines can reduce the viral load.

Another group of medicines is entry inhibitors that prevent the virus from entering the cell (enfuvirtide and maraviroc). They are used in addition to the main therapy, depending on the severity of the disease.

A feature of the treatment is lifelong medication. Skipping each pill reduces the likelihood of a positive course of the disease. Changing the dosage regimen should be agreed with the attending physician in order to reduce the risk of complications, including the formation of drug resistance.

The treatment regimen is selected for each patient individually. Detailed recommendations for doctors have been developed, taking into account all possible situations. With adequate treatment, a person can lead a normal life, create a family. Women give birth to healthy children. However, this requires constant supervision by a specialist and the implementation of all appointments.

The difficulty in treating this infection is that each new human immunodeficiency virus that forms in the body may have different characteristics than its predecessor. The rapid variability of viral particles and their nucleic acids is the reason for the impossibility to date to create an AIDS vaccine.

Prevention

The spread of this disease has long been recognized as an epidemic. Prevention is necessary not only at the level of medical institutions, but also in everyday life. Although some patients have been infected through blood transfusions or medical procedures, individual prevention is aimed at refraining from dangerous behavior. You need to know that an outwardly healthy person can be a source of infection. At the same time, viruses are contained in his blood and body fluids. Prevention measures:

• knowing your status with yourself and your partner;
• the use of latex condoms during any sexual contact with a partner;
• limiting the number of sexual partners;
• refusal to inject drug use;
• contacting a doctor immediately after a suspected infection, since sometimes prophylactic antiretroviral drugs can prevent the development of immunodeficiency if taken early.

You need to know that infection does not occur through sweat or tears, with shallow kisses, handshakes, household contacts, through insect bites, water or air. Prevention of AIDS and HIV infection in medical institutions consists in identifying clinical and laboratory signs of the disease in patients, as well as in women during pregnancy. Careful processing of medical instruments is necessary, and, if possible, the use of disposable devices.

Prevention of the disease at the state level consists in the fight against drug addiction, providing opportunities for free examination and treatment to all citizens of the country. There is no specific prophylaxis, that is, a vaccine or vaccination against the human immunodeficiency virus.

Video about rabies

One of the most dangerous consequences unprotected sex can become an HIV infection (human immunodeficiency virus). The initial phase of the development of the disease has no symptoms, so a person may not even guess for a long time that he is a carrier of a dangerous virus, continuing to infect others. During the first months after infection, even complex examination methods are not able to detect its presence in the body. When do the first signs of HIV appear in men?

The main ways of getting HIV infection are:

• Unprotected sexual contact with a carrier of the infection.
• Transfusion of infected donated blood.
• Use of non-sterile medical instruments, including needles.
• Contact with an open wound of infected blood or other fluid of the patient's body.
• The virus is transmitted from an infected mother to a newborn baby.

The candidate of medical sciences Evgeny Olegovich Komarovsky tells about the ways of transmission of the virus:

Since the virus can be transmitted through body fluids human body, that is, the likelihood of contracting HIV through oral sex. Especially if the ejaculation occurred directly in the mouth, where there are wounds.

Due to the fact that HIV is transmitted at the time of contact of the mucous membranes, on which microtraumas may appear, it is possible to become infected with it even if ejaculation (ejaculation) has not occurred.

At the same time, a man cannot become infected with HIV:

1. When shaking hands.
2. After a mosquito bite.
3. When in contact with animals.

1. Through food, water and household items.
2. Airborne (when coughing, sneezing).
3. Through a half-smoked cigarette.

Features of infection in men

The first symptoms of HIV in men may appear as early as a few weeks after infection, or they may not make themselves felt for many years. It depends on the individual characteristics of the male body.

After HIV enters the body of a man, it begins the destruction of T-lymphocytes - cells that the immune system produces to protect against foreign microorganisms. At the same time, in some men, the virus after entering the cell can be in an inactive state for up to 10 years, without giving itself away.

The scheme of the virus

Due to the fact that the immune system of a man is affected by a virus, it is unable to resist even the simplest infections. In the case when a man is diagnosed with HIV, he is prescribed a course of immunomodulators that will help improve his general condition and eliminate its main manifestations. Additionally, the patient is prescribed drugs that help normalize metabolism and stabilize the nervous system.

