Symptoms of the first stage of HIV infection. What are the symptoms of HIV and AIDS? Research into the disease and search for treatment options

AIDS is an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. This is not a disease, but a syndrome manifested by a variety of diseases that can lead to death. The causative agent of AIDS is considered to be the human immunodeficiency virus, which affects the blood and sharply reduces the body's ability to resist tumor and infectious diseases.

What is AIDS

AIDS is acquired immune deficiency syndrome. This means that the disease is acquired by a person (it is not transmitted through genes, although a mother can pass it on to her child during fetal development, during childbirth, or through breast milk).

AIDS attacks and weakens the immune system, causing the body to lose its ability to protect itself from various diseases and from so-called spillover infections (infections that occur as a side effect of a weakened immune system).

The term “AIDS” includes 3 concepts:

• Syndrome means that the disease manifests itself in a stable combination of several symptoms at once.
• Acquired – that is, the disease is not hereditary, but develops throughout life.
• Immunodeficiency – the patient’s body is not able to cope with all kinds of infections on its own.

AIDS is one of those diseases that is said to kill slowly but surely. The infectious agent changes the DNA structure of healthy cells and can persist in the host’s body for more than 3 years. Throughout this period, it does not lose its activity and gradually becomes an integral element in the blood.

It is with this feature of the virus that researchers associate an extremely high risk of contracting AIDS when using poorly sterilized instruments that previously came into direct contact with the blood of an infected person.

HIV and AIDS: what is it?

It is worth immediately noting that the two terms “AIDS” and “HIV” differ from each other. These are not synonyms, as most people think. AIDS is a term that refers to a deficiency of immunity that can develop due to prolonged exposure to radiation, chronic illnesses, and the use of potent pharmaceutical drugs. But recently this term is used only to refer to the last stage of HIV.

Scientists and specialists distinguish four stages in the course of HIV infection:

• incubation period;
• first signs;
• secondary diseases;

The very first signs of AIDS

Patients with HIV infection are seen by an infectious disease specialist. Additionally, a consultation is carried out with an immunologist, therapist, and in case of damage to organs and systems, an examination by a specialized specialist: pulmonologist, neurologist, dermatologist, gastroenterologist.

When infected with HIV, a person does not find out about it in the first days after infection. Its early signs can become apparent after 2–6 weeks. In most cases, they are expressed by symptoms of flu, or mononucleosis. In the stage of primary manifestations of AIDS, some patients experience:

• temperature increase;
• chills;
• muscle pain;
• enlarged cervical lymph nodes.

Some people who become infected do not have these symptoms, and this course of HIV infection is called the asymptomatic stage.

The first signs of a disease such as AIDS may be wounds that take a long time to heal. An ordinary scratch festers and bleeds for quite a long period. Further, the disease can occur in several forms:

• The pulmonary form is the development of Pneumocystis pneumonia.
• Intestinal – prolonged diarrhea leads to dehydration and rapid weight loss.
• Skin damage is the appearance of ulcers and erosions on the body, which gradually progress.
• Damage to the nervous system leads to memory impairment, constant apathy, and epileptic seizures.

Causes of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

The causative agent is the human immunodeficiency virus of the retrovirus family. By attaching to and penetrating leukocytes, it begins the process of active replication, spreading throughout the body. HIV not only malignizes lymphocytes, but also destroys them. Gradually, the number of CD4 lymphocytes decreases and when their number is less than 200 per ml, a diagnosis of AIDS is made.

The source is a person who becomes infectious already during the incubation period (the period from the moment of infection until the appearance of clinical symptoms), the infectious period continues into the febrile stage of HIV infection, the latent stage of secondary diseases.

The patient releases the greatest amount of virus with all biological environments precisely at the stage of AIDS (terminal stage).

HIV is not transmitted through normal contact with infected people, so you should not be afraid of infection. AIDS is not transmitted in the following ways:

• When using a swimming pool or public toilet.
• When kissing, shaking hands or hugging (naturally, if people do not have open bleeding wounds at the point of contact when shaking hands and kissing, but it is quite difficult to imagine this).
• Airborne droplets.
• When using household items.
• Through food.
• When bitten by various blood-sucking insects (for example, mosquitoes).
• When touching the doorknob.
• In contact with pets.

