How terrible is HIV and how to live with it. Symptoms of a virus

It is difficult to describe all the consequences of HIV infection. This is a complex process of finding a compromise, where much depends on who the message is addressed to. But how not to get bogged down in these quicksands and, moreover, how to get out of them without lying, maintaining trust and principles?

When communicating with a person who has just found out about his diagnosis, we emphasize that even with HIV it is possible to lead a normal life, that a 20-year-old person who has been diagnosed with HIV may well live up to 70 years and even longer. We say that modern treatment does not cause any particular inconvenience and has virtually no side effects. The tone of the conversation is lively, as if nothing special is happening, along the way we are tediously and repeatedly reminded of the need for adherence to treatment and disclosure of information if required by law.

At the same time, communication with an HIV-negative person is completely different; we explain that HIV is a disease to be avoided at all costs.

To those who allocate funds for our activities, we say that HIV remains a terrible epidemic and a threat that must be fought at all costs to the bitter end.

Among ourselves, we argue about whether HIV is a "chronic controlled disease." We debate whether the stigma situation is better or worse than before.

How serious is it?

There are even those who consider HIV to be a common disease, which, in principle, is not true. For example, the World Health Organization states: “Because of the long incubation period, the multiple modes of transmission, most commonly sexual, and the ability to undermine our tremendous efforts to develop a vaccine and find a definitive cure, HIV is one of the most complex, serious, and possibly , the most devastating of all infectious diseases that mankind has ever faced.

In addition, HIV is one of the few diseases that is criminalized and is associated with a number of social problems, which contribute to the further spread of HIV infection and exacerbate its consequences. When talking about HIV, we are inevitably confronted with questions about inequality and injustice. About shame and self-stigmatization. About difficulties with work and housing, about gender and racial problems, about the availability and inaccessibility of treatment. HIV is undoubtedly a complex, multifaceted disease.

Given its complexity, I would say that there is enough room for different opinions about the consequences of infection and the impact of HIV on a person's life. There is a place for those who have come to terms with their HIV infection. There is also a place for those who climb the barricades and with varying success, but invariably ardently and desperately fight the system - that is, HIV.

Personal experience

Our view of HIV is, of course, shaped by our own experiences. In my case, everything was simple. I was diagnosed in 1993 and simultaneously became friends with a guy who had advanced AIDS and tried to take care of myself by attending several support groups. Although I remained calm in this valley of death, a sense of our own mortality followed us relentlessly. To get an idea of ​​what was going on in support groups in the 80s and 90s, it is enough to turn on the musical La bohème (Rent). “Will I lose my dignity? Will anyone care about this? Will I wake up tomorrow from this nightmare? I remember once I asked if the dog would be allowed to my deathbed when the time was right.

Everything will be ok

Whatever you say, living with HIV in 2018 is much easier compared to those terrible times. It is true that we survivors have scars, both on the body and on the soul, but we are alive. And we have the right to inspire optimism in those who have been diagnosed recently. We can strive for a normal life. And this campaign helps us

Despite or perhaps because of this, my own experience is more in favor of the view we have of HIV for newly diagnosed people: “You will be fine, you will be able to live a normal life.” If we wear T-shirts that say “HIV is not a crime” or that I am “Not ashamed of having HIV”, we mean that we are striving for a normal life. There is nothing wrong with this, even if someone can only dream about it.

HIV is a threat to humanity

At the same time, there are some moments that cannot be considered normal in any way. It is not normal for the world to be confronted with an infectious disease that kills 1 million people a year and that, 35 years after its discovery, we have no cure. We cannot be complacent when there are 1.8 million new infections every year in the world. We need to continue to act and talk about it in all seriousness. And if we manage to live a relatively normal life with HIV, remember that this is more of an exception than the rule and that few - too few - can boast of it. We also need to convey to funders that HIV is still a threat and an insult to humanity, in which case we emphasize how serious the situation is, not how much it can be controlled.

Ultimately, we must make living with HIV as normal as possible by emphasizing the abnormal nature of the epidemic. This is a complex process of finding a compromise, but there is no other way. Our community has accumulated solid experience - and in general, we are doing well so far.

HIV is not a barrier to a fulfilling life!

