HIV (HIV infection) is a disease that is provoked by the immunodeficiency virus and greatly reduces the body’s defense system.
- HIV-1 (a common virus, the main causative agent of HIV infection);
- HIV-2 (a less common virus, found mainly in West Africa).
- incubation stage;
- stage of primary manifestations;
- latent stage;
- stage of secondary diseases;
- terminal stage (AIDS).
Causes
The main cause of the disease is the immunodeficiency virus, which, when it enters the blood, destroys immune cells, thereby weakening the body’s defense system.
- during sexual intercourse;
- during childbirth from mother to fetus;
- during the period of feeding the baby with breast milk;
- during injections with needles used by a sick person;
- at the time of the piercing procedure, tattooing with untreated instruments.
HIV infection is not transmitted through personal contact.
Symptoms of HIV
- fever, skin rashes, rashes on mucous membranes, pharyngitis, diarrhea, herpes, fungal infections (stage of primary manifestations);
- enlarged lymph nodes (latent stage);
- the occurrence of viral, bacterial, fungal diseases, malignant tumors (stage of secondary diseases).
If you experience similar symptoms, consult your doctor immediately.
It is easier to prevent a disease than to deal with the consequences.
Diagnostics
To diagnose HIV infection, an infectious disease doctor conducts a number of studies:
- general and biochemical blood test;
- PCR diagnostics;
- serological study;
- virological study.
HIV treatment
- treatment of secondary infections (antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral drugs);
- antiretroviral drugs;
- vitamins;
- biologically active substances;
- physiotherapeutic procedures.
Immunostimulating drugs should not be taken as they contribute to the progression of the infection.
Danger
HIV infection is dangerous because, due to a weakened immune system, the patient is susceptible to any infection. The final stage of HIV is AIDS, which is fatal.
Risk group
- people who inject drugs;
- persons practicing unprotected sex;
- people who require frequent blood transfusions;
- children born to mothers with HIV;
- medical workers.
Prevention
- protection during sexual intercourse;
- timely treatment of sexually transmitted diseases;
- do not reuse disposable syringes;
- sterilization of medical instruments before each use.
Treatment of HIV is based on the use of a group of medications that help stop the process of reproduction of the immunodeficiency virus, thereby prolonging a person’s life. There are entire regimens used to treat patients who have been HIV-infected. There are also treatment principles that must be strictly adhered to.
Is there a cure for HIV infection?
It is completely impossible to cure, even despite cutting-edge technologies and existing drugs. But it is possible to maintain the patient’s health. In recent years, a number of drugs have been developed that prevent the virus from multiplying and significantly strengthen the immune system. After such therapy, the immunodeficiency virus is difficult to detect during repeated tests. The main thing is to adhere to these rules:- You need to take medications strictly at the same time;
- it is important to follow the dosage;
- You must adhere to a special diet;
- you cannot interrupt the course of treatment.
If the rules of therapy are not followed, the patient is susceptible to the development of complications. These can be oncological pathologies, gangrene, heart disease and death.
How effective can the treatment be?
In the presence of the human immunodeficiency virus, antiretroviral therapy is used, thanks to which (if you do not violate the rules and treatment regimens) a protective psychological regime is created, life is prolonged, and its quality is improved. The period of remission is also extended and the development of complications is prevented.To achieve maximum effectiveness, you need to reduce your viral load and increase your CD4 count. This will reduce the risk of a healthy partner getting infected from a sick person.
Treatment regimens and principles
Principles of therapy against immunodeficiency virus:- It is very important to support the infected person on a psychological level.
- The state provides patients with free medicines.
- Before treatment, a complex is prescribed that will determine the degree of HIV, the course of the disease, the presence of concomitant pathologies and complications.
- Treatment should be antiviral, symptomatic and pathogenetic.
- The treatment regimen and dosage are prescribed based on the patient’s condition, viral load level, existing diseases, severity of HIV, and the presence of complicated consequences.
- Primary and secondary tests are required.
- Scheme No. 1 involves the use of a combination method of therapy. The patient must take 2 types of drugs from the NRTI group and 1 type of PI. This is the most optimal scheme.
- Regimen No. 2. In this case, 2 NRTI drugs and 1 NNRTI are also used.
- Scheme No. 3. Only one group of drugs is used - NRTIs, you need to take 3 drugs.
The immunodeficiency virus has a high degree of viability, so over time it begins to mutate and acquire resistance, that is, it becomes resistant to the effects of drugs. For this reason, after six months or a year the patient is prescribed a new treatment regimen.
We present to your attention a video from which you can learn about the main principles of HIV treatment, the effectiveness of therapy and other nuances.
