Is it possible with HIV? How to identify HIV symptoms

HIV is the abbreviated name for the human immunodeficiency virus, i.e. a virus that attacks the immune system. By destroying the human immune system, this virus contributes to the development of other infectious diseases, since the immune system loses the ability to protect the body from pathogens. A person infected with HIV becomes more susceptible over time even to microorganisms that pose no danger to healthy people.

A person who becomes infected with HIV is called HIV-infected, or HIV-positive, or HIV-seropositive.

How can you become infected with HIV?

The human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, is transmitted from person to person. In other words, you can only become infected with HIV from another person.

A person infected with HIV has large amounts of the virus in their blood, semen, vaginal secretions, and breast milk. In this case, external manifestations of the disease may initially be absent. Quite often, many people do not even know that they are infected with HIV and are dangerous to other people.

HIV infection occurs when HIV-infected blood, semen, vaginal secretions, or breast milk enters the body of a healthy person. This can happen when these body fluids come into contact with a wound on the skin, genitals, or mouth.

At-risk groups

Until recently, people with homosexual contacts were considered the main risk group. However, Russian statistics for the last two to three years show that the risk of HIV infection is also high among intravenous drug users and prostitutes. The number of people infected through sexual contact with representatives of these groups is growing. Below we describe in detail the routes of HIV infection.

Upon contact with the patient's blood

HIV-infected blood enters the blood of another person in different ways
ways. This can happen, for example:

• by transfusion of blood contaminated with HIV. Currently in Russia, all blood used for transfusion is tested for the presence of antibodies to HIV, i.e., it is determined whether it is infected with HIV or not. But we must remember that within 3-6 months after infection with HIV, there are still no antibodies to the virus in the donor’s blood, and even with a negative test result, such blood may actually be infected;


• when sharing needles, syringes and other materials for intravenous drug administration;


• when HIV passes from the blood of an HIV-infected mother to her child during pregnancy and childbirth.

In contact with sperm or vaginal secretions of a sick person

• This can happen during sex without using a condom. A small wound in the vagina, rectum, oral mucosa or penis is enough for HIV infection to occur if sexual contact occurs without a condom.

When a child is breastfed by an HIV-infected woman.

• The danger of infection arises only through contact with contaminated blood, semen, vaginal secretions and mother's milk. HIV is also present in urine, feces, vomit, saliva, tears and sweat, but in such small quantities that there is no danger of infection. The only exception is if visible blood is found in the above human secretions. HIV infection cannot be contracted by touching, shaking hands, kissing, massage, sharing the same bed, using the same bed linen, or drinking from the same glass. You also cannot become infected through a toilet seat, coughing, sneezing, or mosquito bite.

Donation is prohibited

Since HIV infection occurs through blood, an HIV-infected person cannot be a donor. The same restrictions exist for donors of sperm, bone marrow, and other organs for transplantation, since HIV infection can also occur during organ transplantation.

What happens during HIV infection

The fact that a person has become infected with a virus, i.e., has become HIV-infected, does not mean that he has AIDS. It usually takes a long time before AIDS develops (on average 10-12 years). Below we will describe in detail how HIV infection occurs.

At first the person may not feel anything

When infected with HIV, most people do not experience any sensations. Sometimes, a few weeks after infection, a flu-like condition develops (fever, skin rashes, swollen lymph nodes, diarrhea). For many years after infection, a person may feel healthy. This period is called the latent stage of the disease. However, it is wrong to think that nothing happens in the body at this time. When a pathogen, including HIV, enters the body, the immune system mounts an immune response. She tries to neutralize the pathogen and destroy it. To do this, the immune system produces antibodies. Antibodies bind to the pathogen and help destroy it. In addition, special white blood cells (lymphocytes) also begin to fight the pathogen. Unfortunately, when fighting HIV, all this is not enough - the immune system cannot neutralize HIV, and HIV, in turn, gradually destroys the immune system.

HIV test

A blood test to check for antibodies to HIV is called an HIV test. Antibodies that appear in the blood after HIV infection can be detected with a special blood test. The detection of antibodies indicates that a person is infected with HIV, i.e., HIV seropositive. However, antibodies can only be detected in the blood 3-6 months after HIV infection, so sometimes a person who has been infected with HIV for several months will have negative blood test results.

HIV seropositivity

There is often sad confusion regarding the term "seropositivity".

"Seropositivity" means that antibodies to HIV are present in a person's blood. Only children born to HIV-infected mothers can experience transient carriage of maternal antibodies to HIV, i.e., the antibodies disappear over time. These children may be temporarily seropositive, although not infected with HIV. An AIDS patient also has antibodies to HIV in his blood, so he is also seropositive. Thus, the term “HIV-seropositive” means that a person is infected with HIV, there are antibodies to this virus in his blood, but there are still no external manifestations of the disease.

AIDS

AIDS is spoken of when a person infected with HIV develops infectious diseases caused by the ineffective functioning of the immune system destroyed by the virus.

AIDS is the abbreviation for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

A syndrome is a stable combination, a set of several signs of a disease (symptoms).

Acquired means that the disease is not congenital, but developed during life.

Immunodeficiency is a deficiency of the immune system. Thus, AIDS is a combination of diseases caused by insufficient functioning of the immune system due to its defeat by HIV.

HIV treatment

When a person becomes infected with HIV, treatment is prescribed that can help delay the development of AIDS and opportunistic diseases, and some of the latter can be cured. The following drugs are used to treat HIV infection:

1. medications that directly affect the virus, its life cycles, interfering with its reproduction (antiretroviral drugs);
2. medicines for the treatment of opportunistic diseases;
3. medications intended to prevent the development of opportunistic infections (drugs for prophylaxis - preventive therapy).

Treatment of an HIV-infected patient begins much earlier than AIDS develops. The fact is that even in the absence of signs of the disease that are noticeable to the patient or the doctor, HIV actively affects the body. Therefore, timely treatment helps a person feel healthy longer and prevents the development of opportunistic infections and tumor diseases.

Antiretroviral drugs

There are a large number of medications that inhibit the replication of HIV. However, if any of these medications are used alone, over time they will no longer work against HIV. The virus becomes insensitive to it (doctors call this phenomenon drug resistance, or viral resistance). By using several drugs in combination at the same time, the risk of developing viral resistance can be minimized. This treatment method is called combination antiretroviral therapy.

If the virus nevertheless becomes resistant to the drug combination used, a new active drug combination is prescribed. Combination therapy is described in detail in the "Medicines" section.

Preventive therapy

Preventive therapy is treatment aimed at preventing the development of opportunistic infections.

Over time, HIV infection weakens the immune system to such an extent that opportunistic infections become more likely to develop. To prevent this, prophylactic (preventive) treatment is prescribed, mainly with antimicrobial drugs.

Such drugs do not act on the immunodeficiency virus itself. They serve only to prevent the development of opportunistic infections.

Ways to prevent other infections

Individuals infected with HIV become more susceptible not only to opportunistic infections, but also to other common infectious diseases.

To prevent the development of these diseases, preventive measures are also taken.

Vaccination (immunization)

Vaccines can protect the body from certain infectious diseases. Vaccination is effective if the person’s immune system is still slightly damaged. This is why people living with HIV are advised to get vaccinated against certain diseases as early as possible.

Below we describe those diseases against which it is advisable to vaccinate.

FLU

Every year, countless people receive flu vaccinations. However, for people living with HIV, it is not entirely clear whether all of them should receive these vaccinations. Those who get the flu frequently should probably get immunized. It is best to consult your doctor on this issue.