In this article, we will consider the question: “Can HIV infection be cured?” You will learn about the types, diagnosis and prognosis of this pathology. Let's start with the fact that the disease is possible when the body is affected by the immunodeficiency virus. HIV infection is dangerous because the patient has a strong depression protective properties organism, which can lead to a number of problems. This list includes secondary infections, malignant tumors, and so on.

The disease can take many forms. Detect HIV infection in the following ways:

• detection of antibodies;
• detection of viral RNA.

Treatment is currently presented in the form of a complex of special antiretroviral drugs. The latter are able to reduce the reproduction of the virus, which contributes to a speedy recovery. You can learn more about everything that was said in this part by reading the article to the end.

HIV infection

In order to answer the main question (“Is it possible to cure HIV infection?”), it is necessary to understand what kind of disease it is. It can also be said about this virus that it progresses very slowly, the entire threat falls on the cells of the human immune system. For this reason, immunity is slowly but surely suppressed. As a result, you can "earn" the syndrome of acquired immunodeficiency (popularly called AIDS).

The human body ceases to resist and defend itself against various infections, resulting in diseases that do not develop in a person with a normal immune system.

Even without medical intervention, a person infected with HIV can live up to 10 years. If the infection has acquired the status of AIDS, then the average life expectancy is only 10 months. It is also important to point out that with the passage of a special treatment course, life expectancy increases significantly.

The following are factors that affect the rate of infection:

• the state of the immune system;
• age;
• strain;
• the presence of concomitant diseases;
• nutrition;
• therapy;
• medical care.

In older people, HIV infection develops more rapidly, insufficient medical care and concomitant infectious diseases are another reason for the rapid development of the disease. So, can HIV infection be cured? It is possible, but it takes a lot of time for the process of treatment and even more for rehabilitation.

Classification

HIV infection is considered the plague of the 21st century, but virologists already know that there is no single causative agent of this disease. In this regard, much has been written scientific works, which, perhaps, will subsequently give a result and allow a detailed answer to the question: “What types of HIV infection are there?”

What is known at the moment? Types of a terrible disease differ only in the location of the focus in nature. That is, depending on the region, there are types: HIV-1, HIV-2, and so on. Each of them leads its distribution in a particular area. This regional division allows the virus to adapt to local adverse factors.

In science, the type of HIV-1 has been most studied, and how many of them there are in total is a question that remains open for now. This happened because there are many blank spots in the history of the study of HIV and AIDS.

stages

Now we will try to deal with the question of how many people live with HIV infection. To do this, we will consider the stages of the disease. For convenience and better clarity, we will present the information in the form of a table.

Thus, with proper and timely treatment, proper nutrition and lifestyle, you can live a full long life (up to 70-80 years).

Symptoms

Now we will talk in more detail about the symptoms that accompany this disease.

Early symptoms of HIV infection:

• fever;
• rashes;
• pharyngitis;
• diarrhea.

In later stages, some more diseases may join. They occur as a result of a decrease in immunity. These include:

• angina;
• pneumonia;
• herpes;
• fungal infections and so on.

After this period, most likely, the latent stage will begin. It leads to the development of immunodeficiency. Now the immune cells are dying. On the body, you can notice signs of the disease - inflamed lymph nodes. It is also important to note that each organism is individual, the stages may go in the order given above, but some stages may also be missing. The same can be said about the symptoms.

HIV in children

In this section, you will learn whether HIV infection in children can be cured. First, let's talk about what are the causes of infection. These include:

• infection in the womb;
• use of raw medical instruments;
• organ transplant.

As for the first point, the probability of transmitting the infection is 50%. Treatment during pregnancy is a condition that greatly reduces the risk of infection. Now for the risk factors:

• lack of treatment;
• premature birth;
• natural childbirth;
• uterine bleeding;
• taking drugs and alcohol during pregnancy;
• breast-feeding.

Given these factors, you can reduce the risk by up to 10-20 percent. HIV treatment is definitely needed. At this stage in the development of medicine, there is no medicine that completely eliminates HIV. However, proper treatment can significantly improve the patient's condition and make it possible to live a full and happy life.

Diagnostics

Why is a disease diagnosed? Of course, to make a final and accurate diagnosis. If the fears are confirmed, it is urgent to go to the doctor. There is no need to delay here: the sooner you start treatment, the less problems there will be in the future. In no case should you self-medicate.

