HIV Infection In Men And Women - Signs, Symptoms, Stages And Routes Of Infection

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 17:49

HIV infection: symptoms, stages and routes of infection

HIV is an abbreviation for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. The virus attacks the immune system of the human body, introducing HIV infection into it. As it develops, this infection manifests itself in various symptoms, combined in the "acquired immunodeficiency syndrome" or AIDS.

Fundamental differences between AIDS and HIV infection:

• AIDS (AIDS) - a state of immunity, in which the body is practically defenseless against the harmful effects of the environment and the development of oncological processes. Any infection that is harmless for a healthy person, in an AIDS patient, is transformed into a serious illness with subsequent death from complications, brain inflammation, and a malignant tumor;
• HIV infection is a slowly developing viral infection with a long-term course. All currently known methods of treating HIV infection do not lead to a complete cure. The disease affects the immune system, which protects the human body from the negative effects of the external environment. The virus, having entered the body from a carrier of the disease, may not manifest itself in anything for a long time, but over several years it consistently destroys the immune system.

Content:

• Facts, history and statistics of HIV infection
• AIDS virus
• Ways and risks of HIV infection
• Symptoms of HIV infection
• Treatment methods
• HIV prevention measures
• HIV: answers to questions

Facts, history and statistics of HIV infection

HIV facts

The danger and rate of spread of HIV infection is so great that it was called the "plague of the 20th century." About 5 thousand people die from the consequences of this disease in the world every day. Until recently, nothing was known to mankind about this deadly disease. Only in the 70s of the last century were the first cases of the disease with symptoms similar to AIDS recorded.

The first facts of official recognition of the existence of HIV infection:

• 1981 - the publication of scientific articles describing the unusual course of pneumocystis pneumonia caused by a yeast-like fungus and malignant skin lesions (Kaposi's sarcoma) in men with non-traditional sexual orientation;
• July 1982 - the appearance of the term "AIDS";
• 1983 - the simultaneous discovery of the virus in two independent laboratories: at the French Institute. Louis Pasteur (research leader - Luc Montagnier) and the American National Cancer Institute (leader - Robert Gallo);
• 1985 - development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, which determines the presence of antibodies to the immunodeficiency virus in the blood;
• 1987 - the appearance of the first HIV infected in the USSR. The man worked as a translator in African countries, had homosexual relationships;
• December 1, 1988 is the international day against AIDS, officially declared by WHO.

About the history of HIV

There are several hypotheses for the emergence of the human immunodeficiency virus. One of them is infection from great apes. Researchers have isolated a virus from the blood of chimpanzees living in Central Africa that can cause AIDS in the human body. It is possible that a person could become infected by a monkey bite or by contact with raw animal meat.

This type of virus is not capable of causing significant harm to the human body, since the immune defense is able to destroy it within 7 days. In order for it to acquire the properties characteristic of HIV infection, it is required to transfer it to another person in this short period. In this case, mutations occur with the virus, and it acquires characteristics that are dangerous for humans.

In addition to this hypothesis, it is suggested that AIDS existed long before its official discovery by science, affecting the indigenous people of Central Africa. Its rapid spread across countries and continents began thanks to active migration in the 20th century.

Statistics on the number of HIV-infected

1. Globally, as of 01.12.2016, the number of infected people was 36.7 million.
2. In Russia, as of December 2016, there were about 800,000 people, and 90,000 were identified in 2015. In the same year, more than 25 thousand people died from AIDS in Russia, and over the entire observation period since 1987 - more than 200 thousand.

3. For the CIS countries (data at the end of 2015):

   • Ukraine - about 410 thousand,
   • Kazakhstan - about 20 thousand,
   • Belarus - more than 30 thousand,
   • Moldova - 17800,
   • Georgia - 6600,
   • Armenia - 4000,
   • Tajikistan - 16400,
   • Azerbaijan - 4171,
   • Kyrgyzstan - about 10 thousand,
   • Turkmenistan - the authorities claim that there are isolated cases of HIV infection in the country,
   • Uzbekistan - about 33 thousand.

Since statistics only record officially detected cases, the actual picture is much worse. A huge number of people do not even suspect that they are HIV-infected, and continue to infect others.

Mortality from HIV

Since the beginning of the spread of the infection, the number of deaths from AIDS has exceeded more than 36 million people worldwide. This epidemic is being managed to contain and even improve annual mortality rates downward due to HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy).