Inflammation of the lungs (pneumonia)

Anti-pneumococcal vaccine is not produced in Russia, but the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation has approved some foreign vaccines for use.

Vaccinations against other diseases

There are certain features of immunization of children; in addition, a number of vaccinations are required when traveling to other countries.

Other infectious diseases

HIV-infected people are more susceptible to some infectious diseases than healthy people. In this case, we are talking about those patients whose immune system is still preserved. Below we describe such infections.

Salmonellosis

People with HIV infection are more likely to become infected with salmonellosis. Salmonella is a bacterium that causes a dangerous disease of the gastrointestinal tract, which is accompanied by fever and diarrhea. In Russia, bird eggs and poultry meat are contaminated with salmonella. Do not eat raw poultry eggs; eat only well-cooked poultry meat and poultry products.

Tuberculosis

People infected with HIV are more likely than others to develop tuberculosis. In Russia, the incidence of tuberculosis has increased sharply in recent years. When visiting some countries, you are also at risk of contracting tuberculosis. Before traveling or business trips, consult your doctor.

Course and prognosis of HIV infection

When a person finds out that he has HIV infection or AIDS, the first questions he most often asks are: “How long do I have left to live?” and “How will my illness progress?” Since HIV infection and AIDS progress differently for everyone, these questions cannot be answered unambiguously. However, we can provide some general information.

People with HIV infection and AIDS these days are living much longer than before.

Treatment of HIV infection and AIDS is becoming increasingly successful. With treatment, people with HIV infection feel healthy for a longer period of time, and AIDS patients live longer and, compared to previous years, not only have fewer manifestations of the disease, but it is much easier.

At the beginning of the epidemic (1981-1986), AIDS developed in patients on average 7 years after infection with the virus. After this, the person could live for about another 8-12 months. Since the introduction of combination antiretroviral therapy in 1996, the lives of people living with HIV and AIDS have become much longer. Some people who develop AIDS may live 10 years or longer. First of all, such progress is ensured by drugs that act on the virus itself - antiretroviral drugs. Life is also extended due to the fact that with the help of combination therapy it is possible to prevent the development of many opportunistic infections, which are the direct cause of death in HIV infection.

The search for new treatment methods continues. There is no doubt that even more drugs effective in combating this infection will soon become available.

HIV infection progresses differently for everyone

For each period of illness, we present only average figures. This means that some people experience the disease more quickly, while others feel fine for a long time. Some people have been living with HIV for more than 15 years. still has not developed AIDS. There are cases where people with AIDS. live without treatment for 10 years or longer.

As a rule, the diagnosis of HIV infection causes psychological shock. However, this does not mean that a person will constantly feel his illness. Thanks to modern methods of treatment, combination therapy, if it is well tolerated, he will feel completely healthy.

More information about your illness

How can you tell how damaged your immune system is? HIV gradually destroys the immune system. How damaged the immune system is and how quickly the disease develops can be determined by various methods.

Viral load

When testing blood, you can determine not only the presence of antibodies to HIV in it, but also the amount of the virus itself. This method is called “viral load testing”. The higher the test results, the more active the HIV infection.

Immune status

Using a laboratory test, you can find out about the state of the immune system. The so-called T-lymphocytes, or CD4 + lymphocytes, play an important role in its functioning. Usually these cells are found in large numbers in the blood, but in those affected by HIV they die and their number gradually decreases. By measuring the number of CD4+ lymphocytes in the blood, your doctor can tell how much your immune system is affected (see HIV and the Immune System section).

Additional information about vaccinations

After vaccination against influenza or other infectious diseases, viral load levels may increase in the same way as after flu or other infections. There is no need to be upset, as this is a temporary increase in the indicator. If you have not been vaccinated and have not had infectious diseases (for example, influenza), and your viral load has increased significantly, this means that your condition has worsened. If there are less than 100 cells per mm3 of CD4 + lymphocytes in the blood, vaccination against influenza (or other infectious diseases) may be useless.

HIV infection is one of the most terrible diagnoses of our time, which completely changes a person’s life and forces him to give up his usual lifestyle. One of the most common questions that patients ask their doctor is how long they can live with this pathology. Unfortunately, it is impossible to answer this question accurately, since life expectancy with HIV is influenced by many factors, including timely diagnosis and treatment.

To understand how long a person infected with HIV can live, it is necessary to understand what it is and how the virus affects the human body.

The human immunodeficiency virus is HIV. It enters the human body primarily through sexual contact. About a third of infected people acquired the virus during a blood transfusion or blood donation. The list of especially dangerous procedures also includes:

• haircuts, eyebrow correction;
• tattoo;
• dental treatment;
• visiting the treatment room to donate blood.

Despite the fact that disposable needles and syringes are used to collect blood for analysis, the minimum percentage of infection still remains and is less than 1%. Much more risky in this regard is treatment at the dentist. Here, a favorable outcome depends on the accuracy, responsibility and conscientiousness of the medical personnel who are responsible for the disinfection and processing of instruments. The rules and norms of asepsis are strictly regulated by sanitary standards and job descriptions, therefore, if they are followed, the likelihood of HIV and other infections (herpes, hepatitis, etc.) is completely excluded.

Many people are concerned about the possibility of contracting HIV through domestic means. The risk of this is minimal, but it still remains provided that a healthy and infected person has abrasions, cracks and cuts in the skin. In this case, infection may be transmitted during a handshake, using shared hygiene items, or by kissing.

Important! Considering the level of prevalence of HIV infection, it is necessary to be very attentive to your own health and carefully monitor any damage or violation of the integrity of the skin and mucous membranes. When visiting treatment rooms, you must ensure that needles and syringes are disposable and removed from the packaging immediately before the patient.

Mechanism of action and development

After entering the body, the virus infects T-leukocytes, the main structural component of the human immune system. The virus does not begin to develop and multiply immediately, but after 10-14 days. The period from penetration of the virus into the blood to the production of antibodies lasts about 1 year. In people with chronic diseases, this stage (window period) can be reduced to 6-8 months. The same picture is observed among those who lead a wild lifestyle, often change sexual partners, and abuse smoking and alcohol. The immunity of such patients is greatly weakened, so it is easier for viral agents to destroy healthy cells that cannot resist pathological attacks.

After 6-12 months, the first symptoms of pathology appear, indicating the stage of primary infection. Signs of HIV infection at this stage include:

• periodic increase in temperature to 37.0-37.5°;
• formation of dental ulcers in the oral cavity;
• enlarged and painful lymph nodes.

Important! By the end of this stage, the concentration of antibodies and the amount of HIV are at their maximum values. A laboratory blood test during this period will help to 100% determine the infection and make the correct diagnosis.

Further development of the pathology and stage of infection are presented in the table below.

Important! When HIV infection reaches the terminal stage, immunity drops to almost zero. During this period, death can occur even from the flu or a protracted acute respiratory infection, so it is important to undergo the necessary examinations on time and follow all the recommendations prescribed by the doctor. This will significantly increase your life expectancy and help improve your quality of life (as much as possible).

Video - Everything you need to know about HIV

How long do people live with HIV?

It is impossible to say exactly how long each specific patient will live after infection. Life prognosis is influenced by many factors, including:

• patient's age;
• lifestyle (motor activity, nutrition, smoking and alcohol abuse);
• emotional state (susceptibility to stress);
• area of ​​residence (sufficient amount of sunlight, favorable climate, proximity to industrial production);
• history of chronic diseases, etc.