It is also important to know that many diseases can be hidden under the mask of HIV infection, which can be eliminated quite quickly with the help of medicine. Which country treats HIV infection? In all, you just have to go to a special institution where you need to take tests. When you get an answer in your hands, with a positive result, do not hesitate, go to a specialist.

To confirm the diagnosis, you need to pass a rapid test to detect infection. If he gave a positive result, then further research is carried out in the laboratory, where the stage is detected using ELISA or PCR methods.

Express test

A rapid test for HIV infection is currently the most common method that allows you to identify an illness at home on your own. Remember, until recently, for this it was necessary to donate blood from a vein, but now I went to the pharmacy - and after 5 minutes I found out the result. An express HIV test can also be ordered online.

All you need to do the test is a drop of blood from your finger. Do not forget that you need to wash your hands, for a puncture it is better to use a “pupa” (bought at a pharmacy), wipe your finger with alcohol. The HIV test is a real breakthrough in the diagnosis of this disease. The thing is that HIV may not manifest itself at all. The infection penetrates the cells and begins to destroy them, and when there are few healthy ones left, the body is no longer able to resist. This stage is called AIDS, and this disease is very dangerous.

• wash your hands with soap;
• wipe dry;
• open the package with the test;
• massage the finger that you will pierce, treat it with alcohol;
• make a puncture and place your finger over the blood reservoir;
• drip 5 drops of solvent into a special container;
• waiting 15 minutes.

Treatment

Treatment of HIV infection is carried out with the help of special antiretroviral drugs. It is necessary to start treatment as early as possible, this helps to delay the development of AIDS. Many people ignore treatment, because the virus did not show itself for a long time. This should not be done, because the body will give up sooner or later. It should be remembered that the virus has the most negative effect on the immune system, without treatment, you will soon have to wait for a whole string of serious and unpleasant diseases.

To prevent the development of AIDS, doctors try to suppress the virus. From the first day of detection of the disease, the patient must take special antiviral drugs that adversely affect the life cycle of the pathogen. That is, under the influence of antiretroviral drugs, the virus cannot fully develop in the human body.

A feature of HIV infection is a rapid adaptation to an unfavorable environment. For this reason, after taking the same medicine for a long time, the virus gets used and adapts to it. Then doctors resort to tricks - a combination of antiviral drugs. This is necessary so that it is impossible to develop resistance to them.

Preparations

In this section, we will talk about what drugs treat HIV infection. It was previously mentioned that therapy is carried out with the help of antiretroviral drugs. In total, 2 types can be distinguished:

• reverse transcriptase inhibitors;
• protease inhibitors.

The standard treatment regimen involves taking two drugs of the first type and one of the second. They are prescribed only by a qualified experienced doctor. The first type includes the following drugs:

• "Epivir".
• "Retrovir".
• "Ziagen".

The second type includes:

• Norvir.
• "Ritonavir".
• "Invirase".

Do not self-medicate, take the drugs in the dosage and according to the scheme prescribed by the attending physician.

Is it possible to fully recover?

So, can HIV infection be completely cured? At the moment, a tool has not yet been developed that would eliminate the virus by 100%. However, medicine does not stand still, perhaps a miracle drug for HIV infection will soon be developed.

Currently, medicine will help to live a long and happy life for those infected, maintaining their health with antiviral drugs.

Which doctor should I contact?

A doctor who treats HIV infection is an infectious disease specialist. If you suspect an immunodeficiency, you should contact this specialist. Where to find it? Reception should be conducted in each clinic. If the medical institution to which you are territorially attached does not have this doctor, then feel free to contact the district hospital.

The infectious disease specialist can list all complaints, he will prescribe special blood tests. Follow-up follow-up will follow. This is a mandatory part if the diagnosis is confirmed.

It is also important to know that there are anonymous AIDS centers everywhere. Help and initial consultation with an infectious disease specialist can also be obtained there.

Forecasts

How many people live with HIV infection? If treated, then with this disease it is possible to live up to 80 years. The earlier you start treatment, the easier it is to prevent the development of AIDS, which is the cause of death in this disease.