Timing of HIV manifestation

If a man carefully monitors the state of his body, then after a few weeks he may notice the first signs of the disease, which include general malaise. However, many do not attach much importance to this symptom, assuming that it is a common cold. 1 month after infection, fever may join the weakness. As a rule, it does not exceed 38 degrees. After 2 months, HIV becomes asymptomatic. This is due to the fact that often the disease is detected already at late stages. After what time, HIV will make itself felt, depends on the individual characteristics of the body of a particular man. Sometimes it appears after a few months, and sometimes after a few years.

When you need to take tests to identify the disease, the venereologist Ekaterina Vyacheslavovna Makarova will tell:

How to find out about infection? The only way is to take a blood test. But one analysis may not be enough, since the incubation period of the disease, during which the virus is not detected by the laboratory, can be up to 6 months.

Milestones of development

There are 4 main stages in the development of HIV in a man.

Table 1. Stages of development of HIV infection

Stage	Characteristic
Latent form (incubation period)	As a rule, its duration is from 1 to 3 months, but sometimes it can be up to 1 year. At this time, the virus is actively spreading in the body of a man, affecting his immune system.
The onset of symptoms	At this stage, the synthesis of HIV antibodies occurs - the body's reaction to the introduction of the virus.
Consequences	Now HIV makes itself felt characteristic symptoms. At the same time, all changes in the body of a man are irreversible.
final stage	At this stage, HIV turns into AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). AIDS is always fatal.

Symptoms of infection

Signs of HIV infection in a man and a woman who has contracted it are usually no different. After about 1-2 months, a man may feel the following symptoms:

• Change in body temperature (uncharacteristic jumps).
• Constant chill.
• Very often, a man notes weakness or soreness of the muscles.
• Enlarged lymph nodes.
• Headache.
• Increased sweating, especially at night.

• Indigestion (frequent diarrhea).
• Sore throat.
• Skin rash.
• Symptoms of thrush and ulcers in the oral cavity.
• Pain in the joints.
• Violation of concentration.

An alarming symptom of HIV in a man is a rash on the body.

Table 2. The nature of the rash

In addition, the man constantly feels tired, his physical activity decreases. Possibly the onset of depression. During palpation, the doctor will note an increase in the size of the liver.

When such signs of HIV infection appear in a man, it is important to immediately consult a doctor, undergo the necessary examination and begin treatment with antiviral drugs, without which life expectancy is significantly reduced.

Over time, the development of HIV in the body, the symptoms and initial manifestations intensify. There is constant aching pain in the joints. After the defeat of the lymph nodes, the infection begins to affect the internal organs (liver, spleen). Due to the inflammatory process in the esophagus, it is difficult for a man to eat.

The video tells about the symptoms of the disease in men:

Over time, the symptoms of HIV in men in the early stages gradually disappear and the disease enters a latent phase. It is characterized by the absence of the main signs of the disease, despite the fact that the destruction of organs still occurs. Maximum term latent phase is no more than 10 years.

In the third stage of the disease, the internal organs are seriously affected. The immune system is no longer able to resist the cells of the virus. The symptoms of HIV are accompanied by signs of other emerging pathologies or even oncological processes. For men diagnosed with HIV, the following comorbidities are typical:

1. Oral thrush.
2. Herpes.
3. Lichen.
4. Seborrhea.
5. Fungus on hands or feet.

At the same time, the symptoms of these diseases in men are acute, which is not typical for healthy people. Any disease can cause various complications, it cannot be cured for a long period of time.

The first category doctor Anna Viktorovna Maslennikova tells about the stages of the disease:

The last degree of HIV, when it turns into AIDS, is characterized by a severe defeat internal organs. The immune system is not able to fight even a small cold, so a man can die from absolutely any disease. The disease cannot be cured. The main therapy in this case will be aimed at relieving the symptoms and alleviating the condition of the man. At this stage, the following comorbidities may occur:

• Oncological neoplasms.
• Sarcoma.
• Cryptococcosis.
• Pneumonia.
• Tuberculosis.