It has been noticed that people living in cities located near the sea live longer compared to those who are constantly in areas with an unfavorable climate (regions of the Far North and similar areas). The life forecast for rural residents is also quite favorable, since most villages and villages are located at a sufficient distance from large industrial facilities, factories and plants. The soil, air and water in rural areas are much cleaner than in large cities, so the adverse effects of the environment are practically eliminated, and the quality of food in villages is higher.

Fact! Village residents have the lowest percentage of infection among the total number of infected people (less than 7%). Doctors attribute this to good environmental conditions, lack of chronic stress and a healthy diet.

The average life expectancy of AIDS patients is about 5-10 years from the moment of infection. These figures only approximately reflect average statistics, since there are known cases where people lived with this diagnosis into old age. Failure to comply with the recommendations of the attending physician regarding the regimen and treatment shortens life expectancy to 2-5 years, therefore the most important condition for a favorable prognosis is the correction of living conditions and lifestyle.

Maximum life expectancy with HIV

To date, there is no data on how long a person infected with the human immunodeficiency virus can live. This is due to the fact that the first infected patients are still living. HIV was first discovered in 1983 (according to some sources - in 1981) by French scientists. Some patients who have antibodies to this virus in their blood are alive, that is, their life expectancy is almost 40 years from the moment the infection was detected. However, it is impossible to say exactly how long they were carriers of the virus before detection, so it is impossible to predict the maximum number of years of life in AIDS patients today.

Important! Doctors are confident that you can live much longer than the average 10 years with HIV infection. With timely treatment, complete abandonment of bad habits and careful attitude towards one’s own body, life expectancy can be more than 40 years from the date of diagnosis.

How long can you live without treatment?

Recently, the theory has been gaining popularity that the immunodeficiency virus does not exist, and it was invented by scientists in collusion with the largest pharmaceutical concerns. Even people far from medicine understand the absurdity of such statements, but a person who has been diagnosed with AIDS or the initial stage of HIV infection clings to any straw that gives a chance for a medical error.

Refusal of the proposed treatment is fraught with the most unfavorable consequences. Already 1-2 years after the virus enters the blood, an attack begins on the cells of the immune system, which are destroyed under the influence of the viral agent. Even a common cold can cause serious complications and death of the patient at this stage, so the average life expectancy for patients who refuse treatment or try to overcome the disease using unconventional methods does not exceed 3-4 years (in exceptional cases, these figures may be slightly higher - 5-7 years).

How long do children with HIV live?

Diagnosing a child with HIV infection is a terrible disaster for his parents and other relatives, but one should not despair and give up. With the modern level of medicine, it is possible to prolong the life of a sick child and make it quite comfortable, but for this it is necessary to undergo timely courses of drug therapy. Medicines that can suppress the activity of the pathogen are selected experimentally - parents should not be afraid of this. Based on the results obtained, specialists will prescribe 2-3 drugs, which will need to be alternated and combined according to an individual regimen. This is necessary to prevent the virus from developing resistance to the active substances. If the child shows positive dynamics, the drugs are prescribed for life.

Additionally, parents should follow the following recommendations:

• provide high-quality, complete and balanced nutrition;
• frequently ventilate the room and carry out its treatment and disinfection;
• prevent the child from becoming overtired;
• maintain a sleep and rest schedule;
• introduce additional daytime sleep (regardless of the child’s age).

The life expectancy of a child receiving competent therapy and proper care reaches 15-20 years, but no doctor can give exact figures.

HIV infection is considered to be a fatal diagnosis, but in most cases the quality of his life and its duration depend on the efforts of the patient himself and his approach to his own health. Modern treatment methods provide good therapeutic results, but even the most expensive and effective drugs will not be able to help if a person does not adjust his lifestyle and give up bad habits, if any. , read on our website.

Video - How long can you live with an HIV diagnosis?

It is clear that this did not happen by itself. Prevention and control of HIV in Russian healthcare is one of the priorities. Over the past 10 years, the state program implemented by the Ministry of Health has brought Russia into the group of world leading countries where the transmission of HIV to children has practically stopped.

What kind of help can a person with HIV expect? How to accept your diagnosis and is it possible to build a happy family? AiF told about this Alexey Lakhov, Deputy Director for External Relations, Non-Profit Partnership “E.V.A.”, helping families with HIV patients.

The road to life

Yulia Nikolaeva, AiF: Alexey, what should a person who has received a positive HIV test do?

Alexey Lakhov: First of all, you need to find out whether there really is a disease (false-positive test results also occur). To do this, you need to contact the Center for Prevention and Control of AIDS, which is located in each region. The address of the nearest center can be found on the o-spide.ru portal in the “Where to contact” section. After confirming the diagnosis, an examination is prescribed to assess the patient’s condition in more detail in order to select the optimal treatment for him. Antiretroviral drugs are used for this. They suppress the reproduction of the HIV virus in the body to such an extent that it can no longer be detected in the blood. The patient's life prognosis is the same as that of people without HIV.

- It turns out that people don’t die from HIV now?

Only ignoring the diagnosis and deliberately refusing treatment can lead to death. Those who are treated live as long as healthy people. And thanks to the fact that they undergo regular examinations (at least twice a year), it turns out that HIV-positive people take even better care of their health than non-sick people!

- But the drugs are quite expensive?

In Russia, HIV treatment is absolutely free. Since 2017, the Ministry of Health has again switched to centralized procurement of drugs in order to provide for all those in need. Thanks to this measure, as well as through the formation of a patient register, which will be prepared by the ministry in the near future, it will be possible to significantly increase the coverage of HIV patients with therapy. Funds for this have already been budgeted for next year.

Alone in the field...

- Nevertheless, society often does not treat such people in the best way.

This is complete ignorance. The fact of the matter is that modern drugs can reduce the viral load to zero. That is, an HIV-positive person no longer infects anyone.

But how can a person cope with his own emotions? Upon hearing the diagnosis, many experience shock and even lose interest in life.

You must try to accept your diagnosis and learn to live with it. Self-help groups help people with HIV infection with this - they can be found on social networks, on the basis of public organizations, and in some AIDS centers. Psychological and emotional support is also provided by “peer consultants”, people who themselves have HIV and have learned to live with this diagnosis.

- Young people who want to have a family and children often become infected with HIV.

And this is quite possible! If you take antiretroviral therapy, you can have a healthy child. Timely initiation of chemoprophylaxis can reduce the risk of HIV transmission from mother to child to almost zero. Russia, represented by the Ministry of Health, very actively supports international programs to prevent the transmission of HIV to children from infected mothers. And these programs really work. Here's a fact: the number of HIV-infected women increases by 10% annually, but the number of children with HIV does not. Since mothers with HIV infection cannot breastfeed, they are provided with free formula feeding. Moreover, children with HIV infection began to be actively taken into families. The Republican Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital in Ust-Izhora has a department for children with HIV infection - something like an orphanage. There are almost no patients there anymore - more than 100 kids have found adoptive parents.