Transmission routes

The following transmission routes exist:

• during sexual intercourse with an infected person;
• in the womb, when AIDS is transmitted directly to the fetus through the placenta;
• when transfusion of contaminated blood or when it enters the body in any other way, for example, when using poorly processed surgical instruments.

Symptoms of AIDS in adults

It is worth noting that HIV occurs in three stages:

• acute febrile;
• asymptomatic;
• AIDS or advanced stage.

In the acute febrile stage, the infection manifests itself in the form of nonspecific symptoms, such as:

• headache,
• sore throat, muscle and/or joint pain,
• elevated temperature (usually subfebrile - up to 37.5°C),
• nausea,
• diarrhea,
• swelling of the lymph nodes.

At the next stage of the course of HIV infection, the above main signs and symptoms of AIDS are supplemented by significant loss of body weight (more than 10% of total weight). The patient may experience:

• tuberculosis;
• toxoplasmosis;
• lymphoma;
• Kaposi's sarcoma;
• Pneumocystis pneumonia, etc.

Severe AIDS is also accompanied by serious neurological disorders.

Symptoms to look out for and get checked

In order not to miss the first symptoms of AIDS in time, you need to know what they include:

• Causeless and asymptomatic elevated body temperature of the patient up to 37.5-38 degrees, which disappears as suddenly as it appears.
• Enlarged lymph nodes in the groin, armpits, and neck. They do not hurt and have a compacted structure to the touch.
• Red spots all over the body.
• Increased fatigue.
• Intermittent fever and night sweats.
• Sometimes there is discomfort in the throat, pain when swallowing.
• Problems with stool, diarrhea.

Such symptoms are characteristic of simple or, so many do not pay attention to these signs.

Infectious diseases that affect people with AIDS are called opportunistic diseases. Their peculiarity is that the causative agents of these infections often live in the human body, but the immune system does not give them the opportunity to become active. Activation indicates a serious immunodeficiency. Therefore, the occurrence of opportunistic infections is always a direct indication to be tested for HIV.

Complications

Complications of AIDS:

• HPV, or;
• histoplasmosis;
• Pneumocystis pneumonia;
• cryptococcal;
• cryptosporosis;
• herpes zoster;
• Kaposi's sarcoma;
• invasive cervical cancer;
• side effects of medications.

Complications are observed among patients diagnosed with HIV at the stage of AIDS, as well as in people who are not receiving antiretroviral therapy or who are resistant to these drugs.

Diagnostics

If a person shows the first signs of AIDS, he should immediately contact a medical facility for diagnosis, confirmation or refutation of the diagnosis. Only a competent doctor can confirm the presence of such a dangerous disease after examination and receipt of test results.

Patients with HIV infection are being seen by an infectious disease specialist. Additionally, a consultation is carried out with an immunologist, therapist, and in case of damage to organs and systems, an examination by a specialized specialist: pulmonologist, neurologist, dermatologist, gastroenterologist.

Laboratory diagnosis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome:

• specific – decrease in the level of CD4 lymphocytes to 50 cells per μl; increase in viral load;
• specific laboratory criteria for a particular infection (blood and other biological fluids for antigens and antibodies, PCR diagnostics);
• general laboratory data (blood, urine, biochemical tests).
• instrumental diagnosis of lesions of certain organs and systems (ultrasound, X-ray, MRI).

A person is diagnosed with AIDS when they have less than 200 T4/CD4 cells per cubic meter in their blood. mm. At a normal level, there are approximately 1000 such cells. In addition, a person may have secondary infections or diseases that accompany AIDS.

Treatment methods

Is there a cure for AIDS? No. But methods, technologies and drugs have been developed to combat cancer and opportunistic infections - consequences of decreased immunity. Proper suppression of the virus and stimulation of the body’s defense response should be developed by qualified doctors.

Scientists have developed special treatment regimens that can significantly slow down the development of the disease. The most popular antiretroviral and other drugs to fight AIDS:

• zidovudine;
• zalcitabine, stavudine and didanosine;
• trimethoprim, pentamidine, foscarnet, ganciclovir, fluconazole;
• saquinavir, indinavir, ritonavir;
• nevirapine and nelfinavir.