Now there is no drug that eliminates HIV infection by 100%. The average life expectancy of HIV-infected people is 12 years. But it is worth remembering that a lot depends on your efforts.

Prevention

Above, we told how HIV-infected people are treated in Russia, and now we will name the main preventive measures. In Russia, as in other countries, an integrated approach is applied. The main treatment is antiviral drugs.

• lead a safe and orderly intimate life;
• be sure to treat sexually transmitted diseases;
• avoid contact with other people's blood;
• use of disposable sealed syringes (do not use if the package is damaged).

These simple rules will help to avoid such a serious disease as AIDS. Follow them and stay healthy!

According to the World Health Organization, there are more than 42 million people on Earth who are infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. Every day, another 14,000 people are added to this horrifying figure. And every second on the planet one person dies of AIDS. The majority of HIV-infected people are young people under the age of 30. Over the past 25 years, about 25 million people have died of AIDS, of which more than a million and a half are children. AIDS is called the plague of the 20th century.

AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is the final phase of the disease. First comes HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus. Having entered the human body, it affects the immune system, which, as a result of defeat by a retrovirus, weakens to such an extent that a common cold can bring a person to the grave in the shortest possible time.

Studies have shown that the virus is especially active in the first weeks after infection. It can be manifested by a slight cough, slight fever, headache, sweating, diarrhea, and just feeling unwell. And a person, unaware of the seriousness of the disease, is in no hurry to see a doctor. The virus, meanwhile, continues the destructive work of suppressing the ability of the immune system to fight disease and eventually causes severe illness. It can be an untreated pneumonia, blood poisoning, skin lesions, or cancer.

Many are concerned about how you can get AIDS?

The virus is transmitted from one person to another through unprotected sexual intercourse, especially often during homosexual; from a sick mother to a child during childbirth and when feeding with infected milk. But the main route of transmission remains intravenous drug use, when several drug addicts use the same syringe.

What are the HIV/AIDS prevention measures?

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, choosing a permanent sexual partner, preventing injecting drug use. To prevent infection of newborns from HIV-infected pregnant women, the main measure is to receive chemoprophylaxis for pregnant women, for which it is necessary to register in a dispensary in a antenatal clinic in a timely manner.

Can we cure AIDS?

Unfortunately, AIDS is still incurable. All available drugs only slow down the course of the disease and prolong the lives of patients by several years.

To more effectively counteract the spread of infection, it is necessary for each person to take personal responsibility for their health, to be committed to a healthy lifestyle, to give up alcohol and drug use.

V modern world with sufficiently developed medicine, there are diseases that cannot be cured. The most common disease that has claimed a large number of lives is HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). Only in Russia about 800 thousand people are carriers of this infection. Among the infected people there are men, women and children. This virus is scary for everyone, but it is most dangerous for women, since they have a higher risk of infection and they can pass the infection to the child.

Symptoms of HIV in women appear with some differences.

Therefore, at the first doubts about your health, you should immediately consult a doctor and take tests.

Is it possible to get HIV in a household way?

The more dangerous the disease, the more frightening a person is from the thought that he can become infected with it. HIV is transmitted by contact between the mucous membranes of a healthy and sick person (sperm, blood, cervical mucus). This virus does not spread through the home.

Another frequently asked question whether HIV is transmitted through kissing. Doctors give a negative answer. The probability of contracting an infection in this situation, in the absence of both partners in the oral cavity and on the tongue of wounds, is zero.

Groups at risk of contracting the virus

The following populations are at high risk of HIV infection:

• drug addicts who inject drugs (through a syringe needle) by;
• women and men during unprotected sexual contact, as well as those who practice oral and anal sex;
• children whose mothers are HIV positive;
• doctors who, according to their specialization, are in contact with infected people or tissues (diagnostic laboratory assistants, gynecologists, obstetricians, surgeons);
• people in need of a blood transfusion;
• people leading an immoral lifestyle.

In most cases, HIV is transmitted through a needle among drug addicts and sexually through unsafe sex.

Symptoms of a virus

A woman is at greater risk of acquiring HIV. Therefore, you should always monitor your health and not do rash acts.

If a circumstance has occurred, as a result of which there is doubt about your HIV status, you should take a blood test (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay detects the presence of antibodies to the virus). But by nature, HIV does not appear in the early days. In most people, antibodies appear 3 months after infection, in others - after 6 months. Therefore, 100% result will be only in six months.