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Patient stories

At least to space

Yaroslava Medvedev, 40 years old:

I had exactly the same story that couldn’t seem to end well. I used drugs for many years. And in 2010 I decided to change my life. I was 34 years old then. I learned about my disease from an infectious disease doctor at a district clinic, who had previously treated me for hepatitis. She referred me to the AIDS center. When I left the clinic, I burst into tears. I walked down the street, and it felt like it was written on my forehead what was wrong with me, and everyone understood it. I called my mom, she supported me and calmed me down. I registered with the AIDS center, went for examinations every six months, but I have not yet been prescribed treatment. And in 2013 I got a job at NP “E.V.A”. Now I am the coordinator of one of the projects, I am a 3rd year student at the Institute of Psychology and Social Work. I recently married the man I love. As soon as we met, I confessed to him that I had HIV infection. He said that he doesn’t care because he loves me, we will die on the same day and what difference does it make? But I started taking antiretroviral therapy because I can’t afford the slightest possibility of infection. I want to say to everyone who has received such a diagnosis: this is not the end of life. In our country, HIV infection has been excluded from the list of fatal diseases since 2010. This is an ordinary chronic sluggish disease. If a person goes to the doctor and receives medications, he lives as long as a person without HIV infection. If you don’t know that I have HIV, then you can at least send me into space based on all other health parameters.

Plus to minus

Anastasia Mokina, 30 years old:

I learned about the diagnosis in 2010. Six months before that, my man was diagnosed with HIV. This was quite unexpected. We thought for a long time about where. They decided that he could have become infected when he got tattoos from some strange artists a few years ago. He went to register at the AIDS center, and I went there to get checked. The first analysis showed nothing. And six months later it turned out to be positive. I also started going to self-help groups, which helped me a lot. We got married then - the illness brought us together. Although later they broke up. Now I have an HIV-negative young man, we have been living together for 4 years. We are planning a child. There is no reason to treat HIV-positive people like some kind of lepers, we are exactly the same people as everyone else.

Happiness is in children

Elena Ivanova, 29 years old, two sons - 4 years and 1 year:

I dated a young man who was addicted to drugs. When he was admitted to the hospital one day, our mutual friends told me that he had been diagnosed with HIV, so I should get tested. That's how I found out that I was sick too. At the AIDS center I met an equally HIV-positive young man. We got married and really wanted children. When I found out about pregnancy, I was very happy. At two years old, the child was deregistered - he turned out to be completely healthy. The husband died in an accident. She got married a second time. At the very beginning of the relationship, I told him about my diagnosis (my husband is HIV-negative), and he reacted completely calmly. Now our child is one year old, and he is also healthy. I do computer design and organize support groups for HIV-positive people.

HIV is an acronym that stands for human immunodeficiency virus, which attacks the human immune system, causing HIV infection.

The last stage of HIV infection is AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

HIV infection and AIDS: what is the fundamental difference between these two conditions?

HIV infection
Incurable infectious disease. It belongs to the group of slow viral infections with a long-term course that affects the immune system.

That is, the virus, having entered the body of a healthy person from a sick person, may not manifest itself in any way for many years.

However, HIV gradually destroys the cells of the immune system, which is designed to protect the human body from all kinds of infections and negative influences.
Therefore, over time, the immune system “loses its ground.”

AIDS
A condition in which the human immune system is practically unable to fight infections, resist the development of cancer cells and various harmful environmental factors. At this stage, any infection, even the most harmless one, can lead to the development of a serious illness, and subsequently the death of the patient from complications, encephalitis or a tumor.

Facts about the disease

Perhaps now there is not a single adult who has never heard of HIV infection. It’s not for nothing that it’s called the “plague of the 20th century.” And even in the 11th century, it moves forward by leaps and bounds, claiming about 5,000 human lives all over the world every day. Although, As a disease, HIV has a not so long history.

It is believed that HIV infection began its “triumphant march” across the planet back in the 70s of the last century, when the first mass cases of infection with symptoms similar to AIDS were described.

However, they started talking about HIV infection officially only in the early 80s of the last century:

• In 1981, two articles were published that described the development of an unusual pneumocystis pneumonia (caused by a yeast-like fungus) and Kaposi's sarcoma (a malignant skin tumor) in homosexual men.
• In July 1982, the term “AIDS” was coined to describe the new disease.
• The human immunodeficiency virus was discovered in 1983 simultaneously in two independent laboratories:
  • In France at the Institute. Louis Pasteur under the direction of Luc Montagnier
  • In the USA at the National Cancer Institute under the leadership of Gallo Robert
• In 1985, a technique was developed that determined the presence of antibodies to HIV in the blood of patients - an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
• In 1987, the first case of HIV infection in the USSR was diagnosed. The patient is a homosexual man who worked as a translator in African countries.
• In 1988, the World Health Organization declared International AIDS Day on December 1st.

Where did HIV come from? There is no clear answer to this question. However, there are several hypotheses.

The most common theory is that man became infected from a monkey. It is based on the fact that in apes (chimpanzees) living in Central Africa (Congo), a virus was isolated from the blood that can cause the development of AIDS in humans. It is likely that human infection occurred through accidental injury during butchering of a monkey carcass or a human being bitten by a monkey.

However, monkey HIV is a weak virus and the human body copes with it within one week. But for the virus to harm the immune system, it must be transmitted from one person to another within a short time. Then the virus mutates (changes), acquiring properties characteristic of human HIV.

There is also an assumption that HIV existed for a long time among the tribes of Central Africa. However, it was only with the onset of increased migration in the 20th century that the virus spread throughout the world.

Statistics

Every year, a huge number of people around the world become infected with HIV.

Number of HIV-infected people

• Worldwide as of 01/01/2013 amounted to 35.3 million people
• In Russia at the end of 2013 - about 780,000 people, with 51,190 thousand identified between 01/01/13 and 08/31/13
• By CIS countries(data as of the end of 2013):
  • Ukraine - about 350,000
  • Kazakhstan - about 16,000
  • Belarus - 15,711
  • Moldova - 7,800
  • Georgia - 4,094
  • Armenia - 3,500
  • Tajikistan - 4,700
  • Azerbaijan - 4,171
  • Kyrgyzstan - about 5,000
  • Turkmenistan - officials say HIV infection does not exist in the country
  • Uzbekistan - about 7,800

Mortality

Since the beginning of the epidemic, about 36 million people have died from AIDS. Moreover, the mortality rate of patients is decreasing year by year - thanks to successful highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART or ART).

Celebrities who died from AIDS

• Gia Carangi- American supermodel. She died in 1986. She suffered from a severe form of drug addiction.
• Freddie Mercury- lead singer of the legendary rock band Queen. Died in 1991.
• Michael Wastphal- famous tennis player. He died at the age of 26.
• Rudolf Nureyev- a legend of world ballet. Died in 1993.
• Ryan White- the first and most famous child with HIV infection. He suffered from hemophilia and contracted HIV through a blood transfusion at age 13. The boy, together with his mother, fought for the rights of HIV-infected people all his life. Ryan White died of AIDS in 1990 at the age of 18, but did not lose: he proved to the whole world that HIV-infected people do not pose a threat if basic precautions are taken, and have the right to an ordinary life.

AIDS virus

In addition, there are several varieties of the virus itself.

HIV: structure

• HIV-1or HIV-1(discovered in 1983) is the main causative agent of infection. It is very aggressive, causing typical manifestations of the disease. Most often found in Western Europe and Asia, South and North America, Central Africa.

• HIV-2 or HIV-2(discovered in 1986) is a less aggressive analogue of HIV-1, so the disease is milder. Not so widespread: found in western Africa, Germany, France, Portugal.

Structure

HIV- a spherical (spherical) particle having a size from 100 to 120 nanometers. The virus shell is dense, formed by a double lipid (fat-like substance) layer with “spikes”, and under it is a protein layer (p-24 capsid).