Notable AIDS-related deaths:

• Rudolf Nureyev, a world-famous ballet soloist, passed away in 1993;
• Gia Carangi - American top model, was addicted to hard drugs, died in 1986;
• Michael Wastfall is a promising tennis player who passed away at the age of 26.
• Freddie Mercury is a rock legend, lead singer of the Queen band. He passed away in 1991;
• Ryan White is the first child to be infected with AIDS. He became famous for his struggle for the rights of HIV-infected people to an ordinary life, which he led with the support of his mother. He got infected at the age of 13 during a blood transfusion, which he needed due to a hereditary disease - hemophilia. He passed away at the age of 18, in 1990, leaving the memory of himself as a person who proved that HIV-infected people do not pose a threat to society if precautions are taken.

AIDS virus

Despite close attention to the nature of the virus and the recognition of its exceptional danger to humans, scientists have made little progress in the search for an effective cure for AIDS. The peculiarity of HIV is that it mutates extremely quickly, mutating at a rate of 1000 mutations per gene. For comparison, mutations of the influenza virus occur 30 times less often. The rapid transformation of HIV has led to the fact that there is still no vaccine against this infection, there is no one hundred percent effective drug for the treatment of AIDS. The variety of virus strains creates additional problems.

The structure of the human immunodeficiency virus

The main types of HIV:

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

The virus has the shape of a sphere 100-120 nanometers in size. Its dense shell consists of a double layer of lipids, has peculiar "thorns", under the fat-like top layer there is a protein layer p-24-capsid.

Elements of the virus under the capsule:

• Ribonucleic acid (RNA), which stores genetic information;
• Virus enzymes: integrase, protease, reverse transcriptase;
• Protein p7.

The human immunodeficiency virus belongs to the family of retroviruses that do not synthesize protein and do not have a cellular structure. The reproduction of such a virus occurs extremely slowly, exclusively in the cells of the human body.

Thanks to one of their enzymes, reverse transcriptase, retroviruses convert their own RNA molecule into DNA. Then they introduce this custodian and transmitter of genetic information into the cells of the organism in which they are located.

Properties of HIV

Resistance to the external environment:

• Outside the host dies within minutes;
• At t over 56 ° C, it dies in half an hour;
• When boiled, it dies instantly;
• It dies very quickly under the influence of ether, acetone, 5% hydrogen peroxide solution, 70% alcohol, chloramine solution;
• In a dried state at t + 22 ° C, it lasts from 4 to 6 days;
• In solution, heroin lasts up to 3 weeks;
• In the cavity of a medical needle, it remains viable for several days.

The virus is not affected by ultraviolet and ionizing radiation; after freezing, it remains active.

Features of the life cycle of the virus - prefers for the introduction of cells of the immune system:

• Macrophages - absorbers and utilizers of pathogenic viruses and microorganisms;
• T-lymphocytes (helpers) - stimulators of the immune system, producing substances to counteract foreign cells: viruses, fungi, microbes, allergens;
• Monocytes - cells that digest pathogenic cells after their death;
• Nervous system cells with special receptors - CD4 cells.

Phases of the HIV life cycle (for example, T-lymphocyte)

• The virus enters the body, finds a T-lymphocyte and binds on its surface with special receptors - CD4 cells. Having got into the cage with their help, he throws off his protective outer shell;
• With the help of the reverse transcriptase enzyme on the virus RNA matrix, one DNA strand is synthesized, then it is completed into a 2-strand molecule;
• With the help of the enzyme integrase, the DNA molecule is introduced into the nucleus of the T-lymphocyte and is incorporated into its DNA;
• The molecule can be in a dormant state for several months or even years. A test for antibodies to the virus at this stage can already detect its presence in the body;
• Infection of any etiology can provoke further multiplication of the virus by transferring information from a copy of DNA to the RNA matrix of the virus;
• With the help of the ribosomes of the cell, HIV proteins are synthesized on viral RNA;
• New viruses are assembled from the RNA matrix and new synthesized proteins. Leaving the cell, they destroy it;
• New viruses find themselves new cells to implant (other T-lymphocytes), the cycle repeats.

Without counteraction in the form of treatment, the human immunodeficiency virus reproduces its own kind at a rate of 10 to 100 billion per day.

Ways and risks of HIV infection

No one is immune from HIV infection, a person of any gender, age, social status, sexual orientation and financial situation is a target for the virus. The source of its distribution is an HIV-infected person, regardless of the stage of development of the disease.

The medium that transmits the virus is blood, semen, breast milk, vaginal discharge, cerebrospinal fluid, that is, biological fluids of the human body. It is impossible to get HIV by airborne droplets. The infectious dose is at least 10 thousand viral particles that have entered the bloodstream.