Medicines for treatment
The main drugs used to treat immunodeficiency virus:
- NRTI group stands for nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. The most commonly used drugs: Lamivudine, Abacovir, Didanosine, Zalcitabine, Phosphazide, Zidovudine, Stavudine.
- NNRTI, that is, non-nucleoside inhibitors of viral reverse transcriptase. Drugs: Ifavirenz, Etravirine, Delavirdine, Nevirapine.
- IP– protease inhibitors. Protease is a viral enzyme. Drugs: Indinavir, Atazanavir, Saquinavir, Darunavir, Ritonavir, Lopinavir, Nelfinavir.
Therapy must include immunomodulatory drugs, which stimulate the work of lymphocytes. After all, it is these substances that are suppressed in large quantities when the immune system is weakened.
Before prescribing drug therapy, the doctor analyzes significant factors:
- how quickly the disease progresses;
- what is the degree of immune deficiency (the level of weakening of the immune system);
- is there a high risk of further rapid development of immunodeficiency;
- How conscientious the patient is about therapy and compliance with all instructions.
- For Pneumocystis pneumonia, which is manifested by shortness of breath and cough, Biseptol and Clindamycin are prescribed.
- For cerebral toxoplasmosis, the doctor will prescribe Doxycycline, Fansidar, and 5-fluorouracil. This disease is considered dangerous as it can be fatal.
- If present in the oral cavity or genitals, the following antiviral agents are used: Valacyclovir, Famciclovir, Acyclovir.
- For cytomegalovirus infection, which is typical in the presence of HIV, Ganciclovir or Cymevene is used.
- Cryptococcosis often occurs against the background of the human immunodeficiency virus, so the doctor may prescribe antibacterial drugs: Fluconazole, Amphotericin B.
- If Kaposi's sarcoma develops, and this happens only in the later stages of HIV, then the patient is prescribed chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Medicines used: Doxorubicin, Bleomycin, Vinblastine.
- For tuberculosis, the patient must take additional medications that are used for uninfected people.
Folk recipes
Thanks to this, the general condition of the infected patient improves. After all, many medicinal herbs can boost immunity and generally strengthen the entire immune system. Not only herbs are used, but also other means:- Banana kvass. Buy a few ripe bananas, wash them thoroughly and wipe them with a paper towel. Peel the bananas. The pulp can be eaten, and kvass can be made from the skin. Grind them, you should have 3-4 cups of skins. Place them in a glass container (3 liter jar) and add 200 grams of sugar. Be sure to add a spoonful of homemade sour cream. Stir the mixture and fill with warm water to the very top. Cover the jar with gauze and secure. You need to put the kvass in a warm place, for example, near a heating radiator. Kvass will ferment for 14-16 days. After preparation, leave about a liter of liquid in the jar, and consume the rest 50 ml orally 3-4 times a day strictly before meals. Use the kvass remaining in the common jar to prepare a new portion of this healing drink.
- Do St. John's wort decoction, as it suppresses the symptoms of HIV. For 50 grams of herb, take 25 grams of sea buckthorn oil (preferably natural). Pour dry water, boil for 10 minutes, let it brew. When the broth is warm, add oil. Leave the mixture for 3-5 days to infuse. Take 100 ml four times a day.
- Drink throughout the day green tea. The kakhetins it contains inhibit the development of the virus. Drinking 2-3 cups a day is enough.
- There is such a rare plant as sprunela. If you manage to get it (rarely found in pharmacies), be sure to prepare a healing decoction. For 50 grams of dry herb you will need one and a half liters of boiling water. Pour in the herb and let sit for 3-4 hours. Next, strain and add 50 grams of nettle. Put on fire and cook for an hour. Strain the broth again. You should drink a glass of the drug per day.
- It will help cleanse the blood of viruses root part. Brew in the usual way (indicated on the package), strain and add honey to taste. Take 200 ml on an empty stomach.
- Decoction or tincture of calendula. The tincture should be taken according to the following scheme: drink 2 drops diluted in water on an empty stomach. Then take 1 more drop every hour and 2 more before bedtime. The consumption schedule is 3/3, that is, take the tincture for the first 3 days, take a break for the next 3 days, and so on. The decoction is prepared according to the instructions on the package; it should be taken 1-2 times a day for a week, and then take a break.
Therapy at various stages of HIV infection
Stage one. At the first stage of development of the immunodeficiency virus, therapy is not prescribed, but chemoprophylaxis is carried out. Medicines are used that are prescribed only by the attending physician.Stage two. The second stage is divided into types:
- A: Therapy is not usually prescribed. But if the CD4 lymphocyte count is less than 200/cub. mm, then drugs are selected.