Under the capsule are:

• two strands of viral RNA (ribonucleic acid) - a carrier of genetic information
• viral enzymes: protease, intergrase and transcriptase
• p7 protein

The most important feature of retroviruses is the presence of a special enzyme: reverse transcriptase. Thanks to this enzyme, the virus converts its RNA into DNA (a molecule that ensures the storage and transmission of genetic information to subsequent generations), which it then introduces into the host cells.

HIV: properties

• quickly dies under the influence of a 5% solution of hydrogen peroxide, ether, chloramine solution, 70 0 C alcohol, acetone
• outside the body in the open air dies within a few minutes
• at +56 0 C - 30 minutes
• when boiling - instantly

HIV: features of the life cycle

What are the cells of the immune system responsible for?

T lymphocytes-helpers activate the work of almost all cells of the immune system, and also produce special substances that fight foreign agents: viruses, microbes, fungi, allergens. That is, in fact, they control the functioning of almost the entire immune system.

Monocytes and macrophages - cells that absorb foreign particles, viruses and microbes, digesting them.

The HIV life cycle includes several phases

• Once in the body, the virus binds to special receptors on the surface of the T-lymphocyte - CD4 cells. Next, it penetrates the host cell and sheds the outer membrane.

• Using reverse transcriptase a DNA copy (one chain) is synthesized on the viral RNA (template). The copy is then completed into double-stranded DNA.
• Double-stranded DNA moves into the T-lymphocyte nucleus, where it is integrated into the DNA of the host cell. At this stage, the active enzyme is integrase.
• The DNA copy remains in the host cell from several months to several years, “sleeping,” so to speak. At this stage, the presence of the virus in the human body can be detected using tests with specific antibodies.
• Any secondary infection provokes the transfer of information from the DNA copy to the template (viral) RNA, which leads to further replication of the virus.
• Next, the host cell's ribosomes (protein-producing particles) synthesize viral proteins on the viral RNA.
• Then from viral RNA and newly synthesized viral proteins assembly of new parts of viruses occurs, which leave the cell, destroying it.
• New viruses attach to receptors on the surface of other T lymphocytes - and the cycle begins again.

HIV infection

Anyone can become infected, regardless of social status, financial income, gender, age and sexual orientation. The source of infection is an HIV-infected person at any stage of the infectious process.

HIV doesn't just fly through the air. It is found in biological fluids of the body: blood, semen, vaginal secretions, breast milk, cerebrospinal fluid. For infection, an infectious dose of about 10,000 viral particles must enter the bloodstream.

Routes of transmission of HIV infection

1. Heterosexual contacts- unprotected vaginal sex.

The risk of infection after one sexual contact with ejaculation ranges from 0.1 to 0.32% for the passive partner (the “receiving” side), and 0.01-0.1% for the active partner (the “introducing” side).

However, infection can occur after one sexual contact if there is any other sexually transmitted disease (STD): syphilis, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis and others. Since the number of T-helper lymphocytes and other cells of the immune system increases in the inflammatory focus. And then HIV “enters the human body on a white horse.”

In addition, with all STDs, the mucous membrane is prone to injury, so its integrity is often compromised: cracks, ulcers, and erosions appear. As a result, infection occurs much faster.

The likelihood of infection increases with prolonged sexual intercourse: if the husband is sick, then within three years in 45-50% of cases the wife becomes infected, if the wife is sick - in 35-45% of the cases the husband becomes infected. A woman’s risk of infection is higher because a large amount of infected sperm enters the vagina, it stays in contact with the mucous membrane for longer, and the contact area is larger.

1. Intravenous drug use

Since drug addicts often use shared non-sterile medical syringes or shared containers for preparing the solution when administering drugs intravenously. The probability of infection is 30-35%.

In addition, drug addicts often engage in promiscuous sex, which several times increases the likelihood of infection for both themselves and others.

1. Unprotected anal sex regardless of sexual orientation

1. Unprotected oral sex

However, the risk of infection increases if there are jams in the corners of the mouth, and wounds and ulcers in the cavity.

1. Children born from HIV-infected mothers

It is possible for a healthy mother to become infected when breastfeeding a sick child, if the woman has cracked nipples and the baby’s gums bleed.

1. Accidental injuries with medical instruments, subcutaneous and intramuscular injections

1. Blood transfusion and organ transplantation

On a note

The likelihood of infection depends on the initial state of the person’s immune system: the weaker it is, the faster infection occurs, and the more severe the disease. In addition, it matters what the viral load of an HIV-infected person is; if it is high, then the risk of infection increases several times.

Diagnosis of HIV infection

Methods for diagnosing HIV infection

Available three main stages of diagnosis HIV infections in adults:

1. Preliminary- screening (sorting), which serves to select presumably infected individuals
2. Referential

1. Confirming- expert

Some concepts in the context of diagnosing HIV infection:

• Antigen- the virus itself or its particles (proteins, fats, enzymes, capsule particles, and so on).
• Antibody- cells produced by the immune system in response to HIV entering the body.
• Seroconversion- immune response. Once in the body, HIV multiplies rapidly. In response, the immune system begins to produce antibodies, the concentration of which increases over the next few weeks. And only when their number reaches a certain level (seroconversion), they are detected by special test systems. Then the level of the virus drops, and the immune system calms down.
• "Window period"- the interval from the moment of infection to the appearance of seroconversion (on average 6-12 weeks). This is the most dangerous period, since the risk of HIV transmission is high, and the test system gives a false negative result

Screening stage

It is preferable to use fourth generation test systems. They have one feature - in addition to antibodies, they also detect the HIV antigen - p-24-Capsid, which makes it possible to identify the virus even before the development of a sufficient level of antibodies, reducing the “window period”.

However, in most countries, outdated third or even second generation test systems (only detect antibodies) are still used, because they are cheaper.

However, they are more often give false positive results: if there is an infectious disease during pregnancy, autoimmune processes (rheumatism, systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriasis), the presence of the Epstein-Bar virus in the body and some other diseases.

If the ELISA result is positive, then the diagnosis of HIV infection is not made, but proceeds to the next stage of diagnosis.

Reference stage

Expert stage - immunoblotting

Consists of several stages:

• HIV is broken down into antigens using electrophoresis.
• using the blotting method (in a special chamber), they are transferred to special strips on which proteins characteristic of HIV are already applied.
• The patient's blood is applied to the strips; if it contains antibodies to the antigens, a reaction occurs that is visible on the test strips.

Therefore there are two options for conducting the expert stage laboratory diagnosis of HIV infection:

Diagnosis in children born from HIV-infected mothers

Diagnostic tactics

• up to 1 month - PCR, since the virus does not multiply intensively during this period
• older than a month - determination of p24-Capsid antigen
• laboratory diagnostic examination and observation from birth to 36 months

Symptoms and signs of HIV in men and women

Stages of HIV infection

HIV infection symptoms

• The first stage is incubation

  The virus is actively reproducing. Duration - from the moment of infection to 3-6 weeks (sometimes up to one year). In case of weakened immunity - up to two weeks.

  Symptoms
  None. You can be suspicious if there was a dangerous situation: unprotected casual sexual contact, blood transfusion, and so on. Test systems do not detect antibodies in the blood.

• The second stage - primary manifestations

  The body's immune response to the introduction, reproduction and massive spread of HIV. The first symptoms appear within the first three months after infection; they may precede seroconversion. Duration is usually 2-3 weeks (rarely several months).

  Flow options

• 2A - Asymptomatic There are no manifestations of the disease. There is only the production of antibodies.

• 2B - Acute infection without secondary diseases It is observed in 15-30% of patients. It occurs as an acute viral infection or infectious mononucleosis.