In addition to the destruction of internal organs, a man has brain damage.

Treatment

It is impossible to cure a disease in a man. However, if HIV was detected at the initial stages of development (regardless of the presence of symptoms) and its treatment was started on time, then the patient has a chance to prolong his life.

As a therapy, the patient is prescribed antiviral drugs, the main task of which is to slow down the development of the disease. In addition, he needs to take immunostimulating drugs. Additionally, the symptoms of concomitant pathologies are treated.

Probability of infection after 1 contact

There is an opinion that the chance of contracting HIV after 1 contact with an infected partner is zero. However, it is not. Of course, for men this percentage is lower than for women, but it is there. The risk of infection increases if the partner has any damage (erosion) on the genitals, diseases that can be sexually transmitted or during menstruation.

If we talk about anal sex, then in this case the risk of infection increases. This is due to the fact that the mucous membrane can be easily injured and can be covered with small cracks through which the virus will certainly enter the body. Related to this is that a large number of infected men are of non-traditional sexual orientation.

Prevention

Knowing how HIV is transmitted, doctors identify some principles for its prevention:

1. Avoid casual sexual contact, and in case of contact, be sure to use barrier methods of contraception. This is important to do regardless of the type of sexual intercourse, as it has been proven that HIV can be transmitted not only during traditional, but also during anal or oral sex.
2. Avoid using used needles and syringes. Due to the neglect of this rule, there is a wide spread of the disease among drug addicts who use one common syringe for injection.
3. It is important to always use disposable or sterile instruments when undergoing medical examinations or treatment. The same applies to beauty salons, where all devices must be sterilized.

HIV infection is dangerous because it affects, first of all, the human immune system, as a result of which his body is not able to cope even with a common cold. In addition, HIV inevitably leads to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, a disease that is incurable and fatal within a short time.

Accessible words about the prevention of HIV infection. Lecture by Dr. Makarova:

The insidiousness of the virus lies in the fact that it is impossible to detect it on your own. Also, for a long time, he may not give characteristic symptoms, so a man may not be aware that he is a carrier and continue to infect others at this time. Only special laboratory tests that were carried out several months after infection can detect the virus in the body, since earlier the result may be negative, despite its presence in the body. Therefore, every man from 18 to 45 years old, leading an active sex life, it is important to donate blood about 1 time per year for an analysis to detect HIV.

The same is recommended for the appearance of uncharacteristic colds and other diseases that cannot be cured for a long time or the appearance of symptoms characteristic of HIV. When an infection can be detected on initial stage its development, a man has every chance to prolong his life, thanks to special antiviral therapy.

AIDS is one of the most serious illnesses that a person is diagnosed with. The disease caused by the insidious immunodeficiency virus (HIV) weakens the body's defenses so much over the years that a person can die from a common cold. No wonder AIDS was called the "plague of the 20th century." The disease fully justifies its name even today, because people still continue to die from this insidious disease.

However, modern medicine has made considerable progress in the fight against such a disease. Today, doctors can extend the life of carriers of this terrible virus for decades. True, this can be achieved only with early detection of the virus and timely treatment. In this regard, every person should know what HIV is and what are the early signs of infection.

Manifestations of HIV

First of all, let's say that the disease has four stages, each of which has its own symptoms. This:

1. Incubation period.
2. The period of primary manifestations.
3. The period of secondary manifestations.
4. Terminal stage (AIDS).

Incubation period

It must be said that when a terrible virus enters the body, it may not manifest itself for a long time. At this time, the cells of the virus "settle" in the body, attaching to immune cells and starting to gradually destroy them. This phase can be transient (3 months), or it can stretch for a long time (1–3 years). The insidiousness of this stage of the disease lies in the fact that a person does not even suspect what deadly virus has settled in his body. Even worse is the fact that the disease is not suspected by those around them, who are at risk of contracting HIV infection from a carrier.

In fairness, let's say that the earliest signs of pathology, the same for all infected, are still present in such patients. However, they are so insignificant and so vague that people do not even think about going to the doctor. As a rule, this is a slight increase in lymph nodes, as well as subfebrile temperature, which for a long time stays at the level of 37.1–37.5 ° C. A person simply does not have any other reasons to suspect a serious infection and consult a doctor.