- B: if the CD4 lymphocyte count exceeds 350/cc. mm, then therapy is not needed.
- Q: If the CD4 count exceeds 350/cc. mm, treatment is not prescribed, but if there are symptoms of the 4th degree, therapy is carried out.
Stage four. In this case, treatment is required. Especially if the CD4 count is less than 350/cc. mm.
Stage five. Lifelong therapy is prescribed.
The human immunodeficiency virus is a pathology that destroys the body's natural defenses. Its danger is that it reduces the body's resistance to various infections, contributing to the development of serious diseases and their complications.
It is completely impossible to cure the disease, since its structure is constantly changing, which does not allow pharmacists to create substances that can destroy it. Treatment for HIV infection is aimed at strengthening the immune system and blocking the activity of the virus.
The disease has four stages, the last of which – AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) – is terminal.
HIV infection has a very long incubation period. After entering the body, the virus does not manifest itself for a long time, but continues to destroy the immune system. A person begins to get sick more severely and for a longer period of time, since the immune system is unable to cope even with “harmless” infections, which give complications, worsening health conditions more and more.
At the terminal stage, the immune system is completely destroyed, which gives impetus to the development of oncological tumors, severe damage to the liver, kidneys, heart, respiratory system, etc. The result is the death of the patient from one of the diseases of these organs.
HIV has four types, of which the first two are diagnosed in 95% of cases of infection, the third and fourth are extremely rare.
The virus is not resistant to environmental influences, antiseptics, alcohol solutions, and acetone. It also does not tolerate high temperatures and dies already at 56 degrees within half an hour, and when boiled it is destroyed instantly.
At the same time, its cells remain viable when frozen (they are able to “live” 5-6 days at a temperature of 22 degrees); in solutions of narcotic substances they remain active for about three weeks.
For a long time, HIV was considered a disease of drug addicts, homosexuals and women of easy virtue. Today, among the carriers of the virus there are people with high social status and heterosexual orientation. Neither adults nor children are immune from infection. The main route of transmission is biological body fluids. Pathogenic cells are found in:
- blood;
- lymph;
- sperm;
- cerebrospinal fluid;
- vaginal secretion;
- breast milk.
The risk of infection increases in proportion to the number of pathogenic cells in these fluids, and at least ten thousand viral particles are required to transmit infection.
Methods of infection
The main routes of transmission of the virus are considered to be
- Unprotected sexual intercourse.
According to statistics, infection through this route is diagnosed in 75% of patients, but the risk of transmitting pathogenic cells is the lowest: about 30% of sexual partners become infected during the first vaginal contact, about 50% during anal contact, and less than 5% during oral contact.
The risk of genitourinary pathologies (gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, fungi), trauma and microdamage to the mucous membranes of intimate organs (scratches, ulcers, erosions, anal fissures, etc.), and frequent sexual contact with an infected person increases the risk.
Women are more likely to accept the virus than men, since the area of the vagina and direct contact with pathogenic cells is larger.
- Intravenous injections.
The second most popular way, since more than half of drug addicts suffer from it. The reasons are the use of one syringe or utensils to prepare the solution, as well as unprotected intimate contacts with dubious partners while under the influence of drugs.
- Intrauterine path.
During pregnancy, the risk of the virus entering the placenta does not exceed 25%; natural childbirth and breastfeeding increase it by another 10%.
- Penetrating wounds from non-sterile instruments: infection occurs during surgical operations in dubious clinics, tattooing, manicure procedures, etc.
- Direct blood transfusion, untested organ transplantation.
If the donor is HIV positive, transmission is 100%.
The possibility of infection depends on the strength of the recipient's immunity. If the natural defense is strong, the course of the disease will be weaker and the incubation period itself will be longer.
Manifestations of pathology
Symptoms of HIV infection are a manifestation of treatable diseases caused by a weakened immune system, which makes diagnosis very difficult, since a person takes only the necessary tests, treats the consequences of the disease, without even knowing about his true status. There are slight differences depending on the stages of infection.
There are no symptoms characteristic of the virus: the manifestations of the disease are individual and depend on the general health of the patient and the diseases caused by it.
The first stage is the incubation period. This is the initial stage, developing from the moment pathogenic cells enter the body until one year. In some patients, the first symptoms appear within a couple of weeks, in others - no earlier than several months.
The average incubation period is one and a half to three months. During this period, symptoms are completely absent; even tests do not show the presence of the virus. A dangerous disease can be detected at an early stage only if a person has encountered one of the possible routes of infection.
