HIV symptoms in women. Early symptoms of HIV in women. HIV symptoms in women: ways of transmission, stages of the disease and their signs

HIV infection is a disease that develops in the human body as a result of the aggressive action of a representative of the retrovirus family - the human immunodeficiency virus. For the first time, the immunodeficiency virion was discovered in 1983, after which scientists around the world tried to find a vaccine or cure for this disease.

Once in the body, the virus is introduced into the DNA of the cells of the spinal cord, immune and peripheral nervous system. The main pathogenic effect of HIV is a depressing effect on the patient's immunity. The main problem in trying to treat the disease was that the virus can mutate many times in the patient's body. To date, experts have managed to transfer HIV into the category of sluggish and controlled infections. Thanks to specially selected therapy, a person can lead a full life.

However, if the treatment was not started in a timely manner, then the patient may develop various pathologies, indicating violations in the work of various organs and systems. In HIV-positive women, the disease can manifest with a variety of symptoms, depending on the stage and form of the infection.

Symptomatic manifestations of the disease directly depend on the stage of the immunodeficiency virus. In the Russian classification, 5 main phases of the development of the disease are distinguished:

1. Latent.
2. primary manifestations.
3. Subclinical, that is, not characterized by pronounced signs.
4. Phase of secondary diseases.
5. AIDS phase.

On a note! In about 90% of those infected with HIV, the course of infection occurs in 5 stages, but there is also a rapid form of the disease, in which the first and second stages immediately pass into the fourth for a fairly short period of time - 1-3 years.

Manifestations of HIV at the latent stage

The latent stage lasts on average from 3-4 weeks to 5-6 months. This is the period of incubation, when the pathogen that enters the body begins its active replication. In isolated cases, if the patient has a strong immune system, this phase can last up to 12 months.

During the latent phase, the disease does not manifest itself externally. The test for the presence of antibodies to HIV also gives a negative result.

The only way to detect HIV in this phase is to conduct a blood test and identify the causative agent of the disease directly. However, in practice, this laboratory study is rarely used.

On a note! The disease may not manifest itself for a sufficiently long period. In order to timely identify the infection and start treatment, it is recommended to take a blood test for HIV every 6 months.

Symptoms in the phase of primary manifestations

The stage of primary manifestations should be considered as a direct phase of the active development of the infection and its symptoms. During this period, the virus continues to multiply rapidly. As a result of an increase in the content of the pathogen in the blood, seroconversion occurs - the patient's body begins to produce antibodies in response to the introduction of the pathogen.

This stage lasts about a year and can take several forms:

Symptoms of the subclinical phase

The subclinical period can last up to 20 years, but in most initially healthy women, the average period of this phase takes from 6 to 7 years. It is characterized by the gradual disappearance of most of the symptoms that appear during the acute stage. The only symptom of the disease is usually a persistent enlargement of the lymph nodes.

In the blood of patients, antibodies to the infectious agent are found, but the rate of their replication is less than during the acute phase.

On a note! Many patients during the subclinical phase report an improvement in well-being. However, the virus continues to multiply in the body, so taking antiretroviral therapy during this period is mandatory.

Symptoms of the secondary disease phase

Due to the gradual depletion of the resources of the immune system against the background of HIV infection, opportunistic diseases begin to develop. These are diseases that can only affect the body of a person with weak immunity.

On average, 7-8 years after infection with the immunodeficiency virus, women develop a stage of mild lesions of the skin and mucous membranes. It is characterized by the following manifestations:

1. Candidiasis. Patients are often worried about thrush, itching and redness in the vagina and labia, pain during intercourse.
2. Tracheitis and laryngitis.
3. Fungal lesions of the skin of the feet.
4. Pustular eruptions on the face and body.

8-10 years after infection, in the absence of specific therapy, HIV is aggravated by concomitant diseases of internal organs:

1. Protracted pneumonia caused by streptococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, legionella and other pathogens.
2. Inflammatory processes of the reproductive system, erosion of the cervix.
3. Thrombocytopenic purpura is a pathology characterized by vascular fragility and subcutaneous hemorrhages.
4. Tuberculosis.
5. Localized Kaposi's sarcoma.
6. Fungal and bacterial lesions of the gastrointestinal tract. Manifested by diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and increased gas formation.

This phase is accompanied by dizziness, fatigue, lack of sexual desire, rapid weight loss and frequent prolonged fevers that can last for 2-3 weeks.

If for any reason during this period the appropriate treatment of the patient at this stage of HIV is not carried out, then the disease is complicated by the development of severe, life-threatening conditions:

1. Cachexia - exhaustion, weight drops to critical levels.
2. Multi-infections - the development in the body of pathological processes caused by several fungi, viruses or pathogenic bacteria at once.
3. Tumor processes of the organs of the reproductive system, ulcerative processes in the vagina and cervical canal. Cervical cancer.
4. Generalized lymphadenopathy - the inflammatory process affects all the lymph nodes.
5. Malignant neoplasms in various organ systems.

AIDS phase

At this stage, the patient's body is already affected by various infections and tumor processes. This stage is characterized by:

1. Generalized tuberculosis.
2. Lymphomas and sarcomas.
3. Pneumocystis pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs caused by the fungus Pneumocystis jirovecii.
4. Abscesses of the genitourinary system caused by fungi and bacteria.
5. Damage to the central and peripheral nervous system: encephalitis, paralysis, progressive encephalopathy, etc.