Treatment of AIDS patients includes several areas:

• Mandatory hospitalization of patients in specialized departments of clinics dealing with the problems of HIV-infected people.
• Skilled nursing.
• Complete nutrition.
• Active antiretroviral therapy, which even at the AIDS stage makes it possible to increase the number of CD4+ lymphocytes so that the patient’s body at least somehow begins to resist infections.
• Specific treatment aimed at combating developed secondary diseases.
• Chemoprophylaxis of opportunistic infections

AIDS prevention

Prevention includes the need to:

• have only one sexual partner;
• avoid sexual relations with unfamiliar and suspicious people, prostitutes, drug addicts;
• have no group contacts;
• use condoms;
• do not use other people’s machines, razors, toothbrushes, used medical devices;
• insist on disposable instruments in the office of a dentist, gynecologist, cosmetologist and other specialists.

The difficulty in identifying the disease is that its symptoms are similar to those of other diseases. AIDS has no specific phenomena. Even if your temperature rises frequently and without any complaints, doctors do not always suspect AIDS. You must go to the AIDS center yourself and conduct an HIV test.

For several decades in a row, one of the most dangerous viruses has been immunodeficiency. The danger of infection is that after entering the body for several years, a person may not even suspect that he is a carrier of the virus. At the same time, the virus confidently, in a hidden form, undermines the protective functionality of the immune system, making the body very vulnerable to all third-party infections. According to statistics, most patients, after confirming the diagnosis of HIV, in despair refuse to fight and use maintenance therapy, thereby approaching the terminal stage. The only way to prevent infection is to take good care of your health and have a safe sex life. Timely detection of the virus at an early stage and the use of special therapy helps to increase life expectancy, without losing its quality. Therefore, it is very important to pay attention to any symptoms that arise.

HIV is a very complex virus that, after entering the body, does not make itself felt for a long time, thereby worsening the clinical picture. If, after sexual intercourse or other manipulation that is directly related to blood (a needle prick on the street, donating blood, surgical interventions, etc.), a man becomes suspicious, then it is best to do a quick test.

Attention! You should not rely on the results of the first HIV test, since the virus remains latent for a long time and may not be confirmed even by laboratory testing. In this case, it is recommended to undergo a repeated rapid test after a certain period of time and make sure that there is no virus.

The analysis can confirm the diagnosis only six months after infection, so it is necessary to carry out two tests with an interval of six months. Despite the inability to determine the presence of the virus in the body, the first minor symptoms of the disease may appear in the latent period. Moreover, medical studies have shown that the symptoms of the virus are more pronounced in men than in women. Complications of timely diagnosis based on symptoms may lie in the similarity of viral symptoms with the symptoms of colds, flu and other acute respiratory viral illnesses.

It is important! The HIV virus can even manifest itself as banal overwork, so in case of atypical manifestations, it is best to go for testing.

When cold symptoms occur, a larger percentage of men try to relieve the symptoms on their own and avoid visiting a specialist. However, doctors, when collecting a patient’s medical history, may be mistaken in making a diagnosis. Thus, the prescribed treatment can only temporarily alleviate the condition, but not eliminate the root cause. Consequently, the virus will make itself felt, but in the form of new signs.

The end of the latent period can be characterized by a complex of symptoms typical of HIV. In the first months, a man experiences manifestations of infectious diseases. Therefore, if a man is promiscuous and often suffers from colds for a long time, then the possibility of HIV infection cannot be ruled out. The following symptoms should not be ignored:

• body temperature is kept within 37 degrees;
• There is an increased level of sweating at night;
• persistent mild cough caused by a sore throat;
• stomach upsets;
• uncharacteristic weight loss;
• excessive fatigue even after minor exertion.

Is it dangerous! HIV is difficult to diagnose, so in most cases cold symptoms are treated.

Main symptoms at an early stage

The carrier of the virus notices a slight increase in temperature, which is accompanied by a febrile state. It is typical that the patient feels unwell throughout the latent period.

This condition is explained by a typical reaction of the body: the immune system begins to actively produce white blood cells, which in turn try to eliminate the pathogenic virus. As a result, the man has a temperature of about 37-38 degrees, which does not disappear for a month. If such a symptom is present, then you should immediately contact a doctor. Additional symptoms may include previously uncharacteristic dizziness, lack of appetite, and nausea.