• Increased body temperature 38.8C and above is a response to the introduction of the virus. The body begins to produce an active biological substance - interlekin, which “gives a signal” to the hypothalamus (located in the brain) that there is a “stranger” in the body. Therefore, energy production increases and heat transfer decreases.
• Enlarged lymph nodes- reaction of the immune system. In the lymph nodes, the production of antibodies by lymphocytes against HIV increases, which leads to working hypertrophy (increase in size) of the lymph nodes.
• Skin rashes in the form of red spots and compactions, small hemorrhages up to 10 mm in diameter, prone to merging with each other. The rash is located symmetrically, mainly on the skin of the torso, but sometimes on the face and neck. It is a consequence of direct damage by the virus to T-lymphocytes and macrophages in the skin, which leads to disruption of local immunity. Therefore, there is subsequently an increased susceptibility to various pathogens.
• Diarrhea(frequent loose stools) develops due to the direct effect of HIV on the intestinal mucosa, which causes changes in the local immune system and also impairs absorption.
• Sore throat(sore throat, pharyngitis) and oral cavity due to the fact that HIV affects the mucous membranes of the mouth and nose, as well as lymphoid tissue (tonsils). As a result, swelling of the mucous membrane appears, the tonsils become enlarged, which causes a sore throat, painful swallowing and other symptoms characteristic of a viral infection.
• Enlarged liver and spleen associated with the reaction of the immune system to the introduction of HIV into the body.
• Sometimes autoimmune diseases develop(psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis and others). The cause and mechanism of formation are not yet clear. However, most often these diseases occur in later stages.
• 2B - Acute infection with secondary diseases

  It is observed in 50-90% of patients. It occurs against the background of a temporary decrease in CD4 lymphocytes, so the immune system is weakened and cannot fully resist “strangers.”

  Secondary diseases occur caused by microbes, fungi, viruses: candidiasis, herpes, respiratory tract infections, stomatitis, dermatitis, sore throat and others. As a rule, they respond well to treatment. Then the state of the immune system stabilizes, and the disease moves to the next stage.

• The third stage is long-term widespread enlargement of the lymph nodes

  Duration - from 2 to 15-20 years, since the immune system inhibits the reproduction of the virus. During this period, the level of CD4 lymphocytes gradually decreases: at approximately a rate of 0.05-0.07x109/l per year.

  There is only an increase in at least two groups of lymph nodes (LNs) that are not connected to each other for three months, with the exception of the inguinal ones. The size of the lymph nodes in adults is more than 1 cm, in children - more than 0.5 cm. They are painless and elastic. Gradually, the lymph nodes decrease in size, remaining in this state for a long time. But sometimes they can increase again and then decrease - and so on for several years.

• Stage four - secondary diseases (pre-AIDS)

  Develops when the immune system is depleted: the level of CD4 lymphocytes, macrophages, and other cells of the immune system drops significantly.

  Therefore, HIV, having practically no response from the immune system, begins to multiply intensively. It affects more and more healthy cells, leading to the development of tumors and severe infectious diseases - opurtonic infections (the body can easily cope with them under normal conditions). Some of them occur only in HIV-infected people, and some - in ordinary people, only in HIV-positive people they are much more severe.

  The disease can be suspected if there are at least 2-3 diseases or conditions listed at each stage.

  Has three stages

  1. 4A. Develops 6-10 years after infection with a CD4 lymphocyte level of 350-500 CD4/mm3 (in healthy people it ranges from 600-1900CD4/mm3).
     • Losing body weight up to 10% of initial weight in less than 6 months. The reason is that the viral proteins invade the body’s cells, suppressing protein synthesis in them. Therefore, the patient literally “dries out before our eyes,” and the absorption of nutrients in the intestines is also impaired.
     • Repeated damage to the skin and mucous membranes by bacteria (ulcers, boils), fungi (candidiasis, lichen), viruses (herpes zoster)
     • Pharyngitis and sinusitis (more than three times a year).

1. 4B. Occurs 7-10 years after infection with a CD4 lymphocyte level of 350-200 CD4/mm3.

   Characterized by diseases and conditions:

   • Loss of body weight more than 10% in 6 months. There is weakness.
   • Increase in body temperature to 38.0-38.5 0 C for more than 1 month.
   • Chronic diarrhea (diarrhea) for more than 1 month develops as a result of both direct damage to the intestinal mucosa by the virus and the addition of a secondary infection, usually mixed.
   • Leukoplakia is the growth of the papillary layer of the tongue: white thread-like formations appear on its lateral surface, sometimes on the mucous membrane of the cheeks. Its occurrence is a bad sign for the prognosis of the disease.
   • Deep lesions of the skin and mucous membranes (candidiasis, lichen simplex, molluscum contagiosum, rubrophytia, lichen versicolor and others) with a protracted course.
   • Repeated and persistent bacterial (tonsillitis, pneumonia), viral (cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Bar virus, herpes simplex virus) infections.
   • Repeated or widespread shingles caused by the varicella zoster virus.
   • Localized (non-spread) Kaposi's sarcoma is a malignant skin tumor that develops from the vessels of the lymphatic and circulatory system.
   • Pulmonary tuberculosis.

1. 4B. Develops 10-12 years after infection when the CD4 lymphocyte level is less than 200 CD4/mm3. Life-threatening diseases arise.

   Characterized by diseases and conditions:

   • Extreme exhaustion, lack of appetite and severe weakness. Patients are forced to spend more than a month in bed.
   • Pneumocystis pneumonia (caused by a yeast-like fungus) is a marker of HIV infection.
   • Often recurrent herpes, manifested by non-healing erosions and ulcers on the mucous membranes.
   • Protozoal diseases: cryptosporidiosis and isosporosis (affect the intestines), toxoplasmosis (focal and diffuse brain lesions, pneumonia) - markers of HIV infection.
   • Candidiasis of the skin and internal organs: esophagus, respiratory tract, etc.
   • Extrapulmonary tuberculosis: bones, meninges, intestines and other organs.
   • Common Kaposi's sarcoma.
   • Mycobacterioses that affect the skin, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, central nervous system and other internal organs. Mycobacteria are present in water, soil, and dust. They cause disease only in HIV-infected people.
   • Cryptococcal meningitis is caused by a fungus that is present in the soil. It usually does not occur in a healthy body.
   • Diseases of the central nervous system: dementia, movement disorders, forgetfulness, decreased ability to concentrate, slowed thinking abilities, gait disturbance, personality changes, clumsiness in the hands. It develops both due to the direct impact of HIV on nerve cells for a long time, and as a result of complications that develop after illness.
   • Malignant tumors of any location.
   • Damage to the kidneys and heart caused by HIV infection.

• Fifth stage - terminal

  Develops when the CD4 cell count is below 50-100 CD4/mm3. At this stage, all existing diseases progress; treatment of secondary infections is ineffective. The patient’s life depends on HAART, but, unfortunately, it, as well as the treatment of secondary diseases, are ineffective. Therefore, patients usually die within a few months.

  There is a classification of HIV infection according to WHO, but it is less structured, so mostly specialists prefer to work according to Pokrovsky’s classification.

The given data on the stages and their manifestations of HIV infection are averaged. Not all patients go through the stages sequentially, sometimes “skipping” through them or staying at a certain stage for a long time.

Therefore, the course of the disease can be quite long (up to 20 years) or short-lived (cases of fulminant course are known, when patients died within 7-9 months from the moment of infection). This is associated with the characteristics of the patient’s immune system (for example, some have few CD4 lymphocytes or initially reduced immunity), as well as the type of HIV.