The second stage is the stage of primary manifestations. They arise as a reaction of the immune system to the active proliferation of harmful cells. Usually occurs 2-3 months after infection, lasting from two weeks to several months.
It can happen in different ways
- Asymptomatic when the body produces antibodies and there are no signs of infection.
- Spicy.
The stage is typical for 15-30% of patients; the manifestations are similar to those of acute infectious pathologies:
- temperature increase;
- fever;
- enlarged lymph nodes;
- skin rashes;
- bowel disorders;
- inflammatory processes of the upper respiratory tract;
- increase in the size of the liver and spleen.
In rare cases, the development of autoimmune pathologies is possible.
- Acute with secondary pathologies – typical for most patients.
Weakened immunity allows existing representatives of opportunistic microflora to actively reproduce, which leads to exacerbation or the emergence of infectious diseases. At this stage, it is not difficult to cure them, but soon their relapses become more frequent.
The third stage is a deterioration in the functioning and condition of the lymphatic system. Lasts from two to 15 years, depending on how the immune system copes with viral cells. Enlargement of lymph nodes occurs in groups (except for the inguinal ones) that are not interconnected.
After three months, their size returns to a healthy state, pain on palpation disappears, elasticity and mobility return. Sometimes relapses occur.
The fourth stage is terminal – the development of AIDS. The immune system is practically destroyed, the virus itself multiplies unhindered. All remaining healthy cells are susceptible to destruction, many of them degenerate into malignant ones, and severe infectious pathologies develop.
AIDS also occurs in four stages
- The first occurs after 6-10 years. It is characterized by a decrease in body weight, rashes on the skin and mucous membranes containing purulent contents, fungal and viral infections, and diseases of the upper respiratory tract. It is possible to cope with infectious processes, but therapy is long-term.
- The second develops after another 2-3 years. Weight loss continues, body temperature rises to 38-39 degrees, weakness and drowsiness occur. Frequent diarrhea, lesions of the oral mucosa, fungal and viral lesions of the skin are observed, the manifestations of all previously diagnosed infectious pathologies intensify, and pulmonary tuberculosis develops.
Conventional medications are unable to cope with the disease; only antiretroviral therapy can alleviate the symptoms.
- The third stage occurs 10-12 years after infection. Symptoms: exhaustion, weakness, lack of appetite. Pneumonia develops, viral infections worsen, and healing of their manifestations does not occur. Pathogenic microflora covers all internal and external organs and their systems, diseases are acute and give new complications.
The duration of HIV infection from the moment of infection until the death of the patient varies from person to person. Some die after 2-3 years, others live 20 years or more. Cases have been recorded of people dying from the virus within a few months. A person’s lifespan depends on his general health and the type of virus that has entered the body.
Features of HIV in adults and children
The clinical picture of the disease in representatives of the stronger sex does not differ from the manifestations that develop when the immune system is weakened. Girls suffer the infection more severely, as they begin to experience menstrual irregularities.
Menstruation occurs with severe pain, becomes heavy, and bleeding is observed in the middle of the cycle. A frequent complication of the virus is malignant formations of the reproductive system. Cases of inflammation of the genitourinary system are becoming more frequent, and their course is more severe and longer.
In babies and newborns, the disease does not manifest itself for a long time; there are no external signs. The only symptom by which one can suspect the presence of pathology is a delay in the mental and physical development of the child.
Diagnosis of the disease
It is difficult to detect HIV at an early stage, since the symptoms are absent or similar to the manifestations of treatable pathologies: inflammatory processes, allergies, infectious diseases. The disease can be detected by chance, during a routine medical examination, admission to a hospital, or registration during pregnancy.
The main diagnostic method is a special test, which can be done both in the clinic and at home.
There are a lot of diagnostic methods. Every year, scientists develop new tests and improve old ones, reducing the number of false positive and false negative results.
The main material for research is human blood, but there are tests that can make a preliminary diagnosis by examining saliva or urine using scrapings from the surface of the oral cavity. They have not yet found widespread use, but are used for home preliminary diagnostics.
HIV testing in adults is carried out in three stages:
- screening test - gives a preliminary result, helps to identify people who have been infected;
- reference – carried out to persons whose screening results are positive;
- confirming – establishes the final diagnosis and duration of presence of the virus in the body.
This phased examination is associated with the high cost of research: each subsequent analysis is more complex and expensive, so it is not economically feasible to carry out a full complex for all citizens. During the study, antigens are identified - cells or particles of the virus, antibodies - leukocytes produced by the immune system to pathogenic cells.