The main symptom that misleads both the specialist and the carrier himself is a clear cough with signs of a sore throat. This symptom occurs through an inflammatory process that is activated in the lymphoid tissue of the tonsils. It is these symptoms that prompt treatment for a cold or flu infection. The specialist notices a diagnosis error when, after fourteen days, the patient’s condition does not improve (it is standard that a cold lasts no more than 7-10 days).

Prolonged diarrhea is the second clear sign of HIV infection in the body. If an intestinal disorder lasts more than a month, then it is necessary to go for examination, because dysbiosis and other gastrointestinal disorders cannot be observed for so long. Diarrhea is accompanied by a lack of appetite, resulting in increased weight loss.

Symptoms appear after a few years

While the virus is in a latent form, there are no obvious manifestations, but after a few months, a year, a couple of years, the man feels uncomfortable changes.

You can learn from the video how HIV symptoms manifest after infection and what signs are typical for men.

Video - Symptoms of HIV in men

Acute stage of viral illness

Infectious mononucleosis - this is the disease with which the symptoms of the acute stage of HIV are compared. Among the pronounced signs are the following:

1. For a long time (up to one month), the temperature remains within 38 degrees, and after taking an antipyretic drug there is no decrease.
2. In the groin area and neck area, the lymph nodes become noticeably enlarged. It is distinctive that the large size of the lymph nodes are not characterized by pain even when pressing on them.
3. Cold symptoms persist (namely cough, sore throat, stuffy nose).
4. The carrier, under the influence of the virus, experiences mental changes, he begins to lose interest in life, apathy and irritability set in.
5. The general condition is characterized by chronic fatigue and lethargy.
6. At night, increased sweating occurs, which is not the norm in a healthy person.
7. A clear red rash appears on the skin, but this symptom does not always appear and is not temporary.

Attention! You cannot ignore the above symptoms and continue to have an active sex life without barrier contraceptives. All this time, the carrier infects new people without even realizing it. Therefore, in order to protect others and continue to lead an active lifestyle, it is necessary to undergo a rapid test to detect HIV infection every six months.

How long does it take for HIV to appear?

Quite a number of years may pass from the moment the virus enters the body until the decline begins; in this case, everything will depend on the individual characteristics of each organism. Scientists noted that for some, the disease makes itself felt after a year, while for others, the latent form can last for a dozen. The average period of time after which HIV passes into the AIDS stage is determined to be 10-12 years.

If we talk about how long it takes to find out about HIV infection, then basically, after the virus enters the body, one month passes and the patient begins to experience cold symptoms. The primary stage is characterized by chills, enlarged lymph nodes, muscle soreness, and a slight increase in temperature. The listed symptoms should be remembered and if they are identified, immediately go for testing.

The immunodeficiency virus is a dangerous disease that has been rapidly spreading in recent years. Everyone should know the signs of HIV. At least in order to be able to see a doctor at an early stage and start treatment in a timely manner. The classification of this dangerous disease has several stages, each of which has characteristic symptoms. It is worth emphasizing that you should not make a terrible diagnosis for yourself based on the manifestations that will be listed below. Indeed, in some cases, they may indicate the presence of other diseases and pathologies in the body, or be the cause of weakened immunity. Signs of HIV infection can appear at all stages. There are five of them in total. We are talking about incubation, acute and latent periods, as well as the stages of secondary manifestations and the terminal stage. Each of them has its own symptoms.

Incubation period: signs of HIV, photo

There are no signs of AIDS during the incubation period. This stage begins from the moment of infection. It lasts on average two to four weeks. Sometimes this time can be extended to six months. It all depends on the characteristics of the human immune system. What happens to the body during the incubation period? The virus cells begin to actively multiply. At the same time, the immune system actively fights the spread of the virus. It begins to produce antibodies resistant to the virus. Their number increases almost proportionally with the growth of cells affected by the disease. This continues until the number of protective proteins increases to the limit. This is the moment when seroconversion begins. In other words, only from this period the test for the immunodeficiency virus becomes positive, and the signs of AIDS make themselves felt.

Despite the fact that the incubation period is asymptomatic, it is considered one of the most dangerous in terms of infecting other people. The fact is that an infected person not only has a large number of viral pathogens in his blood, but also in his secretory fluid. This indicates that any unprotected sexual contact in this case will result in guaranteed infection.