Before the expiration of this period, it is worth paying attention to well-being. Symptoms can be detected after a few weeks, and you can not feel any deviations from the norm for 10 years. The first symptoms appear as:

• enlarged lymph nodes;
• excessive sweating at night;
• lethargy, drowsiness and fatigue;
• lack of appetite;
• severe depression for no reason;
• the presence of a constantly elevated body temperature.

Without undergoing specific therapy to combat the virus, the infection will progress, the immune system will weaken and health will deteriorate. Symptoms of a complication of the disease may appear, such as:

• vaginal infections;
• the presence of anomalies in the analysis of the smear;
• the appearance of herpes, warts, ulcers on the labia majora;
• red spots on the body;
• white spots on the oral mucosa.

Even if a woman has these symptoms, they do not confirm the presence of the virus. Such painful manifestations may be signs of other infections (ARVI). Therefore, do not panic.

During the six-month period from the date of the suspected infection or the onset of symptoms, sexual and other contact should be avoided in which you can transmit the infection to a healthy person, you should not be a donor, and it is advisable to delay the pregnancy.

Life after infection

If the preliminary and confirmatory tests revealed that you have HIV infection, then you should not go to extreme measures. Modern medicine makes it possible to live with such a diagnosis and have the same rights as healthy people, but undergoing treatment.

A woman who does not have children must understand all the responsibility. Having HIV does not prevent you from having a child. And HIV patients give birth to healthy children, and, in addition, scientists are looking for a way to cure HIV in newborns.

A woman is prescribed antiretroviral drugs during pregnancy. They reduce the viral load to such a level that with normal pregnancy and uncomplicated childbirth, the baby is born healthy. Women are forbidden to give birth on their own, since the highest percentage of infection of children is during childbirth. They are having a caesarean section. Also, mothers should not breastfeed their children for the same reason.

A person with such a diagnosis needs to properly communicate with healthy people. You can't put others in danger. If a woman decides to become pregnant naturally, then she is obliged to inform her partner about her situation. Otherwise, it is a crime in Russia, it is criminally punishable (Article 122 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).

The road from HIV to AIDS

All HIV-infected people should be seen by doctors and treated to fight the virus. If the disease is detected in a timely manner and measures are taken to treat it, then such a person can live for decades.

If left untreated, HIV develops into acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). This is the last stage of the disease. Against the background of AIDS, other infectious diseases develop, such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, meningitis, herpes. Any infection (even a cold) in AIDS patients leads to serious consequences, as their immune system is not able to cope with bacteria and viruses. AIDS can be fatal; there are more than 100,000 such cases in Russia.

HIV is one of the most dangerous diseases of the 21st century. No cure has yet been found for it. Therapy only slows down and stops the development of infection. Therefore, you need to take care of yourself and your health.

Avoid contact with drug addicts, try to lead an intimate life only with permanent and trusted partners, sex should be protected. Don't be shy about asking your partner to get tested for HIV or AIDS. Do not commit rash acts, which you will later regret for the rest of your life. Your health is in your hands. Take care of yourself.

30 years ago, the Earth acquired a new misfortune: there was information about a strange disease, accompanied by damage to the immune system. In the beginning, the disease only occurred in certain specific groups of people, which led to its being called the Four G's disease: "gays" (men who prefer other men), visitors from Haiti, hemophiliacs, and heroin addicts were the first carriers and the first victims.

Despite the intervening years and constant research around the world, AIDS virus remains a mystery and does not reveal all of its secrets. And, like everything mysterious and incomprehensible, it gives impetus to myth-making. People conjecture what they know little about, especially under the influence of fear for their lives. This fear often makes it difficult to objectively assess the real risk and take the right steps. Awareness is the best remedy against irrational fear and panic.

10 myths and misconceptions about HIV and AIDS

1. The first misconception concerns terms HIV and AIDS. These are not synonyms. HIV is the human immunodeficiency virus, an infection that can be transmitted. AIDS is a clinical manifestation of this infection in the terminal stage, the disease itself. People get HIV, get AIDS, but the former does not necessarily lead to the latter. You can be a carrier of HIV and not have AIDS.