Ways of HIV infection:

• Unprotected heterosexual contact. Vaginal sex is the most common way of transmission of the virus from person to person (70-80% of the total number of infected worldwide). In Russia, 40% of those infected with HIV received the virus in this way.

  Single intercourse with ejaculation carries minimal risk. For a passive partner, it is 0.1-0.32%, for an active partner - from 0.01 to 0.1%. These values increase if one of the partners has sexually transmitted diseases (chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, trichomoniasis, etc.). In the focus of inflammation, there is always a high concentration of cells of the immune system, for example, T-lymphocytes. The Human Immunodeficiency Virus will certainly take advantage of this situation.

  With genital infections, the mucous membrane of the reproductive organs is often prone to inflammation and microtrauma in the form of ulcers, cracks and erosions. This is another factor of increased risk of HIV infection.

  Repetitive sex significantly increases the risk of infection. A man infected with HIV, within 3 years, in 45-50% of cases, necessarily infects his regular partner, and a woman with HIV infection in 35-40% of cases infects a regular partner. For women, this risk is higher, since infected sperm stay in contact with the vaginal mucosa longer and cover a larger area.

• Intravenous drug use. For Russia, this route of infection is characteristic in 57.9% of cases, global statistics are 5-10%. Infection of drug addicts occurs through common spitz for injecting drugs, which are not sterilized, possibly through a common container for the preparation of an intravenous solution. It is this route of infection that is typical for 30-35% of cases. The rest of the indicators fall on infection due to promiscuous sexual relations of persons dependent on intravenous drugs.
• Unprotected anal sex. The route of infection is typical for both homosexual and heterosexual contacts. Even with a single act, the risk of infection for a passive partner is 0.8-3.2%, and for an active partner - 0.06%. This difference is due to the vulnerability and good blood supply to the rectum.
• Unprotected oral sex. With a single contact, ending with ejaculation, the risk of infection for a passive partner is 0.03-0.4%, and for an active partner it is practically safe. However, such contact becomes more dangerous if there are defects in the mucous membrane of the "jam" type, ulcers, wounds in the oral cavity.
• Transmission of the virus to a child from an HIV-infected mother. In 25-35% of cases, babies become infected during childbirth through contact with fragments of the placenta, as well as during breastfeeding. A healthy woman can get the virus from an infected baby while breastfeeding if the baby has damage to the oral mucosa, bleeding gums, and the woman has cracked nipples.
• Accidental injuries during medical procedures, subcutaneous and intramuscular injections. The probability of infection is 0.2-1%, provided that there was contact with any body fluid of an infected person.
• Blood transfusion and organ transplants. The probability of infection from an infected donor is almost 100%.

The higher the immune status of a healthy person, the lower the risk of getting an infection through contact with an HIV-infected patient. And vice versa - 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 with HIV in the body increases several times his danger as a carrier of the disease.

HIV symptoms in men and women

It is almost impossible to identify specific symptoms of HIV infection, since they are disguised as manifestations of other diseases. And the first sign and symptom of HIV in men and women as such does not exist at all. In addition, HIV infection has a different course depending on the state of the patient's immune system.

Stages of HIV infection in accordance with the clinical classification of V. I. Pokrovsky, adopted in Russia:

Stage 1 HIV symptoms

Incubation lasts from the moment of infection to 1-1.5 months (in some cases up to a year), is characterized by active multiplication of the virus.

The first symptoms of HIV, both in men and women, are absent, testing does not reveal antibodies to the virus. The onset of infection is suspected in the presence of a dangerous situation: unprotected sex, blood transfusion.

HIV symptoms in stage 2

An immune response occurs to the invasion and multiplication of the virus. The first symptoms of HIV infection may appear before seroconversion. The second stage lasts from 2-3 weeks to several months.

There are 3 options for the flow of stage 2:

1. 2A - there are no HIV symptoms, the diagnosis records the production of antibodies.

2. 2B - symptoms of an acute infection of viral origin or infectious mononucleosis are observed (manifestations are recorded in 15-30% of those infected).