Signs of HIV disease begin to appear in the acute stage. Medical experts still cannot accurately determine its onset. After all, this disease can be diagnosed only from the moment it is detected in the blood. It is possible that part of the acute phase also occurs without obvious symptoms.

By the way, along with the fact that at the first stage there are no signs of HIV and AIDS, a blood test also does not reveal the presence of this pathogen in the blood. The most common mistake people make after unprotected contact is failure to get tested for the immunodeficiency virus in a timely manner. Medical experts recommend in this case to be checked no earlier than in a month.

Acute stage: signs of AIDS, photo

The acute stage of the immunodeficiency virus is “generous” for various kinds of manifestations. What happens to the body at this time? The number of T-hellers infected with a terrible disease is gradually increasing. This provokes the release of a large number of pathogens into the blood. The immune system is no longer able to cope with the virus. This leads to its weakening, and, as a consequence, to the manifestation of the first signs of an HIV-infected person.

It is important to know that the immunodeficiency virus can manifest itself in different ways. However, for almost all people, the main symptom of HIV is an increase in body temperature. Depending on the immune response to the pathogen, it may be small, but constant (does not exceed 38 degrees). Most often, the immune system of those infected is so weakened that the temperature rises from 38 to 40 degrees. At the initial stages, it is mistaken for manifestations of influenza or ARVI. However, with the immunodeficiency virus, the temperature lasts a long time (about two to three weeks). It is rarely possible to bring it down to normal using standard medications. At the same time, signs of a person suffering from AIDS and HIV, such as aching bones, severe weakness and apathy, are also observed. People who use hard drugs often confuse this condition with withdrawal symptoms.

In addition to fever, which is confused with seasonal viruses, other external signs of HIV may appear. We are talking about a rash that can be pronounced and spread throughout the body. In some cases, it is barely noticeable and localized in certain places, for example, on the face, hands, genitals and adjacent areas of the skin. These external signs of HIV infection can be an alarming signal for a dermatologist, to whom an infected person turns for help.

Primary signs of HIV infection also include enlargement of all lymph nodes. The lymphatic system reacts most acutely to weakened immunity, since they are closely interconnected. Lymph nodes with the immunodeficiency virus not only become enlarged, but also hurt. Sometimes they are not noticeable visually, but are easily palpable and cause special discomfort to the patient.

What signs of HIV in the acute stage can be in addition to the above? This is an upset stomach. Its characteristic feature is resistance to antidiarrheal drugs. The body does not react to them in any way and there is no improvement. By the way, diarrhea in an infected person can last for several weeks or even months. In this case, it is extremely important to maintain water-salt balance in order to avoid dehydration. Signs of AIDS or HIV related to the gastrointestinal tract may include nausea and abdominal pain.

It is worth noting that concomitant diseases against the background of weakened immunity can occur in patients already in the acute stage. It all depends on the degree of weakening of the immune system. What signs of HIV infection may appear in this case? Firstly, this is pneumonia. They can be infectious or bacterial in nature and have an atypical clinical picture. It is extremely difficult to cure prolonged pneumonia in this case. With improper care and therapy, it can result in pulmonary edema or death.

These are far from the only signs of the disease in AIDS in the second acute stage concerning the respiratory system. Often, already at this stage, tuberculosis appears in infected people. People with immunodeficiency syndrome are checked for the presence of this disease first.

External signs of AIDS in a person at this stage may include not only a rash, but also seborrheic dermatitis. Initially, this manifestation can be confused with dandruff, but gradually it spreads from the scalp to the face and body.

Latent stage: signs of HIV infection, photo

The latent stage of the immunodeficiency virus is considered asymptomatic. This period is the longest. It can range from two to twelve years in total. The latent period ends with the most dangerous terminal stage, in which the changes that have occurred in the body against the background of the ongoing virus and associated ailments are irreversible. There are no obvious signs of the HIV virus during this period, but it itself is easily detected in human blood. The immune system at the latent stage is able to produce the required amount of antibodies that protect the body. That is why there are no clinical signs of HIV infection at this stage.

Scientists believe that if a person begins to lead a healthy lifestyle during this period, eats right, and gives up all bad habits, then the signs of AIDS will subside for a long time. After all, these factors directly affect the state of the immune system.