Primary manifestations of HIV

According to statistics, in 30% of patients, HIV infection is detected during the primary exacerbation of the disease. Symptoms of the disease at this time are already beginning to disturb the patient, forcing him to seek help from a doctor. True, the detection of HIV, even taking into account a visit to a specialist, is not guaranteed, because the insidious virus “masquerades” as other common diseases. We list the main symptoms of the acute phase of the disease, characteristic of all HIV-infected people, regardless of gender and age.

In the classical version of the development of HIV, the first symptoms of the disease are easily confused with the common cold:

1. The patient's body temperature rises, he often has a fever, he has problems with sleep, there is profuse sweating, there is a sore throat and tonsils swell.
2. The patient feels constant weakness, which does not go away even after rest, he quickly gets tired and often complains of a headache.
3. Other early signs of HIV infection include chronic diarrhea that does not go away with the treatment with fastening drugs, as well as the appearance of small pinkish spots on the skin.

In the blood test of an HIV-infected person, an increase in leukocytes is detected, and after an ultrasound of the internal organs, doctors reveal a significant increase in the liver and problems with the spleen. According to the analysis, such a patient is often diagnosed with mononucleosis.

In this case, the infection can manifest itself not only as symptoms of SARS. In the case when the disease develops according to a different “scenario”, the brain of an infected person is affected. This is manifested by nausea and vomiting, high temperature body and severe headaches. Examination usually reveals encephalitis or meningitis in such patients.

In rare cases, the first manifestation of HIV infection is an inflammation of the stomach, aching pain in the chest, and problems with swallowing food. In some cases, the symptoms of the virus in the patient proceed so implicitly that he simply does not seek medical help. In any case, the first manifestations of HIV last no more than six months, after which an asymptomatic course of the disease occurs, which lasts for several years. That is why it is important to listen to your body in order to identify the insidious virus as early as possible and begin treatment. Only then can we expect that the terminal stage of the disease (AIDS) will be pushed as far as possible.

The period of secondary manifestations

It is worth saying that more than 60% of HIV-infected people learn about their serious illness during secondary manifestations, approximately five years after infection. Here, the symptoms of the disease in patients of different ages and gender may differ, and therefore we list the signs of the disease for each category of patients.

Signs of HIV infection in men

In men, the virus in question is usually manifested by swelling of the lymph nodes, as well as fungal infections that cannot be treated with drugs. Another hallmark HIV become cherry-red tumors that appear on the scalp, body, extremities of the patient and even in the mouth. These tumors are called Kaposi's sarcoma.

In addition, the patient often complains of fatigue, bouts of heat and excessive sweating, he is tormented by shortness of breath even with a short walk and develops chronic diarrhea. This painful condition is supplemented by frequent infectious diseases that replace one another, severe weight loss, decreased visual acuity, memory problems and erectile dysfunction. Some HIV-infected people have problems with motor activity, and the swallowing process is disturbed.

According to doctors, early detection of HIV infection is hampered by the denial of the problem, which is habitual for most men. Representatives of the stronger sex are ready to find an excuse for any symptom that appears, just not to visit a doctor, but go to the clinic, usually when the right moment for treatment has already been missed.

Signs of HIV infection in women

Manifestations of an insidious disease in women, in principle, do not differ much from the male manifestations of HIV. True, there are some distinctive features that need to be mentioned. So, at an early stage of the manifestation of the disease, women often develop tuberculosis, as well as vaginal candidiasis. As for the signs of the disease that appear after many years of calm, then in infected women, the monthly cycle, and pelvic pathologies may develop. Another sign of a deadly infection is severe weight loss. In addition, each phase of the development of the virus in women lasts an order of magnitude longer than in men.

But what is characteristic, unlike the representatives of the stronger sex, women are more attentive to their health. That is why they usually start HIV treatment earlier, and the chances of delaying the onset of AIDS are much greater.