Impact of HIV on the female reproductive system

The female reproductive system most acutely reacts to the development of immunodeficiency states, which is due to the large number of mucous membranes in the vagina, through which various bacteria and viruses easily enter the body. In most patients, the first manifestations of HIV are observed precisely from the reproductive system:

1. The appearance of growths on the genitals and in the anus. In some cases, papillomas colonies increase several times within 10-12 hours.
2. Pathological discharge from the vagina: cheesy, grayish or purulent, with a sharp unpleasant odor.
3. Rash, redness and itching in the intimate area.
4. Pain in the lower abdomen.
5. Ulceration of the labia and perineum.
6. Intermenstrual bleeding.

If such symptoms appear, you should immediately seek the advice of a specialist.

The menstrual cycle in immunodeficiency

The peculiarity of the immunodeficiency virus is that it not only negatively affects the body's own protective function, but also inhibits the function of producing sex hormones. With a high viral load, there may be malfunctions in the reproductive system, which is expressed in an increase in the duration of the menstrual cycle or the development of amenorrhea, that is, the complete absence of menstruation.

A lack of estrogen and progesterone can lead to early menopause, which occurs before the age of 30 in some HIV-positive women. To relieve the symptoms of menopause, patients are prescribed hormone replacement therapy, which can be taken simultaneously with antiretroviral drugs.

On a note! Lack of estrogen due to HIV infection can lead to accelerated bone turnover, which can lead to osteoporosis in patients. To prevent this disease, it is necessary to take hormone replacement drugs and calcitonins - drugs that prevent calcium from being washed out of the bones.

Video - Symptoms of HIV in women

HIV and pregnancy

To date, a woman infected with the immunodeficiency virus can conceive and give birth to a healthy child through the use of specially selected therapy. However, pregnancy can negatively affect the condition of the patient herself, since during this period the woman's body independently partially suppresses the immune system in order to allow the embryo to freely attach to the uterine wall. According to studies, HIV-positive pregnant women are more susceptible to various concomitant diseases than healthy women.

Percentage of comorbidities of pregnancy in HIV-positive and HIV-negative women

On a note! Women with HIV who are planning to have a baby are advised to complete the treatment of existing diseases and stop all sources of infection. This will minimize the development of complications during pregnancy.

HIV-positive pregnant women need to carefully monitor their health during the entire gestation period, lead a healthy lifestyle and follow the recommendations of a specialist aimed at strengthening immunity.

Often in the early stages of HIV infection is asymptomatic or its first symptoms are mild and do not cause concern in an infected person. The characteristic signs of immunodeficiency in a woman are weakness, fatigue, the appearance of pathological vaginal discharge and a rash in the genital area. When such symptoms appear, you should definitely seek medical help.

Video - The first symptoms of HIV

The immunodeficiency virus is a very insidious microorganism. A viral disease can develop in the patient's body for a long time. At the same time, the first HIV symptoms in women do not appear brightly - the patient does not even know about the serious illness that struck her body.

Blurred symptoms of HIV in infected women in the early stages of the disease make it difficult to diagnose the disease. However, experts say that the symptoms of HIV in women manifest themselves more clearly than in HIV-infected men. Before the process of laboratory testing of antigen and antibodies, it is these symptoms that lead a woman to a doctor. What are these signs? About everything in order.

The external environment is detrimental to the microorganism, because the ways of HIV transmission are in no way connected with air, touch, everyday life, etc. The only way is the transfer of a liquid medium from one organism to another. Signs of infection in women may manifest through the following circumstances:

• the use of injection syringes, tools in a tattoo parlor, a manicure room;
• unprotected intercourse;
• contact with infected blood (other liquid) on an open wound;
• blood transfusion.

The virus lives in breast milk, vaginal secretions (on the labia), semen. However, in order for a girl or woman to begin to feel the first symptoms that manifest HIV, contact with a sufficiently large amount of biomaterial is necessary. Therefore, in some cases, single unprotected sex does not lead to infection.

Classification of symptoms

There are no early symptoms of HIV in women immediately after infection. How long this period can take and when the first symptoms of HIV in infected women are observed, we will analyze further. Let's just say that this process does not last 1 month.

In addition to the absence of symptoms of the disease that could lead the patient to a general practitioner, an HIV test gives a negative result.

The photo shows a visualization of the window period for HIV disease. It seems that everything is fine and life is beautiful, but in fact you are already behind glass from life and society.

The only way to diagnose the disease before the first symptoms appear is to identify the direct provocateur of the disease in the patient's blood. Such an analysis is extremely rare. Perhaps the picture will change over time.

When does HIV appear?

How long does it take for the first symptoms of HIV to appear in women? External manifestations are not discussed for a period from 2 weeks to 8 months, very rarely up to a year. At this time, the cells of the virus divide, multiply, but the first signs of HIV in women appear only at the time antibodies are produced.

What determines when exactly the first sign of HIV in infected women will make itself felt? The timing is affected by the age of the patient, the activity of the microorganism and the state of the immune system. So, if the patient's immunity is strong, then the virus cannot manifest itself early and will go unnoticed until the beginning of the next stage - at an early stage of pathology. Otherwise, the first symptoms may appear and begin to actively manifest themselves already 2 weeks after the moment of infection.

About how HIV manifests itself at the stage of primary signs, we will tell further.

Primary signs

The phase of primary manifestations is the time of active spread of HIV infection, when the symptoms in women begin to manifest themselves. The duration of the period is about a year, it can proceed in various forms. The patient often confuses her condition with the symptoms of SARS, influenza.