HIV infection in men

HIV infection in women

Women have a slightly higher risk of developing malignant tumors on the cervix.

In addition, in them, inflammatory processes of the female genital organs occur more often (more than three times a year) than in healthy women, and are more severe.

HIV infection in children

Treatment of HIV infection

Moreover, these drugs are so effective that with proper treatment, CD4 cells grow, and HIV itself is difficult to detect in the body even with the most sensitive methods.

To achieve this you The patient must have self-discipline:

• taking medication at the same time
• compliance with dosage and diet
• continuity of treatment

Main directions of treatment

• Prevent and delay the development of life-threatening conditions
• Ensure longer preservation of the quality of life of infected patients
• With the help of HAART and prevention of secondary diseases, achieve remission (absence of clinical symptoms)
• Emotional and practical support for patients
• Providing free drugs

First stage

No treatment is prescribed. However, if there was contact with an HIV-infected person, then chemoprophylaxis is recommended in the first three days after contact.

Second stage

2A. No treatment unless the CD4 count is less than 200 CD4/mm3

2B. Treatment is prescribed, but if the CD4 lymphocyte count is more than 350 CD4/mm3, it is withheld.

2B. Treatment is prescribed if the patient has manifestations characteristic of stage 4, but with the exception of cases when the level of CD4 lymphocytes is more than 350 CD4/mm3.

Third stage

HAART is prescribed if the CD4 lymphocyte count is less than 200 CD4/mm3, and the HIV RNA level is more than 100,000 copies, or the patient actively wishes to begin therapy.

Fourth stage

Treatment is prescribed if the CD4 count is less than 350 CD4/mm3 or the HIV RNA number is more than 100,000 copies.

Fifth stage

Treatment is always prescribed.

On a note

HAART is prescribed to children regardless of the stage of the disease.

These are the existing standards for the treatment of HIV infection today. But recent studies have shown that starting HAART earlier produces better results. Therefore, it is likely that these recommendations will be revised soon.

Medicines used to treat HIV

• Nucleoside inhibitors of viral reverse transcriptase (Didanosine, Lamivudine, Zidovudine, Abacovir, Stavudine, Zalcitabine)
• Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (Nevirapine, Ifavirenz, Delavirdine)
• Viral protease (enzyme) inhibitors (Saquinavir, Indinavir, Nelfinavir, ritonavir, nelfinavir)

However, a new drug will soon hit the market - Quad, which promises to radically change the lives of people living with HIV. Because it works faster, it has fewer side effects. In addition, it solves the problem of HIV drug resistance. And patients will no longer have to swallow handfuls of pills. Because the new medicine combines the effects of several drugs to treat HIV infection, and is taken once a day.

Prevention of HIV infection

There is probably not a person who disagrees with this statement. This also applies to HIV/AIDS. Therefore, most countries are implementing various programs to reduce the rate of spread of this infection.

However, we will talk about what everyone can do. After all, it doesn’t take much effort to protect yourself and your loved ones from this plague.

Preventing HIV/AIDS among people at increased risk

• The surest way is to have one sexual partner whose HIV status is known.

• Engage in casual sexual intercourse (vaginal, anal) only using a condom. The most reliable are latex ones with standard lubricant.

But the likelihood of infection is still reduced to almost zero if you use a condom correctly: you must put it on before sexual intercourse, make sure that there is no air left between the latex and the penis (there is a risk of rupture), and always use a condom in accordance with the size.

Almost all condoms made from other materials do not protect against HIV at all.

Intravenous drug use

Drug addiction and HIV often go hand in hand, so the most reliable way is to stop taking intravenous drugs.

However, if you still choose this path, you must take precautions:

• Individual and single use of sterile medical syringes
• Preparation of solution for injection in sterile individual containers

• using a self-insemination kit (HIV-negative partner)

• sperm purification followed by insemination (both partners are HIV positive)

• in vitro fertilization

Taking medications:

• HAART (if necessary) for therapeutic or prophylactic purposes depending on the stage of pregnancy
• multivitamins
• iron supplements and others

It is important to take all the necessary tests on time: determine the viral load, CD4 cell level, smears, and so on.

Medical staff

There is a risk of infection if the activity involves penetration through natural barriers (skin, mucous membranes) and manipulations during which they come into contact with biological fluids.

Prevention of infection

• use of protective equipment: glasses, gloves, mask and protective clothing

• promptly dispose of the used needle in a special puncture-proof container

• contact with HIV-infected biological fluid - chemoprophylaxis - taking complex HAART according to the regimen

• contact with a suspected infected body fluid:
  • skin injury (puncture or cut) - the bleeding does not need to be stopped for a few seconds, then treat the injury site with 700C alcohol

• contact with biological fluid on undamaged areas of the body - wash with running water and soap, then wipe with 700C alcohol

• contact with eyes - rinse with running water

• in the mouth - rinse with 700C alcohol

• on clothes - remove them and soak them in one of the disinfectants (chloramine and others), and wipe the skin underneath with 70% alcohol

• for shoes - wipe twice with a rag soaked in one of the disinfectant solutions

• on walls, floors, tiles - pour disinfectant solution for 30 minutes, then wipe

How is HIV transmitted?

Methods of transmission of the virus

• Unprotected sexual intercourse with an HIV-infected person (heterosexual and homosexual contacts). Most often - in people who are promiscuous. The risk increases with anal sex, regardless of sexual orientation.

• When using intravenous drugs: sharing a non-sterile syringe or container for preparing a solution with an HIV-infected person.

• From an HIV-infected woman to her child during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding.

• When healthcare workers come into contact with contaminated biological fluid: contact with mucous membranes, injections or cuts.

• Blood transfusions or organ transplants from HIV-infected people. Of course, the donor organ or blood is tested before medical procedures. However, if it falls during the window period, the test produces a false negative result.

Where can you donate blood for HIV?

There are two types of free blood donation for HIV infection:

• Anonymous The person does not give his name, but is assigned a number by which you can find out the result (for many this is more comfortable).

• Confidential Laboratory staff become aware of the person's first and last name, but they maintain medical confidentiality.

• at any regional AIDS center

• in a city, regional or district clinic in anonymous and voluntary testing rooms, where blood is drawn to detect HIV infection.

In addition, you can get tested at a private medical center, which is equipped with special equipment, but most likely for a fee.

Depending on the capabilities of the laboratory, the result can be obtained on the same day, after 2-3 days or after 2 weeks. Considering that testing is stressful for many people, it is better to clarify the timing in advance.

What should you do if you test positive for HIV?

• course of the disease itself

• what research still needs to be done?

• how to live with this diagnosis

• what treatment to take if necessary, and so on

Must be determined:

• CD4 cell level

• presence of viral hepatitis (B, C, D)

• in some cases, p-24-Capsid antigen

How can you avoid becoming infected with HIV?

• when coughing or sneezing
• for insect or animal bites
• through shared tableware and cutlery
• during medical examinations
• when swimming in a pool or pond
• in the sauna, steam room
• through a handshake, hug and kiss
• when using a shared toilet
• in public places

Who are HIV dissidents?

Their beliefs are based on the following:

• HIV has not been identified clearly and indisputably

In fact, there are plenty of photographs taken under an electron microscope.

• Patients die faster when treated with antiviral drugs than from illness

  This is partly true, since the very first drugs did cause a large number of side effects. However, modern medicines are much more effective and safer. In addition, science does not stand still, inventing more effective and safe means.