Signs of HIV infection in children

Sadly, this terrible virus can also be found in newborn children. It can be transmitted to a baby from an infected mother during gestation, or it can enter the body with breast milk. In infected children, signs of the disease first appear within half a year after birth, with the most common symptom in most cases being brain damage. Doctors diagnose these children with a delay mental development as well as intellectual disability. Moreover, the appearance of the child also suffers from the action of the virus: the baby does not gain weight, starts to sit late, often suffers from purulent infections and almost constantly encounters intestinal upset.

terminal stage

This stage in the development of the disease is often referred to as AIDS. With it, the patient exacerbates all existing diseases, but most often the disease occurs in one of four forms. The first form is pulmonary, in which the patient suffers from severe pneumonia.

In addition, the syndrome can occur in an intestinal form, which is accompanied by malabsorption of important vitamins and minerals, problems with digestion of food, and severe bowel disorders.

Doctors call the third form neurological, since with it the patient is diagnosed with meningitis, abscesses, hemorrhages in the brain, as well as malignant neoplasms in this organ.

Finally, the fourth and most common form of AIDS is called common. With it, the patient may experience manifestations of a variety of severe ailments, and such a patient dies, as a rule, from acute renal failure.

Concluding the article, I would like to say that modern medicine has made significant progress in the fight against this terrible virus. Today, an HIV-infected person proper treatment and taking care of their own health, has every chance to live 30, 40 and even 60 years! And a key factor in the life expectancy of such patients is the early detection of this dangerous virus. Take care of your health!

AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is a late manifestation of infection of the body with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). AIDS is not a disease, but a complex reaction of the body to a developing infection; you cannot get AIDS, only HIV infection. According to doctors at Oxford University, the development of the syndrome indicates an overly acute reaction to HIV: groups of people with a significant amount of viral particles in the blood, who have not undergone antiretroviral therapy and do not have symptoms of AIDS, have been identified. The causes of AIDS, its development in HIV-infected people, methods of therapy are still under study. Today, there is scientifically confirmed information about the methods of infection, the stages of development of the syndrome and methods of prevention.

What is HIV?

The human immunodeficiency virus was isolated from a patient's lymphocytes in 1983 by a group of scientists led by Luc Montagnier. At the same time, a similar virus was obtained in a US laboratory. In 1987, the disease was named "HIV infection".

There are two serotypes of the virus: HIV-1 and HIV-2. The first type plays the most significant role in the infectious pandemic, including in Russia. HIV infection is a systemic disease of the body, provoking a gradual decline in the general immunity of a person. With a decrease in immunity, the body cannot resist the effects of numerous pathogenic microorganisms and fight the development of malignant neoplasms.

The main diseases that occur in the body of an infected person can also affect healthy people, however, as a rule, the dynamics of their development is much more restrained. Some diseases (the so-called opportunistic ones) occur exclusively with immunodeficiency against the background of HIV infection, since normally they are inhibited by immunity.

Why is HIV infection incurable?

The causative agent of HIV infection after penetration into the human body cannot yet be destroyed. Also, despite numerous studies and programs, an effective HIV vaccine has not yet been created.

This phenomenon is associated with the high ability of the virus to genetic variability: the microorganism changes at the same moment when the immune system begins to produce antibodies. Moreover, if a virus infected with one strain is re-infected with a virus with an altered genotype, two strains "carry out" recombination, the exchange of gene regions, which leads to the appearance of superinfection. The third reason for the resistance of the virus to the effects of drugs is the ability to "hide" in the intracellular space, turning into a latent form.

Causes of AIDS

It is possible to get sick with AIDS only when infected with HIV and the corresponding reaction of the body to the pathogen. Despite the prevailing opinion that only a drug addict or a homosexual can get AIDS, this has long ceased to correspond to the real situation. HIV infection no longer serves as a marker solely for the use of narcotic drugs, the presence of promiscuous hetero- and homosexual relationships: the prevalence of the virus is detected among various social strata of the population, age groups, regardless of sexual preferences and addictions.

According to the World Health Organization, about 80% of new HIV infections were detected in Eastern Europe, 18% in Western European countries, 3% in Central Europe. Russia accounts for 81% of the Eastern European countries and 64% of all cases reported in the European Region.

At the same time, the ways of infection differ on a territorial basis: in Europe, homosexual sexual contacts occupy the first place (42%) with a slight lead over heterosexual ones (32%), infection among drug addicts does not exceed 4%.