The patient is concerned about the very first signs of HIV:

• temperature from 38 degrees (remains for several days);
• weakness, lethargy;
• painful menstruation, heavy vaginal discharge;
• headaches, irritability;
• pain syndrome in the pelvis;
• increased sweating during sleep;
• gastrointestinal disorder.

There can be both a single manifestation of HIV infection, and their combination. The severity of symptoms is also variable.

Important! The above primary symptoms, namely, their manifestation, are a reason for an immediate visit to the doctor.

Generalized lymphadenopathy

In sick women in the acute phase without secondary infections, an increase in lymph nodes is observed - this is the most striking symptom of infection of the body. The patient is concerned about the lymph nodes in the neck, groin and armpits. It is quite difficult to visually note the increase, but obvious changes are noticeable to the touch.

We continue the topic of primary symptoms and move on to the next symptoms of the disease.

Early stage

This is an acute HIV infection, the symptoms of which can manifest themselves not only in the form of generalized lymphadenopathy, but also in a number of alternative signs. The woman suffers from fever, a papular rash appears on the oral and vaginal mucosa, stool disorders, and menstrual irregularities are observed.

Skin manifestations are the main sign of HIV infection, in most cases

In 25% of cases, HIV infection in infected women at an early stage manifests itself as a "rubella-like syndrome" - red skin rashes, inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat. If in infected women the first signs of the disease are absent even after the body produces antibodies, we are talking about an asymptomatic form of primary manifestations.

Latent stage and incubation period

This period of time is otherwise called subclinical, it proceeds as asymptomatic. Most often, the incubation time (incubation period) in women can last no more than 7 years. The symptoms are gradually fading away. The only surviving sign of pathology is enlarged lymph nodes.

The disease at this time can proceed almost imperceptibly for the patient, despite the presence of antibodies in the blood, the replication of which is slightly reduced compared to the acute phase.

Secondary manifestations

As the pathogenic microorganism affects the female body, the work of the immune system worsens - opportunistic diseases develop:

• mycoses;
• viral diseases;
• skin lesions;
• bacterial infections;
• inflammatory processes in the pharynx, sinuses;
• chronic diarrhea;
• CNS lesions;
• high body temperature;
• cancerous tumors, etc.

Approximately 7-8 years after infection, the patient has the first secondary manifestations of the disease - weak lesions of the skin and mucous membranes, which, in the absence of proper therapy, develop into serious pathologies

In most cases, it is the female body that is subjected to such a test. The phase of secondary manifestations is more often observed in patients with initially weakened immunity, which is unable to resist the development of an insidious disease in the body.

HIV and pregnancy

An infected woman is able to conceive and bear a healthy child if the patient takes appropriate medications before pregnancy and during the gestation of the fetus. However, the condition of the pregnant woman during the growth of the child may worsen, the development of concomitant diseases is not excluded.

Attention! There is a risk of a child getting HIV from a sick mother. Breastfeeding in the case of an infected mother is excluded.

To avoid complications, a woman "in position" should carefully monitor her health, lead a healthy lifestyle and strictly follow all the doctor's instructions.

AIDS symptoms in women

It should be noted right away that HIV and AIDS are not the same thing. AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is observed during the last stage of the disease. At the “terminal station” are those women who, for whatever reason, were not provided with appropriate assistance when the first signs of HIV were detected. By this time, the defensive function of the body's immune cells is at zero. This means that with the syndrome, the cells of the immune system are no longer able to attack infectious agents, so almost any ailment can be fatal.

The older the woman, the faster and more aggressive the disease progresses.

The symptoms of AIDS in women are no different from those in men. In addition to progressive weight loss (10% underweight), a number of additional symptoms appear. The patient's condition is reduced to the development of infectious diseases and tumors. Among the possible:

• toxoplasmosis;
• progressive tuberculosis;
• abscesses of internal organs;
• candidiasis;
• shingles;
• lymphomas and Kaposi's sarcoma (also observed in non-AIDS patients);
• persistent diarrhea;
• extensive herpes;
• mental disorders, etc.

Attention! Despite the active work of specialists, a cure for AIDS has not been invented to date.

How do you get AIDS

According to statistics, the first signs of AIDS in an infected woman who comes to diagnose the disease most often appear as a result of unprotected intercourse. The risk of borrowing the virus from your sexual partner increases significantly if sex takes place during menstruation, if the woman suffers from any diseases of the vaginal mucosa, for example, erosion. They become infected with AIDS and parenterally - through the blood of an infected person, which is on the damaged skin.

Attention! Both men and women are equally at risk of infection.

When do the first signs of AIDS begin to appear?

Symptoms of AIDS in infected women in the initial stage of the disease do not appear. This period is called the incubation period. Usually the first signs of the disease are noticeable 2-6 weeks after the alleged infection. In this case, the patient confuses the condition with manifestations of the common cold, SARS or flu.

So, the primary signs of AIDS in women are expressed in fever, sore throat, fever, migraines, weakness, swollen lymph nodes, etc.

Obviously, such signs of the disease are often "written off" by a woman for a cold - the patient does not seek help, and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome continues to destroy the patient's body.

terminal stage

AIDS is otherwise called the terminal stage of HIV infection, the manifestation of which began with a banal enlargement of the lymph nodes. The condition of a woman during this period is characterized by the complete destruction of internal organs. The symptoms of the secondary disease phase progress at an incredible rate. The state of immunity cannot be restored. The existing viral diseases are joined by serious diseases that affect not only the internal organs, skin, but also the brain of a woman. Among the most common ailments: herpes zoster, seborrheic dermatitis, candidiasis and Kaposi's sarcoma.