   Typical symptoms of stage 2B:

   

   • An elevated temperature of 38.8C is a reaction to a viral invasion. On a signal from the hypothalamus, interleukin, an active biological substance, is produced. In response to the introduction of a foreign agent, heat production increases and its output decreases;
   • Swollen lymph nodes - working hypertrophy due to the production of antibodies to HIV;
   • Skin rashes (liscias) - look like a red rash, like lumps or small hemorrhages. Skin manifestations are symmetrical, located on the trunk, less often on the neck and face. The rash is caused by damage to the T-lymphocytes and a violation of local immunity.
   • Diarrhea - caused by the action of the virus on the intestinal mucosa, impaired absorption and local immunity;
   • Inflammation of the throat and oral cavity - caused by a virus affecting the mucous membrane of the mouth and the lymphoid tissue of the tonsils. It is characterized by swelling, enlarged tonsils, sore throat and when swallowing, symptoms of a viral infection;
   • Enlargement of the liver and spleen - the immune response to the appearance of the virus in the body;
   • Autoimmune diseases (seborrhea, psoriasis) - appear rarely, more characteristic of the later stages.
3. 2B - acute infection with secondary manifestations. Due to the weakening of the immune system, secondary diseases arise: tonsillitis, stomatitis, herpes, candidiasis, upper respiratory tract infections that respond well to treatment. After stabilization of the immune system, the next stage of the disease begins.

It lasts from 2 to 15-20 years, characterized by a decrease in the number of CD4 lymphocytes and an increase in several groups of lymph nodes at the same time. The elastic and painless lymph nodes can shrink and enlarge over the course of several years.

Stage 4 HIV symptoms

It develops when the immune system is depleted, the level of macrophages, T-lymphocytes, CD4-lymphocytes falls. There is an increased multiplication of the virus, which does not receive a response from the immune system. Large numbers of immune cells are affected, resulting in tumors and severe infections.

There are 3 variants of the course of the 4th stage of HIV:

Stage 4A symptoms HIV symptoms at this stage develop 6-10 years after infection. These diseases require long-term treatment and the use of a large number of drugs. Typical conditions and diseases of stage 4A: Weight loss due to suppression of protein synthesis and impaired absorption of nutrients; Damage to mucous membranes and skin by fungi, bacteria, viruses (herpes, candidiasis, furunculosis, herpes, shingles); Frequent pharyngitis and sinusitis (more than 3 times a year).

Stage 4B symptoms Symptoms of HIV at this stage develop 7-10 years after infection. Without the use of HAART, these manifestations are long-term and are characterized by frequent and long-term relapses. Typical symptoms of HIV at stage 4B: Weight loss of more than 10% in six months, accompanied by weakness; Hyperthermia within a month up to 38.5 ° C; Chronic diarrhea for more than a month; Leukoplakia - the appearance of filamentous formations on the mucous membrane of the cheeks and the lateral surface of the tongue, overgrowth of the papillae; Prolonged course of deep lesions of the mucous membrane and skin (blister lichen, candidiasis, lichen, molluscum contagiosum); Bacterial and viral infections (pneumonia, tonsillitis, herpes virus, cytomegalovirus); Kaposi's sarcoma is a malignant tumor of the skin; Pulmonary tuberculosis.

Symptoms at Stage 4B Stage 4B develops 10-12 years after infection. It is characterized by the appearance of life-threatening diseases. The course of infections is extremely difficult, they are difficult to treat. However, this stage is also reversible with the use of HAART. Typical symptoms of HIV and disease at stage 4B: Extreme exhaustion, accompanied by weakness, patients are forced to spend most of their time in bed; Pneumocystis pneumonia, a characteristic symptom of HIV infection, is caused by a fungus; Recurrent herpes; Fungal infection of the skin and internal organs: the esophagus, respiratory organs; Protozoal diseases (toxoplasmosis, brain damage, pneumonia) are characteristic of HIV infection; Tuberculosis of the intestines, brain, bones; Severe Kaposi's sarcoma; Cryptococcal meningitis, caused by soil fungus, does not occur in a healthy person; Mycobacteriosis, which targets the gastrointestinal tract, brain, lungs, central nervous system, are characteristic of HIV infection; Diseases of the central nervous system (awkwardness in movements, dementia, absent-mindedness, impaired memory, intelligence) are the result of complications and the effect of the virus on the cells of the nervous system; Damage to the heart and kidneys; Oncological diseases.

Stage 5 HIV symptoms

The terminal stage develops as the patient's condition worsens. HIV stage 5 symptoms progress due to ineffective treatment of secondary infections. Deaths are frequent over several months.

All stages and manifestations of HIV infection are given for the average case. Not all infected people pass through them sequentially, they can skip some stages or stay at some of them. The duration of the disease depends on the state of the patient's immune system and the type of virus; it can last from 7-9 months to 20 years.