Russia today is the only country in the world where infection among drug addicts accounts for more than half of the common causes of the spread of HIV infection (51%). In second place are heterosexual contacts (47%), and only 1.5% is infection among homosexual persons.

It is worth noting that in Russia it is not accurate enough: according to experts, every 100th, that is, 1% of the population, is a carrier of HIV infection in our country, not counting illegal migrants. Experts warn that in a country with so many infected people, where only one in three patients receive free antiretroviral therapy, a large-scale epidemic could begin by 2021.

Ways of transmission of infection

In world statistics, HIV infection is in the first place through sexual contact with an infected person, and during any type of sexual contact. If the carrier of the infection follows the rules of specific therapy, the probability of infection is 1%.

Traumatic sexual intercourse, in which the formation of cracks on the mucous surfaces, as well as the presence of erosion, damage to the internal and external integuments with existing diseases, increase the likelihood of virus penetration. In women, the virus is present in the blood, vaginal secretions, in men - in the blood and semen. Infection by ingestion healthy person particles of blood or other biological fluid containing an infectious agent also occurs during invasive procedures, most often associated with the use of reusable syringes without appropriate processing. Infection is also likely during medical, dental manipulations, visits to nail salons, tattoo studios and other places where the instrument may intentionally or accidentally come into contact with an injured surface. Before the introduction of control of donor fluids (blood, plasma) and organs, there were cases of infection from the donor to the recipient.

The vertical route of infection is the transmission of infection from mother to child during gestation, during childbirth or during breastfeeding.

There are no other ways of infection that are not associated with contact with blood, vaginal secretions or seminal fluid. The infection does not spread when using the same utensils, hygiene items, visiting swimming pools, bathrooms and toilets, it is not transmitted through blood-sucking insects, etc. The human immunodeficiency virus is extremely unstable during external environment and quickly dies outside the body.

Symptoms of AIDS (Acquired Human Immunodeficiency Syndrome)

The disease, AIDS syndrome develops as a late complication of HIV infection. Immediately after infection, during the incubation period (on average 3 weeks - 3 months), no symptoms and manifestations are observed, although antibodies to the causative agent of the disease are already beginning to be produced.
The stage of primary manifestations, which replaces the incubation period, can also be asymptomatic or manifest as an acute HIV infection, which depends on the general health of the person and the state of his immune system.

The clinical picture of the manifestation of the disease is quite extensive. The first symptoms may include:

• feverish state;
• rash on the skin and mucous membranes;
• enlargement and / or soreness of the lymph nodes;
• catarrhal manifestations, cough, rhinitis, pharyngitis;
• weight loss;
• persistent or recurrent diarrhea;
• enlargement of the liver and spleen in size.

Similar symptoms, including all of the above manifestations, are observed only in 15-30% of patients, in other cases there are 1-2 symptoms in different combinations.
Then comes the latent asymptomatic stage, the duration of which is from 2-3 to 20 years (average 6-7 years). At this stage, there is a significant decrease in the number of lymphocytes in the blood. A drop in the level of lymphocytes, indicating the onset of severe immune deficiency, can lead to the stage of secondary diseases. Among the most frequently encountered are:

• sore throats;
• pneumonia;
• tuberculosis;
• herpes;
• fungal infections;
• intestinal infections;
• oncological diseases;
• infections caused by protozoa and others.

The next stage, terminal, is characterized by acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or AIDS. At this stage of AIDS, severe symptoms lead to the destruction of vital body systems. This stage is lethal despite active antiviral therapy.
Modern drugs make it possible to prolong the stages of infection and more effectively fight opportunistic and general infections that lead to the death of patients.

AIDS and HIV - diagnostic methods

Photo: Room's Studio/Shutterstock.com

Diagnosis is never based on symptoms of AIDS or other stages of HIV infection. However, the disease can be suspected by the following diagnostic features:

• treatment-resistant diarrhea for 2 or more months;
• prolonged unmotivated fever;
• skin rash in various variations;
• development of Kaposi's sarcoma at a young age;
• weight loss of more than 10%, for no apparent reason.