Kaposi's sarcoma

Most often, experts recognize AIDS precisely by the signs of this disease - it very clearly characterizes the disease. The patient's skin is covered with pink spots, which gradually turn brown, then purple.

Damage to the central nervous system

The course of some secondary diseases in an infected woman can lead to CNS disorders. So, in 60% of patients during the development of toxoplasmosis, unbearable headaches and convulsions appear.

Histoplasmosis also adversely affects the nervous system of a woman. Uncontrolled nausea and severe fatigue appear, as the patient's immunity weakens, migraines and seizures join the clinical picture.

Treatment and prevention of HIV infection

As soon as the characteristic symptoms of HIV begin to be detected, the woman who turned to a specialist is sent for appropriate tests. A positive blood test result for HIV indicates the need for treatment of the disease. Therapy consists in the systemic use of antiretroviral drugs, symptomatic treatment and prevention of comorbidities that can be diagnosed later.

Most often, it is necessary to fight an infectious disease with the help of drugs such as Zidovudine, Nevirapine and Didanosine. However, the active components of the drugs are not aimed at treating a woman - they only slow down the course of the disease. Medicines support the immune system, the patient's cardiovascular system, prolonging a woman's life.

Taking into account the fact that the signs of HIV are most often detected as a result of unprotected intercourse, we conclude that the primary measure for preventing infection is a barrier method of contraception - a condom. Persons who are at risk of infection should follow basic safety rules when in contact with strangers.

One of the most terrible diseases today is the human immunodeficiency syndrome, caused by the virus of the same name. A large number of scientists have been looking for a cure for AIDS for a long time, but, unfortunately, while the virus that destroys human immunity has not been defeated.

This is due to the fact that the virus genetically mutates after entering the body. Once the immune system starts producing antibodies, HIV changes.

If a person has been infected with one type of virus, then when another strain enters his body, a new infection is created. In addition, HIV is well masked in the intracellular space, becoming latent.

HIV has a negative effect on the immune system, gradually depressing it. Thus, a person dies not from the virus as such, but from concomitant diseases, since the body loses its ability to resist the simplest infections.

However, a person with HIV can live a long and happy life, have a family and children. For this it is necessary to begin treatment immediately after the first signs of infection are detected. They do not occur immediately, after infection it can take from several weeks to several months.

It is possible to diagnose the disease in the first stages only using special diagnostic methods, but according to some signs, one can still assume the presence of a dangerous virus in the body.

The first signs of HIV disease are subtle, often confused with a cold or mononucleosis.

Most of us do not like to go to the doctors, especially for such "trifles". As a result, time is lost, because the sooner you start taking special drugs, the more successful the treatment will be.

It should also be remembered that no matter how many symptoms appear, a person becomes a carrier of the disease immediately after the virus enters his bloodstream. Therefore, it is very important to monitor the state of your health, undergo regular examinations, and if alarming symptoms appear, immediately seek help from specialists.

Types of HIV symptoms

The danger of HIV infection is that it practically does not manifest itself in the initial stage of the disease.

The main symptoms of AIDS appear long after infection.

Specialists introduced classification of symptoms of HIV infection, each of which is characteristic of a specific period of the disease:

• incubation period it can last two weeks, several months or a year. The rate of penetration of the virus into all cells of the body depends on several factors, including the state of human health, age and other individual characteristics. At this stage of the disease, there are practically no symptoms. Doctors also refer to this phase of the disease as the window period or seroconversion. It ends when a trace of the virus can be detected in the blood;
• the further course of the disease is accompanied by symptoms characteristic of colds, flu or mononucleosis. The patient's temperature rises to 38 ° C, there is a sore throat, lymph nodes become inflamed. A person in this state feels weak, diarrhea, vomiting often occur, weight loss is noted, women can also develop thrush. At first, these symptoms do not appear very strongly, but the brighter they become, the closer the final stage of the disease, which is called AIDS. With such symptoms, it is quite difficult to detect HIV. Particular attention is paid to diagnosis only if the patient himself declares contact with HIV-infected people;
• secondary symptoms of HIV infection are due to infectious diseases that develop against its backdrop. This is staphylococcal skin lesions, oral candidiasis, all kinds of pustular rashes, as well as the occurrence of cancerous tumors.

There are also external signs of HIV, the appearance of which should alert a person. These include the appearance of a characteristic rash on the skin, it covers almost the entire body. Redness appears, usually 5-10 days after infection with HIV.

The main symptoms of the disease include a significant increase in lymph nodes. They become 2-3 times larger, while the skin over them does not change its color. Localization of seals is observed in the groin, neck and armpits, while the inflamed lymph nodes are not directly related to each other.

HIV symptoms in men

At the initial stage of the disease, gender does not have a special effect on the symptoms.

But in the future, some differences arise, the first signs of HIV infection in men appear as follows:

1. Pronounced rash on the body. In men, redness on the skin appears more often than in women. In this case, the rash has a brighter color and severity. Such signs appear 3 days after infection, and after a while the redness disappears.
2. Approximately 1-3 months after infection, a man may experience flu-like condition. The temperature rises sharply, pain in the throat, chills and night sweats appear.
3. Symptoms a month after infection are rare, but the main one is severe enlargement of the lymph nodes, unrelated to each other.
4. If the infection came as a result of sexual contact, then symptoms may occur in men in the early stages, such as mucous discharge from the urethra. It may also feel pain during urination and discomfort in the perineum.
5. In most cases, there are no symptoms 3 months after infection.. This is the asymptomatic stage. At this stage, the man feels completely healthy; it is impossible to detect the virus during special tests.