2. Another misconception relates to the prevalence of the disease. Many Russians are sure that HIV and AIDS are rare diseases, common “out there”, in Africa, the USA, and in general in distant countries. Yes, and only gays, drug addicts and prostitutes get sick of this. This is not entirely true. There are about 35 million people in the world who are carriers of the infection, of which about a million live in Russia. The data refers to registered carriers of the infection, and no one knows how many, including themselves, in reality. If a person does not know about the presence of a virus in his body, he does not take security measures, and, possibly, becomes an unwitting spreader of the infection.

3. Misconceptions about the ways of transmission of infection are very strong. Uninformed people believe that the virus can be caught through everyday contact with the carrier - when using some things, shaking hands, kissing, being in the same room, through insect bites.

In fact, the infection is not so terrible and ubiquitous. HIV is transmitted with blood, vaginal secretions, semen and human milk. No cases of transmission of the virus with saliva or tears have been recorded. There is no evidence of transmission from needle sticks inserted into the seats of vehicles or movie theaters, as many horror stories report.

The infection can be transmitted with donated blood, bone marrow and organs, but all biomaterials have long been carefully checked, so this method of infection is unlikely.

4. Many believe that HIV positive mother will definitely give birth to a sick child. This is not true. Even without special treatment, infection of the fetus occurs only in 20-30% of cases. Under the condition of constant, throughout the entire period of pregnancy, taking special medications, the risk is reduced even more. True, mothers will have to refuse breastfeeding.

5. Myths about AIDS treatment are manifold. Someone believes that infection will certainly lead to a quick and painful death, which nothing can push back. Others are sure that cure for AIDS already found, and nothing terrible threatens. Both of these statements are not true. HIV is really incurable, like many other diseases - diabetes, hypertension, gout or psoriasis. But the development of the disease can be stopped or significantly slowed down. Many carriers of the infection live a normal, full life for years, taking antiretroviral drugs and observing some restrictions in everyday life.

6. Many misconceptions have developed long ago, when the death rate from AIDS was very high, and drugs were just beginning to be developed. It was then that the belief arose that AIDS drugs should be taken very often, without shifting the time of admission and without skipping. They also say that the side effects of taking AIDS drugs are almost worse than the disease itself.

Truth: Antiretroviral drugs do require regular intake, but a slight deviation from the recommended schedule is not critical. It is undesirable to frequently skip the medication, as this will lead to the formation of resistance in the virus and make the treatment ineffective. As for the side effects, they really can appear. But in the drugs of the latest generations, these unpleasant effects are less common and not so strong.

7. Another myth concerns sexual safety precautions. The authors of this misconception were incompetent people who once said somewhere that the ultra-small size of viral particles allows them to pass through microscopic pores in the material of condoms. This is complete nonsense. If the condom is not torn and has not slipped, the likelihood of transmitting the infection is extremely small. According to statistics, the use of condoms protects against transmission of infection in 99% of cases.

8. There is another sad misconception regarding HIV infection: if you have sex with only one partner, then you can not worry and not be tested for HIV. Unfortunately, this is not the case, since the partner may have contacts with others, which is modestly silent about. And his other partners, in turn, can also have a very diverse sex life. Insofar as HIV infection may not manifest itself for a long time, the virus is able to get through a chain of unprotected contacts even to those who are faithful to a single partner. Everyone needs to donate blood for analysis from time to time.

9. There are many misconceptions about HIV testing. This is due to the fact that sometimes testing gives a positive result, which is not confirmed by re-analysis. In fact, a positive reaction to antibodies to HIV during the initial analysis may appear even after chickenpox or herpes, these are the features of the technique. Retesting is performed in order to clarify the results of the first analysis. If the re-analysis gave a positive answer, then there is no doubt that there is an infection.

10. There are several strange beliefs associated with HIV infection among the people. For example, some are convinced that sexual intercourse with a virgin partner can cure AIDS. This is a terrible delusion that can lead to infection of an innocent person. In this way, the disease cannot be cured.

But in another belief there is a certain amount of truth. This applies to circumcision, which is practiced by some peoples. Indeed, after this procedure, the risk of contracting the virus is somewhat reduced, both for the man himself and for his partner. However, it is impossible to reliably protect yourself from infection in this way.