Signs of HIV and AIDS in the secondary stage

The beginning of this period is marked by the fact that the number of T-hellers decreases almost to a critical level. In this regard, the immune system ceases to fully resist the virus and the affected body becomes the main target for concomitant diseases. Secondary signs of HIV in humans are manifested by the following concomitant diseases:

• Candidiasis and other fungal infections. They affect the oral cavity, genitals, and in severe cases can spread throughout the body.
• Shingles is also one of the symptoms of HIV-infected people. This disease at this stage is characterized by a high rate of spread and resistance to drug therapy.
• Damage to the central nervous system often occurs in the terminal stage. However, such a manifestation of secondary infection is also possible. Dementia, hydrocephalus and isolated muscle cuts are the latest signs of secondary stage AIDS. But the most dangerous of them is considered to be a disease such as Kaposi's Sarcoma. It is characterized by both external and internal manifestations. With this disease, the human body is affected by focal small neoplasms, which over time turn into ulcers. This pathology is dangerous because it can spread to brain tissue.
• Signs of the presence of HIV at this stage may be supplemented by herpetic rashes. The herpes virus is considered one of the most common diseases associated with immunodeficiency syndrome.

General clinical signs of HIV infection at the secondary stage can be supplemented by Pneumocystis manifestations. During this period, patients often develop pneumonia of bacterial and viral origin, which is difficult to treat.

Terminal stage: what are the signs of AIDS during this period?

The signs of an HIV-infected person at the last stage are most acute. They depend on what pathogen has entered the body, as well as on how severely the organs and tissues are affected. It is worth noting that regardless of what signs of AIDS are observed at this stage, a person’s immunity to this stage can be weakened by five times in comparison with the indicators characteristic of a healthy body. Therefore, there is practically no fight against the virus during this period.

Here are the signs of HIV infection that affects the human body at the terminal stage:

• Cytomegalovirus. This disease is characterized by symptoms such as retinal damage associated with brain disease and often resulting in loss of vision.
• Deep fungal infections. What signs of HIV are characteristic of this condition? These are non-healing ulcers and other types of skin lesions, which also spread to the mucous membranes of the mouth and larynx, leading to pneumonia, as well as the genitals.
• Tuberculosis. The exact signs of HIV infection and AIDS in tuberculosis are characterized by a rapid course. This applies to rapid weight loss, the presence of persistent low-grade fever, as well as damage not only to the lungs, but also to internal organs.

What other signs of HIV disease are characteristic of this stage? First of all, this is an enlargement of the lymph nodes. Moreover, it is so strong that it is noticeable visually. Often, a person develops toxoplasmosis in the terminal stage. It is characterized by extensive brain damage. What signs are observed in HIV-infected people with toxoplasmosis? This is incoherent speech or its loss, paresis of individual limbs or complete paralysis, inability to carry out familiar commands (write, read, think, eat food).

What else is important to know about immunodeficiency syndrome or 16 visual signs of HIV

Scientists from California have identified what signs of AIDS should raise suspicion in any person. There are sixteen of them in total. These are muscle pain, fever, fatigue, headache. Sounds like ARVI, doesn't it? But if such symptoms last for a long time, you should immediately contact a specialist. Gastrointestinal upset, skin rash, dry cough and weight loss. Taken together, these manifestations should also raise suspicion. Protracted pneumonia, severe sweating mainly at night, fungal infections, as well as changes in the shape and color of nails are serious reasons for concern. The last four unpleasant symptoms are herpes, menstrual irregularities, loss of concentration, numbness or tingling of the hands. What to do if a person notices at least five similar manifestations? You can, of course, watch videos demonstrating signs of HIV and AIDS, but it is much better to consult a doctor immediately.

AIDS causes one of the most dangerous infections in the world – HIV infection. In most cases, only a special test can show that the body is infected, since symptoms usually do not appear for a long time. Gradually, the infection develops into AIDS, which makes itself felt with certain signs. According to statistics, the disease threatens death to the infected person in 40–65% in the first year, in 80% within two years, and in almost 100% after another three years. At the same time, scientists were able to determine the stages of the disease: first, HIV infection is in the incubation period, then the first signs appear, followed by secondary diseases and AIDS. Let's talk about its symptoms for women and men in our article.