Each person develops HIV infection differently, and the timing of symptoms will also be different. The duration of the incubation and acute periods depend on how strong the man's immunity is. If he has good health and is in good physical shape, then the first symptoms of the disease may appear several years after infection.

HIV symptoms in women

The timing of HIV manifestations in women is also blurred. But experts point out that In a woman's body, HIV infection develops several times slower than in men.. There is no scientific explanation for this, perhaps this feature is due to the fact that women are usually more attentive to their health.

Just like in men, the first signs of HIV infection in women do not appear immediately after infection. These include:

• unreasonable, at first glance, an increase in temperature body up to 38 ° C, it does not decrease for 2-3 days;
• decreased performance, loss of strength and general weakness. Such attacks can be short-term or pursue for a long time;
• swollen lymph nodes in the groin area, as well as on the neck and armpits;
• heavy menstruation accompanied by severe pain and discomfort in the pelvic area;
• mucous discharge from the vagina, after infection with HIV, their number increases markedly;
• frequent headaches and irritability.

In addition, women are characterized by such symptoms in the early stages as severe night sweats with fever and chills. This condition is called generalized lymphadenopathy. When it becomes regular, there are serious suspicions that a woman is infected with HIV. After a while it is noted drastic weight loss.

The initial stage of HIV infection in women can last from 1 month to a year, but most often antibodies to the virus in the blood can already be detected 3-4 months after infection. At this point, the next stage of the disease begins.

The symptoms of HIV in women after a month are similar to the manifestations of this disease in men.. A rash may appear on the body, but it will be less bright than that of the stronger sex. One feels a flu-like condition, there is a sore throat, etc.

Obvious signs of HIV a year after infection occur in almost all patients.

As a rule, at this time the disease flows into the acute phase, and all the symptoms of pronounced immunodeficiency appear. But it should be remembered that HIV can slow down its development at any stage of the disease, which makes it impossible to accurately determine the timing of each of them. With adequate treatment, a person can live 10-20 years, and the disease never reaches the final stage, which is irreversible and is called AIDS.

The main symptoms of HIV during pregnancy are the same. A woman experiences a sore throat, her temperature rises, the lymph nodes are greatly enlarged. Diarrhea may also occur. Pregnancy does not affect the rate of development of HIV, but at this time, special attention should be paid to treatment.

If an HIV-positive woman is under constant medical supervision, she will be able to give birth to a healthy child. Studies conducted by the world's leading scientists have not revealed a particular effect of HIV infection on the course of pregnancy. The risk of preterm birth occurs in HIV-positive and HIV-negative mothers with approximately the same probability.

stages

After a long study of HIV, experts came to the conclusion that infection in the body develops gradually.

The disease proceeds in several stages:

1. The first stage is called the incubation period.. On average, it lasts about 3 months, but there are exceptions. The virus after entering the body begins to actively invade all cells. During the incubation period, there are no clinical manifestations, it is impossible to detect antibodies in the blood. The main symptoms of HIV in the early stages appear later.
2. The second stage can proceed in different ways. In some patients, there are still no clinical manifestations, the only reaction to the virus will be the appearance of specific antibodies in the blood. But more often than not, HIV-positive people experience flu-like symptoms. These are fever, skin rashes, swollen lymph nodes and pain in the throat. This picture is observed in more than half of sick people already 3 months after infection. This is how the acute stage of HIV manifests itself. In addition, secondary diseases can develop at this stage - this is associated with a significant decrease in immunity.
3. Third stage of HIV (subclinical) most often occurs without symptoms. The only sign of infection in this phase is enlarged lymph nodes. This symptom can occur at any time, but for the subclinical stage, it is the only one.
4. The fourth stage is called the secondary disease phase.. During this period, the patient begins to lose weight dramatically, he develops viral and fungal diseases, and malignant tumors may appear.
5. The fifth stage is called terminal. At this stage, the treatment is no longer effective, since the damage to the main body systems is already irreversible.
   The latest stage of HIV is called AIDS - Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. When the infection turns into this disease, the person dies.

How can you get HIV

The human immunodeficiency virus penetrates all human fluids, but only cases of infection through blood, breast milk, vaginal secretions or semen have been described. This is due to the fact that only these biological fluids contain HIV in the concentration necessary for infection.

This virus can enter the human body in three ways:

• during intercourse if it is unprotected. Most people have a stereotype that only homosexuals can get HIV and AIDS. But the virus is transmitted during any sexual intercourse, regardless of the sex of the partners. During anal sex, the likelihood of infection increases. This is due to the fact that the lining of the rectum is quite fragile and is richly supplied with blood. The least risky is oral sex, since the environment in the oral cavity itself is aggressive for HIV. But this does not mean that infection cannot occur. The only way to protect against sexual transmission of HIV today is a condom. Only a rubber barrier can prevent the virus from entering the body;
• HIV-infected blood entering the body of a healthy person. This is possible when transfusing blood or its products, as well as when using a non-sterile instrument. The chance of acquiring HIV in this way is quite low, since today much attention is paid to the health of donors and the sterilization of medical instruments. Transmission of the virus through the blood is more common among drug addicts, where several people often use the same injection syringe;
• from HIV positive mother to child. The process of infection can occur both during pregnancy and during childbirth. Therefore, HIV-infected women rarely give birth on their own, most often delivery occurs by caesarean section. The risk of infecting a child during breastfeeding is also high, the virus can enter the bloodstream through microcracks in the child's oral cavity. Doctors do not recommend sick women to feed newborn babies with their own breast milk.