Confirmation of the diagnosis is made using two tests: a screening test (the most common test is enzyme immunoassay) and a confirmatory test that assesses the presence of the virus and viral load.

Treatment and prevention of the disease

The basis of therapy is the control of viral reproduction and the treatment of concomitant diseases. By following the prescriptions of specialists and taking modern drugs, it is possible to contain the development of HIV infection.

Treatment should begin immediately after diagnosis. In Russia, centers for the treatment and prevention of HIV infection have been established, where drugs are prescribed and dispensed for HIV-infected people. Complementary treatment is aimed at combating cancer and opportunistic infections resulting from reduced immunity and stimulating the immune system.

Preventive measures consist of observing safety measures during sexual intercourse, medical and cosmetic procedures, regular blood tests for infection, and following the appointments of specialists.

More than 20 years ago, the world began an epidemic of the most terrible and incomprehensible viral disease of our time - AIDS. Its contagiousness, rapid spread and incurability have earned the disease the fame of the "plague of the twentieth century."

History of occurrence

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), is a deadly disease for which there is currently no cure.

Some scientists believe that the HIV virus was transmitted from monkeys to humans around 1926. Recent research suggests that humans acquired the virus in West Africa. Until the 1930s, the virus did not manifest itself in any way. In 1959, a man died in the Congo. Later studies by doctors who analyzed his medical history showed that this may have been the first death from AIDS recorded in the world. In 1969, in the United States, among prostitutes, the first cases of an illness that proceeded with symptoms of AIDS were recorded. Then the doctors did not pay much attention to them, considering them a rare form of pneumonia. In 1978, homosexual men in the United States and Sweden, as well as among heterosexual men in Tanzania and Haiti, were found to have symptoms of the same disease.

It wasn't until 1981 that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported the discovery of a new disease in young homosexuals in Los Angeles and New York. About 440 carriers of the HIV virus have been identified in the United States. About 200 of these people died. Since most of the patients were homosexuals, the new disease was called Gay Related Immuno Deficiency (GRID) or A Gay Cancer.

On June 5, 1981, an American scientist from the Center for Disease Control, Michael Gottlieb, first described a new disease that occurs with a profound defeat of the immune system. A thorough analysis led American researchers to the conclusion that there was a previously unknown syndrome, which in 1982 received the name Aquired Immune Deficience Syndrom (AIDS) - acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). At the same time, AIDS was called the disease of four "H", in capital letters English words- homosexuals, hemophiliacs, Haitians and heroin, thus highlighting the risk groups for a new disease.

Immune deficiency (decreased immunity), from which AIDS patients suffered, previously met only as a congenital defect of premature newborns. Doctors found that in these patients, the decrease in immunity was not congenital, but was acquired in adulthood.

In 1983, the French scientist Montagnier established the viral nature of the disease. He discovered a virus in a lymph node removed from an AIDS patient, calling it LAV (lymphadenopathy associated virus).

On April 24, 1984, the director of the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland, Dr. Robert Gallo, announced that he had found the true cause of AIDS. He was able to isolate the virus from the peripheral blood of AIDS patients. He isolated a retrovirus named HTLV-III (Human T-lymphotropic virus type III). These two viruses turned out to be identical.

In 1985, it was found that HIV is transmitted through body fluids: blood, semen, and mother's milk. In the same year, the first HIV test was developed, on the basis of which the United States and Japan began testing donated blood and its preparations for HIV.
In 1986, Montagnier's group announced the discovery of a new virus, which was named HIV-2 (HIV-2). A comparative study of the genomes of HIV-1 and HIV-2 showed that, in evolutionary terms, HIV-2 is far removed from HIV-1. The authors suggested that both viruses existed long before the emergence of the modern AIDS epidemic. HIV-2 was first isolated in 1985 from AIDS patients in Guinea-Bissau and the Cape Verde Islands. Studies have shown that diseases caused by HIV-2 and HIV-1 are independent infections, since there are differences in the characteristics of pathogens, clinic and epidemiology.

In 1987 World Organization Health approved the name of the causative agent of AIDS - "human immunodeficiency virus" (HIV, or in the English abbreviation HIV).