Features of the manifestation of HIV and AIDS

It often takes a long time from HIV infection to the progression of the infection to AIDS (for some, symptoms appear after a year, and for others after several decades; scientists have not yet found an explanation for such differences). The average figure is from 10 to 12 years. Signs of HIV can be seen anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks after infection. The infection usually manifests itself as influenza, ARVI or mononucleosis. At the first signs of AIDS, the body temperature rises, chills, muscles ache, and lymph nodes enlarge. HIV infection can occur without symptoms. It also happens that throughout the course of the disease, before it progresses to AIDS, the lymph nodes periodically become larger, then shrink, with no other symptoms (persistent generalized lymphadenopathy form of HIV). When taking a blood test in the first weeks, you can get a negative result for infection (the so-called “window period” by specialists). PCR tests for HIV infection help identify the virus at this stage. Once the time for the first symptoms of HIV to appear has passed, they disappear completely (it can take many years before immunodeficiency develops). If left untreated, the disease will develop faster.

The first signs of HIV in women

Two weeks after the virus enters the body, the temperature reaches 38–40 °C and lasts from two to ten days. The symptoms are similar to ARVI or flu: there is a cough, sore throat, headache, muscles, all this against the background of general weakness and sweating. In many people, the growth of superficial lymph nodes is noticeable in the back of the head, behind the neck, armpits, and in the groin. Sometimes there may be nausea, vomiting, anorexia and spastic pain. If the respiratory system is affected, the cough becomes severe and suffocating. A signal that the nervous system is affected will be a severe headache, plus vomiting with weakness and stiffness of the neck muscles. Diseases of the genitourinary system develop, menstruation becomes painful, a lot of mucus is released from the genital tract, and there is pain in the pelvic region. The symptoms described may not be related to the virus, however, if they do not go away for a long time, it is worth testing for AIDS.

The first signs of HIV in men

In many ways, the symptoms are similar to those in women, but there are also differences. Within five to ten days of infection, a man may notice a red rash or discolored patches of skin throughout the body (petechial, urticarial, and papular rashes). After two weeks, the temperature becomes high, symptoms of flu, ARVI, headache, enlargement of the cervical, inguinal, and axillary lymph nodes are noticeable. Fatigue with drowsiness and apathy are accompanying infections. Sometimes diarrhea occurs, and the liver and spleen may become enlarged.

The first signs of AIDS in women and men

When HIV symptoms, which last about three weeks, subside, a fever often persists for a long time. A “side effect” of immunodeficiency is the duration of any illness. The first manifestations of AIDS are the same for both sexes; mainly the symptoms of intimate diseases differ. In addition, one of the first signs is the difficulty of healing even small wounds and cuts with their prolonged bleeding and suppuration. AIDS often manifests itself in the pulmonary form (severe Pneumocystis pneumonia). The intestines suffer - in addition to diarrhea, dehydration develops and weight is quickly lost. The skin, mucous membranes and tissues of the body are affected - ulcers with erosions are noticeable, which spread the infection and even grow into muscle tissue. Plus, memory becomes worse, the brain does not work actively, and epileptic seizures occur. Malignant brain tumors can be found in the brain and meningitis or encephalitis can be diagnosed. Death usually occurs within six months to two years (sometimes three). It is not so easy to quickly determine AIDS, because its symptoms are similar to those of other diseases, so be careful, monitor your well-being, and periodically undergo examination in a special center.

Elena Malysheva talks about HIV (AIDS)

One of the most terrible diseases today is human immunodeficiency syndrome, caused by the virus of the same name. A large number of scientists have been searching for a cure for AIDS for a long time, but, unfortunately, So far, 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 impact on the immune system, gradually suppressing it. Thus, a person dies not from the virus as such, but from concomitant diseases, since the body loses the 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 by using special diagnostic methods, but some signs can still suggest the presence of a dangerous virus in the body.

The first signs of HIV disease are not clearly expressed and are often confused with a cold or mononucleosis.

Most of us don’t like going to the doctor, especially for such “trifle” things. As a result, time is lost, because The sooner you start taking special medications, the more successful the treatment will be.

It should also be remembered that no matter how long it takes for symptoms to appear, a person becomes a carrier of the disease immediately after the virus enters his blood. Therefore, it is very important to monitor 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 at the initial stage of the disease.

The main symptoms of AIDS appear long after infection.