Since HIV infection does not manifest itself for a long time, its detection in the early stages is possible only through special laboratory tests. They can be carried out as part of a preventive examination, but you can take the test at any time. This is especially important if there has been contact with an HIV-positive person.

Although HIV eventually causes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), some people who test positive for HIV do not necessarily develop AIDS.
It is possible to have HIV for many years and still have no symptoms. The only way to find out is to get tested.
With timely treatment, a healthy lifestyle and regular medical examinations, people with HIV are able to live a full life for a long time.

Data:

• Most people contract the virus by having sex with or using the same needles as an infected person.
• Babies can be born with HIV if the mother is infected.
• HIV is not transmitted by saliva, casual kissing, or through the toilet.
• HIV is not transmitted by sharing a towel or shaking hands
• The highest number of newly acquired HIV cases among women was found between the ages of 35 and 44.

The first symptoms of AIDS in women

Many people confuse the HIV infection virus, considering it erroneously as AIDS. However, there is a difference between these two terms:

• HIV infection is a virus that enters the body, begins to multiply in the body and has a detrimental effect on the immune system.
• AIDS is the very state of the body after the virus has destroyed the immune system, leading the body to irreversible consequences.

The first symptoms of AIDS refers to the first symptoms of HIV infection after infection.

How many days does AIDS (HIV) appear in women

1. The first stage (acute) occurs several weeks (up to a month) after infection and resembles a cold,
2. The second is often asymptomatic,
3. The third is an irreversible change in the body and is called AIDS.

Acute phase

• rash of unknown origin
• elevated to 38.8 degrees body temperature,
• frequent sore throat
• frequent and sudden headaches
• severe weakness and fatigue,
• marked enlargement of the lymph glands,
• unclear origin of ulcers in the mouth or on the genitals,
• muscle pain, as in arthritis and joint pain.

• Changes in menstrual periods. You may have lighter or heavier bleeding, periods of skipping, or very severe PMS - this is due to the effect of the virus on the immune system, which entails hormonal changes.
• Pain in the lower abdomen. This is one of the signs of an infection of the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes, called pelvic inflammatory disease. For some women, this is one of the first symptoms of AIDS.
• Along with more pain in the lower abdomen, you may experience:
  • Unusual vaginal discharge
  • fever
  • irregular periods,
  • Pain during sex
  • Pain in the upper abdomen
  • Vaginal yeast infections.
• Many women with HIV have pelvic inflammatory disease several times a year. Sometimes this is the first sign that you have a virus.

  Yeast infection symptoms:

  • thick white discharge from the vagina
  • pain during sex
  • pain when urinating
  • vaginal burning.
• Both men and women with HIV often experience an oral yeast infection called thrush or oral thrush, which causes swelling and a thick white coating in the mouth, tongue, and throat.

But the symptoms do not always accompany the disease - sometimes the virus develops in the body asymptomatically, and the patient does not even suspect for several years that he is infected. The only way to know for sure is to get tested.

Asymptomatic period

It usually takes 10 to 15 years (sometimes more) for an HIV infection to develop into AIDS.

AIDS

When a person is infected with HIV, his body's defense mechanisms begin to gradually weaken. At the end stage of HIV infection, the individual is susceptible to "opportunistic infections" - viral, bacterial and fungal infections that are usually unable to enter a healthy body.

• patches under the skin or in the mouth and nose
• blurred vision
• diarrhea that lasts more than 1 week
• swollen lymph glands
• constant fatigue
• a fever that keeps coming back
• memory loss
• depression
• pneumonia
• weight loss
• mouth, anus, or genital sores

How to recognize an HIV infected person

An HIV-infected person cannot be recognized. The only way to find out about the disease is to get the results of laboratory tests. An initial negative lab does not guarantee that the results will not seroconvert in the next few weeks or months. The HIV virus can sometimes be hidden with a certain minimum value that does not show positive results. Subsequent seroconversion may take up to half a year after the initial infection.

How long do people with HIV live without treatment?

• People with the HIV virus who do not seek treatment survive to stage three, aka AIDS, 2 to 15 years after infection.
• In the AIDS stage, people without treatment can usually live an average of 3 more years.
• If a person not receiving treatment for AIDS also develops an opportunistic illness, their life expectancy is reduced to 12 months.

HIV infection is a disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus, characterized by acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, which contributes to the occurrence of secondary infections and malignant tumors due to a deep inhibition of the body's protective properties.

A feature of the virus that causes HIV infection is the development of a sluggish infectious and inflammatory process in the human body, as well as a long period of incubation. In more detail about what kind of disease it is, what causes its development, symptoms and ways of transmission, as well as what is prescribed as a treatment, we will consider further.

What is HIV infection?

HIV infection is a slowly progressive viral disease that affects the immune system, the extreme stage of which is AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a retrovirus of the lentivirus genus, infection with which depresses the immune system and leads to the development of a slowly progressive disease of HIV infection.

In the human body, nature has a mechanism by which immune cells produce antibodies that can resist microorganisms with foreign genetic information.

When antigens enter the body, lymphocytes begin to work in it. They recognize the enemy and neutralize it, but when the body is damaged by a virus, the protective barriers are destroyed and a person can die within a year after infection.