This classification of Pokrovsky is not the only one; there is a less structured WHO classification. However, specialists use a more detailed structure.

Features of HIV symptoms in men, women and children

In men, the symptoms are not specific. In women, painful menstruation with irregularities in the cycle are noted, an increased risk of malignant degeneration of the cervical tissue. Inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs in women infected with HIV occur 3 times more often, have a more severe course.

Children infected with HIV are delayed in mental and physical development compared to their peers.

Find out more: Diagnosis of HIV infection

Treatment methods

An effective drug for a complete cure for this disease has not yet been created. However, there are many effective drugs that reduce viral load and improve the quality of life for HIV patients. With strict adherence to the recommendations for their intake, an increase in CD4 cells is noted and a minimum titer of HIV is recorded with the most sensitive diagnostic methods.

This result is easy to achieve with developed patient self-discipline: timely and continuous medication intake, adherence to the correct dosage.

The main directions of therapy:

• Preservation of the quality of life of HIV-infected;
• Prevention and temporary postponement of conditions that threaten the patient's life;
• Achievement of remission with HAART and prevention of secondary infections;
• Practical and psychological support for patients;
• Providing free medicines.

The principles of prescribing HAART by stage of the disease:

• At the first stage, treatment is not carried out; in contact with HIV, chemoprophylaxis is performed;
• In the second stage, treatment is carried out depending on the level of CD4 lymphocytes present;
• At the third stage, HAART is prescribed if the patient actively wishes or if the RNA level exceeds 10 thousand copies and the CD4 lymphocyte count is less than 200 CD4 / mm3;
• At the fourth stage, treatment is prescribed when the RNA level is more than 100 thousand copies and the level of CD4 lymphocytes is less than 200 CD4 / mm3;
• The fifth stage is always accompanied by treatment.

Current HIV treatment standards are likely to be changed in line with recent research showing that early HAART treatment leads to better outcomes.

At the moment, therapy includes a combination of the following groups of drugs:

• HIV protease inhibitors,
• HIV nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors,
• Non-nucleoside inhibitors of HIV reverse transcriptase.

There is evidence of the development of a new drug for the treatment of HIV infection - Quad, which is more effective and has fewer side effects. The drug is taken once a day and replaces several drugs.

Find out more: Treatment of HIV infection (antiretroviral therapy)

HIV prevention measures

The axiom was the statement that it is easier to prevent a disease than to cure it later. This is true for the prevention of AIDS and HIV infection.

Heterosexual and homosexual relationships:

• Have one sex partner with a negative HIV status;
• Protect sexual intercourse with a reliable condom (latex with standard lubrication).

Even such a condom cannot give a 100% guarantee of safe intercourse, since the virus can penetrate the pores of the latex. In addition, they can expand with friction. It is possible to significantly reduce the risk of infection with the correct use of a condom: choosing the appropriate size, putting it on before intercourse, avoiding rupture (removing air between the latex layer and the genital organ). Condoms made from other materials are completely unreliable.

Intravenous injections for drug addiction and inability to stop taking drugs:

• Use for injection of disposable spitz once;
• Preparation of solution for intravenous injection in an individual container.

Reducing the risk of conceiving a fetus in an HIV-infected woman:

• Self-insemination (with a non-HIV partner);
• Disinfection of sperm for further fertilization (with an HIV-infected partner);
• IVF (in vitro fertilization).

Before conception, a woman who decides to become an HIV-positive mother is informed of the possible risk to her health and the health of the fetus. Further, STDs, chronic pathologies are necessarily treated, factors that reduce the protective properties of the placenta are excluded: smoking, alcoholism, drug addiction. The key to successfully carrying and giving birth to a healthy child is the exact fulfillment of the recommendations of doctors, protecting yourself from infection, diagnosing the viral load and the level of CD4 cells.

A pregnant woman is taking the following medications:

• HAART for the treatment and prevention of infection;
• Iron preparations;
• Multivitamins.

Pregnancy with HIV infection is resolved with a cesarean section to exclude the child's contact with cervical mucus and placenta, which contains a large amount of viruses.