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

• incubation period may 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 health of a person, his age and other individual characteristics. At this stage of the disease there are practically no symptoms. Doctors also call this phase of the disease 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, a sore throat appears, and the lymph nodes become inflamed. A person in this state feels weak, diarrhea and vomiting often occur, weight loss is noted, and women may 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 caused by infectious diseases, which develop against its background. This includes 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 that covers almost the entire body. Redness usually appears 5-10 days after HIV infection.

The main symptoms of the disease include significant enlargement of the lymph nodes. They become 2-3 times larger, while the skin above them does not change its color. Localization of compactions is observed in the groin, neck and armpit area, while the inflamed lymph nodes are not directly connected to each other.

Symptoms of HIV in men

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

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

1. A pronounced rash on the body. Redness on the skin appears more often in men than in women. In this case, the rash has a brighter color and severity. Such signs appear 3 days after infection, and after some time the redness disappears.
2. Approximately 1-3 months after infection, a man may experience flu-like condition. The temperature rises sharply, painful sensations in the throat, chills and night sweats appear.
3. Symptoms rarely occur one month after infection, but the main one is severe enlargement of lymph nodes, not related to each other.
4. If infection occurs as a result of sexual contact, then symptoms in men may occur in the early stages, such as mucous discharge from the urethra. It may also be felt pain during urination and discomfort in the perineal area.
5. In most cases, there are no symptoms 3 months after infection. This is an asymptomatic stage. At this stage, the man feels completely healthy; special tests cannot detect the virus.

HIV infection appears differently in each person, and the timing of symptoms will also vary. The duration of the incubation and acute periods depend on how strong the man’s immunity is. If he is in good health and in good physical shape, the first symptoms of the disease may appear several years after infection.

Symptoms of HIV in women

The timing of HIV manifestation in women is also unclear. But experts note 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:

• seemingly unreasonable increase in temperature body temperature 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 continue 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 vaginal discharge, after HIV infection, their number increases noticeably;
• frequent headaches and increased irritability.

In addition, women are characterized by symptoms in the early stages such as severe night sweats accompanied by high fever and chills. This condition is called generalized lymphadenopathy. When it becomes regular, serious suspicions arise that the woman is infected with HIV. After some time it is noted sudden 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 can be detected in the blood 3-4 months after infection. At this moment, the next stage of the disease begins.

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 in the stronger sex. You feel flu-like, have a sore throat, etc.

Clear signs of HIV appear in almost all patients a year after infection.

As a rule, at this time the disease moves 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 will never reach the final stage, which is irreversible and is called AIDS.

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

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 any particular impact of HIV infection on the course of pregnancy. HIV-positive and HIV-negative mothers are at approximately the same risk of preterm birth.

Stages

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

The disease occurs in several stages:

1. The first stage is called the incubation period. On average, it lasts about 3 months, but there are exceptions. Once the virus enters the body, it begins to actively invade all cells. During the incubation period, there are no clinical manifestations; antibodies cannot be detected in the blood. The main symptoms of HIV in the early stages appear later.
2. The second stage can occur in different ways. Some patients still have no clinical manifestations; the only reaction to the virus will be the appearance of specific antibodies in the blood. But most often, 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, at this stage, secondary diseases can develop - 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 phase of secondary diseases. During this period, the patient begins to sharply lose weight, he develops viral and fungal diseases, and malignant tumors may appear.
5. The fifth stage is called terminal. At this stage, treatment is no longer effective, since damage to the main body systems is already irreversible.
   The most recent stage of HIV is called AIDS - acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. When the infection turns into this disease, the person dies.

How can you become infected with 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 sexual 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 gender 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 abundantly 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;
• blood contaminated with HIV enters the body of a healthy person. This is possible when transfusion of blood or its products, as well as when using a non-sterile instrument. The chance of contracting HIV in this way is quite low, since today much attention is paid to the health of donors and the sterilization of medical instruments. Bloodborne transmission of the virus is more common among drug users, where multiple people often share the same injection syringe;
• from HIV positive mother to child. The infection process can occur both during pregnancy and during childbirth. Therefore, HIV-infected women rarely give birth on their own; most often, delivery occurs by cesarean section. The risk of infection of a child during breastfeeding is also high; the virus can enter the bloodstream through microcracks in the child’s mouth. Doctors do not recommend that sick women feed their newborns with their own breast milk.

Since HIV infection does not manifest itself for a long time, its detection in the early stages is only possible 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.