Main types of HIV:

• HIV-1 or HIV-1 - causes typical symptoms, is very aggressive, is the main causative agent of the disease. Opened in 1983, found in Central Africa, Asia and Western Europe, North and South America.
• HIV-2 or HIV-2 - the symptoms of HIV are not as intense, it is considered a less aggressive strain of HIV. Opened in 1986, found in Germany, France, Portugal and West Africa.
• HIV-2 or HIV-2 are extremely rare.

Causes and ways of transmission

The higher the immune status of a healthy person, the lower the risk of getting an infection when in contact with an HIV-infected patient. Conversely, weak immunity will lead to an increased risk of infection and a severe course of the resulting disease.

A high viral load in a person who has HIV in the body increases his risk as a carrier of the disease several times.

How HIV is transmitted to humans:

1. During intercourse without the use of a condom. And also during oral sex, if there are cuts or injuries.
2. The use of a syringe for injection, a medical instrument after an HIV-infected person.
3. Entry into the human body of blood already infected with the virus. Occurs during treatment, blood transfusion.
4. Infection of a child from a sick mother in the womb during childbirth or during lactation.
5. Using the tool after an HIV-infected person during cosmetic procedures, manicure or pedicure, tattooing, piercing, etc.
6. The use in everyday life of someone else's personal hygiene items, for example, shaving accessories, a toothbrush, toothpicks, etc.

How can you not get infected with HIV?

If there is an HIV-infected person in your environment, you must remember that you cannot get HIV when:

• Coughing and sneezing.
• Handshake.
• Hugs and kisses.
• Eating shared food or drinks.
• In pools, baths, saunas.
• Through "injections" in transport and the subway. Information about the possible infection through infected needles that HIV-infected people put on the seats or try to prick people in the crowd with them is nothing more than myths. The virus persists in the environment for a very short time, in addition, the content of the virus at the tip of the needle is too small.

HIV is an unstable virus, it dies quickly outside the host's body, is sensitive to temperature effects (reduces infectious properties at a temperature of 56 ° C, dies after 10 minutes when heated to 70-80 ° C). It is well preserved in the blood and its preparations prepared for transfusion.

At-risk groups:

• intravenous drug addicts;
• persons, regardless of orientation, who use anal sex;
• recipients (recipients) of blood or organs;
• medical workers;
• persons involved in the sex industry, both prostitutes and their clients.

Without highly active antiretroviral therapy, the life expectancy of patients does not exceed 10 years. The use of antiviral drugs can slow down the progression of HIV and the development of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome - AIDS. Signs and symptoms of HIV at different stages of the disease have their own color. They are varied and increase in severity.

Early signs of HIV in adults

The human immunodeficiency virus is a retrovirus that causes HIV infection. Depending on the clinical signs of HIV infection, the following stages are distinguished:

• incubation period.
• Primary manifestations: acute infection; asymptomatic infection; generalized lymphadenopathy.
• secondary manifestations. damage to the skin and mucous membranes; persistent damage to internal organs; generalized diseases.
• Terminal stage.

HIV has no symptoms of its own and can masquerade as any infectious disease. At the same time, vesicles, pustules, seborrheic dermatitis appear on the skin. The virus can only be detected with the help of tests: an HIV test.

The first signs to look out for are:

• Fever of unknown origin for more than 1 week.
• An increase in various groups of lymph nodes: cervical, axillary, inguinal - for no apparent reason (absence of inflammatory diseases), especially if lymphadenopathy does not go away within a few weeks.
• Diarrhea for several weeks.
• The appearance of signs of candidiasis (thrush) of the oral cavity in an adult.
• Extensive or atypical localization of herpetic eruptions.
• Sudden weight loss for any reason.

Symptoms of HIV Infection

The course of HIV infection is quite diverse, not always all stages take place, certain clinical signs may be absent. Depending on the individual clinical course, the duration of the disease can range from several months to 15-20 years.

The main symptoms of HIV infection:

• An increase in 2 or more lymph nodes, unrelated to each other, which are painless, and the skin above them does not change its color;
• Increased fatigue;
• Gradual decrease in CD4-lymphocytes, at a rate of approximately 0.05-0.07×10 9 /l per year.

Such symptoms accompany the patient from about 2 to 20 years or more.

In the human body, HIV goes through 5 stages, each of which is accompanied by certain signs and symptoms.

stage 1 human immunodeficiency virus

HIV infection stage 1 (window period, seroconversion, incubation period) - the period from infection of the body with a virus until the appearance of the first antibodies detected in it. It usually ranges from 14 days to 1 year, which largely depends on the health of the immune system.

Stage 2 (acute phase)

The appearance of primary symptoms, which are divided into periods A, B, C.

• Period 2A - no symptoms.
• Period 2B - the first manifestations of infection, similar to the course of other infectious diseases.
• 2B - manifests itself in the form of herpes, pneumonia, but at this stage of the development of the disease, infections respond well to treatment. Period 2B lasts 21 days.

Latent period and its symptoms

The latent stage of HIV lasts up to 2-20 years or more. Immunodeficiency progresses slowly, the symptoms of HIV are expressed - an increase in lymph nodes:

• They are elastic and painless, mobile, the skin retains its normal color.
• When diagnosing latent HIV infection, the number of enlarged nodes is taken into account - at least two, and their localization - at least 2 groups that are not connected by a common lymph flow (the exception is inguinal nodes)

Stage 4 (preAIDS)

This stage begins when the level of CD4+ lymphocytes falls critically and approaches the figure of 200 cells in 1 µl of blood. As a result of such suppression of the immune system (its cellular link), the patient develops:

• recurrent herpes and genital organs,
• hairy leukoplakia of the tongue (whitish protruding folds and plaques on the lateral surfaces of the tongue).