Protection of medical personnel from infection:

• Use of personal protective equipment (mask, glasses, gloves, clothing);
• Disposal of used needles in special puncture-proof containers;
• In case of accidental contact with infected body fluids - chemoprophylaxis with HAART;
• In case of accidental contact of damaged skin with a supposedly infected environment - do not stop bleeding from a puncture or cut for a few seconds, treat with alcohol with a strength of at least 70%;
• In case of accidental contact of intact skin with a biological environment - wash with soap and water, wipe with 70% alcohol;
• In case of contact with mouth - rinse with 70% alcohol;
• In case of contact with eyes, rinse with running water;
• In case of contact with shoes or clothes - wipe with a disinfectant solution or soak in it, wipe the skin under clothes with alcohol;
• In case of contact with tiled floors and walls - pour disinfectant solution for half an hour, wipe.

Find out more: HIV Prevention

HIV: answers to questions

How is HIV transmitted?

Infection occurs from an HIV-infected patient, regardless of the stage at which the disease is. A healthy person becomes infected when a sufficient dose of the virus enters his bloodstream to become infected.

Virus transmission methods:

• Heterosexual and homosexual unprotected intercourse with an HIV-infected partner. Most often, infection occurs in those who have promiscuous sex. The risk is increased with anal sex, regardless of the orientation of the sexual partners;
• For drug addicts with intravenous drug injection with non-sterile syringes, using one container for preparing a solution for injection;
• Children from HIV-infected mothers during pregnancy, during childbirth, during breastfeeding;
• During medical manipulations, injections associated with contact with contaminated body fluids;
• With blood transfusion and donor organ transplantation, the situation may arise if the donor has a false negative result during the "window period".

Where can you donate blood for HIV?

According to the law on the protection of the rights of HIV-infected people, information about their status must be kept confidential and cannot be passed on to third parties. This measure allows you not to fear discrimination in case of a positive result.

A blood test for HIV is carried out free of charge in two ways:

• Anonymously. The test is assigned a number to obtain the result, and the name of the person taking the test remains secret;
• Confidentially. The laboratory staff keep medical confidentiality, although they know the first and last name of the person being tested for HIV.

Testing is carried out:

• At the Regional AIDS Prevention Center;
• In the clinic at the place of residence in the anonymous testing room,
• In a private medical center with special capabilities (paid).

Before and after testing, psychological support and counseling is provided to a person who has decided to conduct an HIV test. The test result can be obtained on the same day, or 2-3 to 14 days after diagnosis.

What if the HIV test is positive?

If the result is positive, an anonymous conversation is held with the doctor about the course of the disease, additional research and treatment methods needed, and possible risks and complications. Such advice can be obtained from the infectious disease doctor at your place of residence or at the regional center for the prevention and control of AIDS.

Mandatory research:

• To determine the level of CD4 cells;
• For the presence or absence of viral hepatitis;
• For viral load;
• On the p-24-capsid antigen.

According to the indications, studies of the general immune status are carried out, for the causative agents of STDs, markers of malignant neoplasms, CT, etc.

How can you not get HIV?

• Airborne droplets (when sneezing and coughing);
• When using common cutlery;
• In the bath, sauna, steam room;
• When swimming in a pool, common pond;
• When bitten by an animal or insect;
• During the physical examination;
• In public places, in transport;
• When using one toilet;
• Through a kiss or a handshake.

People with viral hepatitis, for example, are much more dangerous to others than people with HIV.

Who are HIV dissidents?

These are people who deny the presence of the human immunodeficiency virus.

Their beliefs are based on the following reasons:

• The virus has not been identified and cultured outside the human body. Nobody has seen HIV, so far only a set of proteins has been isolated, it is debatable that they belong to the same virus. In fact, there are a large number of photos of the virus taken with an electron microscope;
• Patients die from AIDS therapy with antiviral drugs more often than without treatment. Indeed, the early treatments for HIV infection had many side effects. But modern drugs are effective and safe, besides, the newest, even more effective developments are constantly appearing;
• AIDS is a conspiracy of pharmaceutical companies. If this were true, then companies would offer a cure for a disease that is not available to this day;
• AIDS is an autoimmune disease that does not have a viral nature. Allegedly, immunodeficiency is caused by toxic poisoning, stress, radiation and other reasons. The argument, in contrast to this statement, is that after patients start taking HAART, their condition improves. Such statements disorient patients, and some of them refuse treatment. In fact, special therapy started on time allows HIV-infected people to lead normal lives, have healthy children, and work. In this case, the course of the disease slows down, life expectancy is maintained. All this is possible provided that the diagnosis is timely and that HAART is started on time.

Author of the article: Alekseeva Maria Yurievna | Therapist

Education: From 2010 to 2016 Practitioner of the therapeutic hospital of the central medical-sanitary unit No. 21, city of elektrostal. Since 2016 she has been working in the diagnostic center No. 3.