In 1987, the WHO Global Program on AIDS was established and adopted by the World Health Assembly global strategy the fight against AIDS. In the same year, in a number of countries, the first antiviral drug, azidothymidine (zidovudine, retrovir), is being introduced into the treatment of patients.

It must be emphasized that HIV and AIDS are not synonymous. AIDS is a broader concept and means a deficiency of immunity. Such a condition can occur as a result of a variety of reasons: with chronic debilitating diseases, exposure to radiation energy, in children with defects in the immune system and in senile patients with involution of immune protection, some medications and hormonal preparations. Currently, the name AIDS is used to refer to only one of the stages of HIV infection, namely its manifest stage.

HIV infection - new infection, which was called before the discovery of its causative agent as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). HIV infection is a progressive anthroponotic infectious disease, with a blood-contact mechanism of infection, characterized by a specific lesion of the immune system with the development of severe immunodeficiency, which is manifested by secondary infections, malignant neoplasms and autoimmune processes.

source An HIV infection is a person with AIDS or an asymptomatic virus carrier. The main mechanism of infection transmission is blood contact. The disease is transmitted through sexual contact, especially homosexual; from an infected mother to a child during pregnancy through the placenta, during childbirth, while breastfeeding from mother to fetus; through razors and other piercing objects, toothbrushes, etc. HIV epidemiologists do not allow the existence of airborne and fecal-oral transmission routes, since HIV excretion with sputum, urine and feces is very small, and the number susceptible cells in the gastrointestinal tract and respiratory tract.

There is also an artificial transmission route: during medical and diagnostic manipulations by penetration of the virus through damaged skin, mucous membranes (transfusion of blood and its preparations, transplantation of organs and tissues, injections, operations, endoscopic procedures, etc.), artificial insemination, with intravenous administration of narcotic substances, performing various kinds of tattoos.

The risk group includes: passive homosexuals and prostitutes, who are more likely to damage the mucous membranes in the form of microcracks. Among women, the main risk group is drug addicts who inject drugs intravenously. Among sick children, 4/5 are children whose mothers have AIDS, are infected with HIV or belong to known risk groups. The second most frequent place is occupied by children who received blood transfusions, the third place is occupied by patients with hemophilia, medical personnel who have professional contact with the blood and other biological fluids of HIV-infected patients.

The immunodeficiency virus can exist in the human body for ten to twelve years without showing itself in any way. And many people do not pay due attention to the initial signs of its manifestation, taking them for symptoms of other, at first glance, not dangerous diseases. If the treatment process is not started in time, the final stage of HIV-AIDS sets in. The immunodeficiency virus can become the basis for the development of other infectious diseases. Along with the risk of developing AIDS, the risk of other infectious diseases also increases.

Symptoms

The last stage - AIDS - proceeds in three clinical forms: onco-AIDS, neuro-AIDS and infectious-AIDS. Onco-AIDS is manifested by Kaposi's sarcoma and brain lymphoma. Neuro-AIDS is characterized by a variety of lesions of the central nervous system and peripheral nerves. As for infectious-AIDS, it is manifested by numerous infections.

With the transition of HIV to the final stage - AIDS - the symptoms of the disease become more pronounced. Man is more and more often start to amaze various diseases such as pneumonia, pulmonary tuberculosis, herpes virus and other diseases called opportunistic infections. It is they who lead to the most serious consequences. At this time, the immunodeficiency virus becomes a severe disease. It happens that the patient's condition is so severe that the person is not even able to get out of bed. Such people most often are not even subject to hospitalization, but are at home under the supervision of people close to them.

Diagnostics

The main method of laboratory diagnosis of HIV infection is the detection of antibodies to the virus using enzyme immunoassay.

Treatment

On present stage development of medicine, there is no medicine that can completely cure this disease. However, with the timely start of HIV treatment, it is possible to postpone the moment of the transition of the immunodeficiency virus to the development of AIDS for a long time, and, consequently, to prolong a more or less normal life for the patient.

Treatment regimens have already been developed that can significantly slow down the development of the disease, and since the infection proceeds in most cases for a long time, we can hope to create effective therapeutic agents during this time.