In general, any infectious disease (for example, tuberculosis, salmonellosis, pneumonia) is more severe than in the general mass of people.

HIV infection stage 5 (AIDS)

The terminal stage is characterized by irreversible changes, treatment is ineffective. The number of T-helper cells (CD4 cells) falls below 0.05x109/l, patients die weeks or months after the onset of the stage. In drug addicts who have been using psychoactive substances for several years, the CD4 level may remain almost within the normal range, but severe infectious complications (abscesses, etc.) develop very quickly and lead to death.

The number of lymphocytes decreases so much that such infections begin to cling to a person that would otherwise never have occurred. These diseases are called AIDS-associated infections:

• Kaposi's sarcoma;
• brain;
• , bronchi or lungs;
• pneumocystis pneumonia;
• pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis, etc.

Pathogenic factors that accelerate the development of the disease from stage 1 to AIDS:

• Lack of timely and adequate treatment;
• Co-infection (accession to HIV infection of other infectious diseases);
• stress;
• Poor quality food;
• Elderly age;
• genetic features;
• Bad habits - alcohol, smoking.

HIV has no symptoms of its own can disguise for any infectious disease. At the same time, vesicles, pustules, lichen appear on the skin. The virus can only be detected with the help of tests: an HIV test.

Diagnosis and test for HIV

If you suspect HIV infection, you should contact an infectious disease specialist. The analysis can be submitted anonymously at the Center for the Prevention and Control of AIDS, which is available in every region. There, doctors give advice on all issues related to HIV infection and AIDS.

Considering the fact that the course of the disease is characterized by the duration of the absence of severe symptoms, the diagnosis is possible only on the basis of laboratory tests, which come down to the detection of antibodies to HIV in the blood or directly upon detection of the virus.

The acute phase mainly does not determine the presence of antibodies, however, after three months from the moment of infection, in about 95% of cases, they are detected.

HIV diagnosis consists of special tests:

1. 1th test — enzyme immunoassay (ELISA). This is the most common diagnostic method. Three months after the virus enters the bloodstream, the amount of antibodies that can be determined by enzyme immunoassay is accumulated in the human body. In about 1% of cases, it gives false positive or false negative results.
2. 2nd test - immunoblot (Immune Blotting). This test detects the presence of specific antibodies to HIV. The result can be positive, negative and doubtful (or uncertain). An indeterminate result may mean that HIV is present in the person's bloodstream, but the body has not yet produced the full range of antibodies.
3. PCR or polymerase chain reaction used to identify any infectious agent, including the HIV virus. In this case, its RNA is detected, and the pathogen can be detected at very early stages (at least 10 days must pass after infection).
4. Rapid tests, thanks to which, after 15 minutes, you can determine the presence of an HIV infection. There are several types of them:
   • The most accurate test is immunochromatographic. The test consists of special strips on which capillary blood, urine or saliva is applied. If antibodies to HIV are detected, then the strip has a color and a control line. If the answer is no, only the line is visible.
   • OraSure Technologies1 home use kits. Developer - America. This test has been approved by the FDA.

Incubation period HIV virus is 90 days. During this interval, it is difficult to identify the presence of pathology, but this can be done through PCR.

Even after the final diagnosis of "HIV infection" during the entire period of the disease, it is necessary to conduct a regular laboratory study of the patient in order to monitor the course of clinical symptoms and the effectiveness of treatment.

Treatment and prognosis

The cure for HIV has not yet been invented, the vaccine does not exist. It is impossible to remove the virus from the body, and this is a fact at this time. However, one should not lose hope: active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) can reliably slow down and even practically stop the development of HIV infection and its complications.

Predominantly, treatment is etiotropic and implies the appointment of such drugs, due to which a decrease in the reproductive capabilities of the virus is ensured. In particular, these include the following drugs:

• nucleoside transcriptase inhibitors (otherwise - NRTIs) corresponding to different groups: Ziagen, Videx, Zerit, combined drugs (combivir, trizivir);
• nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (otherwise - NTRIOT): stokrin, viramune;
• fusion inhibitors;
• protease inhibitors.

The main task of the treating specialist in the selection of a drug regimen for antiviral treatment of HIV is to minimize adverse reactions. In addition to the use of specific medicines, the patient must necessarily carry out a correction of eating behavior, as well as the regime of work and rest.

In addition, one should take into account that some of the HIV-infected belong to the category of non-progressors who have viral particles in their blood, but the development of AIDS does not occur.

Factors that slow down the transition of HIV infection to the stage of AIDS:

• Timely initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). In the absence of HAART, the death of the patient occurs within 1 year from the date of diagnosis of AIDS. It is believed that in regions where HAART is available, the life expectancy of HIV-infected people reaches 20 years.
• No side effects on taking antiretroviral drugs.
• Adequate treatment of comorbidities.
• Sufficient food.
• Rejection of bad habits.

HIV infection is completely incurable, in many cases antiviral therapy gives little result. Today, on average, HIV-infected people live 11-12 years, but careful therapy and modern medications will significantly lengthen the life of patients.

The main role in curbing the developing AIDS is played by the psychological state of the patient and his efforts to comply with the prescribed regimen.