• Considered a global conspiracy of pharmaceutical companies

  If this were so, then pharmaceutical companies would disseminate information not about the disease itself and its treatment, but about some kind of miracle vaccine, which, by the way, does not exist to this day.

• They say that AIDS is a disease of the immune system, not caused by a virus

  They say it is a consequence of immunodeficiency that developed as a result of stress, after strong radiation, exposure to poison or strong drugs, and some other reasons.

  Here we can contrast the fact that as soon as an HIV-infected patient starts taking HAART, his condition improves significantly.

  All these statements mislead patients, therefore they refuse treatment. Whereas, when started on time, HAART slows down the course of the disease, prolonging life and allowing HIV-infected people to be full-fledged members of society: to work, give birth to healthy children, live in a normal rhythm, and so on. Therefore, it is so important to detect HIV in time and, if necessary, start HAART.

How long do people live with HIV? The relevance of this question is simply undeniable, but it is difficult to give an unambiguous answer. Medicine is currently unable to cure people infected with the immunodeficiency virus, but scientists are making progress. At this time, doctors are able to control the amount of HIV in the body. A healthy lifestyle and medications significantly prolong the life of patients.

Why is HIV dangerous?

To understand how many years people live with HIV and what the prospects for an infected person are, you first need to understand what causes human immunodeficiency. This pathogen is quite young. It was discovered only in the 80s of the last century. By itself it is not lethal. HIV affects only one type of cell in the human body - T-leukocytes. However, they are a key element of the immune system. Because of this, the body cannot resist various infections. They are the final cause of death. AIDS patients die from pneumonia, cancer, hepatitis, tuberculosis, candidiasis and other diseases.

Stealth of infection

The virus appears in the body unnoticed and does not manifest itself for a long time. Therefore, it is quite difficult to say exactly how many infected people in the world are - how many are living with HIV and are completely unaware of it. Once in the body, the pathogen begins to constantly and asymptomatically increase its population, while destroying healthy cells of the immune system. Whether a person is infected is determined using a special blood test. Important indicators are the level and number of T-leukocytes in the blood. The lower threshold for the immune system is 200 leukocyte cells per milliliter of blood. If there are fewer of them, the body’s defenses stop working completely. Normally, this figure is 500-1500. When the T-leukocyte count is 350, it is necessary to begin active antiretroviral treatment aimed at suppressing the pathogen and reducing its concentration in the blood. The answer to the question of how many people live with HIV directly depends on the degree of regularity and quality of therapy.

Evolution of infection

There are five periods ranging from two weeks to one year after infection is called the window period. It ends when antibodies to HIV appear in the blood. If a person has a weakened immune system, this stage does not last longer than six months.

• hives;
• low-grade fever;
• stomatitis;
• inflammation of the lymph nodes: they enlarge and become painful.

The final stage of this stage is characterized by the maximum concentration of antibodies and virus in the blood.

Next, the disease enters a stage called the latent period. As a rule, it lasts 5-10 years. Usually the only manifestation of HIV at this stage is periodic enlargement of the lymph nodes. They become dense, but not painful (lymphadenopathy).

This is followed by a stage called pre-AIDS. Its duration is 1-2 years. At this stage, serious suppression of cellular immunity begins. A person can be tormented by herpes (with frequent relapses). Ulcerations of the mucous membranes and genital organs do not heal for a very long time. Stomatitis is observed and candidiasis of the genital organs and oral mucosa is observed.

Next comes the terminal stage - AIDS itself. It is accompanied by the generalization of opportunistic tumors and infections. The prognosis at this stage is usually negative. At this stage, even the common flu can kill a person.

How is HIV transmitted?

It is known that AIDS is one of the most terrible diseases of our time. Therefore, absolutely everyone needs to know how its pathogen is transmitted in order to avoid infection and so that the question of how many people live with HIV does not become urgent and pressing. This information will also not hurt in order not to humiliate patients again. The pathogen enters the body during unprotected sexual intercourse, during repeated use of a syringe, during blood transfusion, through breast milk. Many people mistakenly believe that AIDS is a disease of drug addicts and homosexuals. However, this is just a stereotype. Anyone can become infected with this disease. No one is immune from this. Many people become infected through contact with the blood of a patient or during donor collections.

As already mentioned, AIDS is a very dangerous disease. However, it is impossible to reliably predict how long people with HIV will live. Even approximate data does not exist. After all, each organism is individual. Some die 3-5 years after infection, others live for decades.

Very average statistics can give a very rough idea of ​​how long people live with HIV. On average, this period is from 5 to 15 years.

The life expectancy of patients cannot be reliably measured for several reasons. Firstly, it is no secret that many of the first infected are still alive. That is, for more than 30 years. However, this period is not a limit. Only time will tell how long people can live with an HIV diagnosis.

Secondly, medicine and science do not stand still. Since the discovery of the virus (in 1983), effective drugs have been developed that make it possible to stop the development of HIV. Proper drug therapy can prolong the patient's life. Work to create a cure for AIDS does not stop. New, more effective therapies are constantly emerging that help prevent the evolution of HIV infection into AIDS. Potent medications block the substances the virus needs for development, thereby preventing the disease from progressing.

Third, although infection with the human immunodeficiency virus is not a death sentence, the disease is very serious. How long you can live with HIV largely depends on the rhythm and quality of life of the patient. And she is not easy. You need to constantly check the level of T-leukocytes with a doctor, maintain your health, lead a correct lifestyle - there should be no bad habits. If the level of immunity decreases, it is necessary to undergo courses of appropriate therapy. Even not very serious illnesses should never be left to chance. They need to be treated on time. Children with HIV should also follow these instructions. How long they live also depends on the characteristics of a particular organism and the timeliness of therapy.

Precautionary measures

People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) need to be careful in their daily lives so as not to infect others and their loved ones. You should avoid unprotected sexual intercourse, do not breastfeed children, and do not reuse needles or other sharp objects. It is also necessary to prevent sperm, blood, and vaginal secretions from coming into contact with the mucous membranes and wounds of healthy people.

How is HIV not transmitted?

Many people mistakenly believe that people living with HIV are extremely dangerous to others. However, the virus is not transmitted through:

• air;
• clothes and towels;
• handshakes (if there are no open wounds on the skin);
• bites of mosquitoes, mosquitoes and other insects;
• any kisses (in the absence of bleeding cracks and damage to the lips and mouth);
• dishes;
• toilet, bathroom, etc.

Therefore, it is almost impossible to become infected at home.

Classes of drugs for treating HIV

There are three classes of medications to treat HIV. Therapy is based on the simultaneous use of three medications from two different classes. This combination is necessary so that the pathogen does not get used to the drugs. If the chosen course of treatment is effective, it is prescribed for the rest of your life.

What to do to survive with HIV

Those infected should do everything to strengthen their immunity. You need to try to eliminate stress, as well as negative thoughts about how many people live with HIV. A lot depends on your inner mood. You also need to adhere to a healthy lifestyle, eat well (diet with plenty of protein), and take vitamin and mineral complexes. All this helps the body cope better with the disease. You also need to keep your body in good athletic shape or at least exercise regularly. You should not abuse alcohol - it weakens the immune system and reduces the effectiveness of medications. It is also recommended to quit smoking. If you have HIV infection, you should never use drugs. Firstly, against the background of this disease, narcotic substances themselves significantly reduce life expectancy. Secondly, the drugs are incompatible with most antiretroviral medications.