The presence of harmful cells can be determined only after seroconversion is achieved - a state when the number of antibodies is sufficient to be detected by test systems. From the moment of infection until the onset of seroconversion, a “window period” occurs: during this time, transmission of the virus is already possible, but no test can detect it. This period lasts from six to twelve weeks.
If the diagnostic results are positive, you should contact your doctor to prescribe antiretroviral therapy. Which doctor treats HIV infection? An infectious disease specialist who is usually present at the central clinic of a city or regional center.
Treatment of human immunodeficiency virus
Once the virus enters the body, it remains there forever. Although research into the infection has been going on for decades, scientists have not been able to invent drugs that can destroy pathogenic cells. Therefore, almost 100 years after the discovery of the virus, the answer to the question of whether HIV infection can be treated remains a sad “No.”
But medicine is constantly inventing drugs that can slow down the activity of HIV, reduce the risks of developing pathologies, help cope with them faster and prolong the life of the infected person, making it full. Treatment of HIV infection involves taking antiretroviral therapy drugs, prevention and treatment of concomitant inflammatory processes.
Therapy is taking medications, but it is impossible to cure immunodeficiency using traditional medicine. Refusal of pharmaceutical products in favor of unconventional recipes is a direct path to the development of AIDS and the death of the patient.
The effectiveness of treatment depends on many factors, but the most important condition for therapy is the patient’s responsible attitude towards the prescribed treatment. In order for it to produce results, medications should be taken at a strictly defined time, their dosage should be observed, and interruptions in treatment should not be allowed. Diet and healthy lifestyle are also recommended.
If these recommendations are followed, the number of protective cells increases dramatically, the virus is blocked, and even highly sensitive tests often cannot detect it. Otherwise, the disease continues to progress and leads to dysfunction of vital organs: heart, liver, lungs, endocrine system.
For HIV infection, the most effective treatment is antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Its main task is to prevent the development of complications and concomitant pathologies that can shorten the patient’s life. HAART also helps improve the patient’s quality of life and make it full.
If therapy is carried out correctly, the virus goes into remission and secondary pathologies do not develop. Such treatment also has a positive effect on the psychological state of the infected person: feeling supported and knowing that the disease can be “slowed down,” he returns to his usual way of life.
In our country, all antiretroviral drugs are provided to a person free of charge after he receives the status of an HIV-positive patient.
Features of antiretroviral therapy
HAART is prescribed on an individual basis, and the tablets included in it depend on the stage of development of the infection. At the initial stage, specialized treatment is not prescribed; it is recommended to take vitamins and special mineral complexes that help strengthen the body’s natural defenses.
Chemotherapy is indicated as a preventive method, but only for those individuals who have been in contact with an HIV-positive person or a potential carrier of the virus. Such prevention is effective only in the first 72 hours after possible infection.
In the second and subsequent stages, therapy is prescribed based on the results of clinical tests that determine the state of immunity. The terminal stage, that is, the presence of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, requires mandatory medication. In pediatrics, HAART is always prescribed, regardless of the clinical stage of the child’s disease.
This approach to treatment is determined by the standards of the Ministry of Health. But new research shows that early initiation of antiretroviral therapy produces better treatment results and a more positive effect on the patient's condition and life expectancy.
HAART includes several types of drugs that are combined with each other. Since the virus gradually loses sensitivity to the active substances, the combinations are changed from time to time, which makes it possible to increase the effectiveness of treatment.
Several years ago, scientists introduced a synthetic drug called Quad, which included the main properties of prescribed drugs. A huge advantage of the medicine is taking only one tablet per day, which greatly facilitates treatment. This remedy has virtually no side effects, is easier to tolerate by the body, and solves the problem of loss of sensitivity to active components.
Many patients are interested in whether it is possible to block the activity of the virus using traditional methods and how to treat HIV infection at home? It should be remembered that such treatment is possible, but only if it is auxiliary and agreed with the treating doctor.
Folk recipes are shown to strengthen the body's defenses. This can include decoctions and infusions of medicinal herbs, the use of gifts of nature rich in vitamins, minerals and beneficial microelements.
Preventive actions
The immunodeficiency virus is a disease that can be prevented, but it cannot be cured. Today, developed countries have developed special programs aimed at preventing HIV and AIDS, which are monitored at the state level. Every person should know the basics of preventive measures, since there is no guarantee that infection will not occur.
You can avoid serious pathology if you treat your own intimate life responsibly. You should avoid sexual contact with questionable people, and always use condoms when having sex with a new sexual partner about whose condition there is no reliable information.
It is important that the sex partner is one and permanent, and has medical reports confirming the absence of HIV.
One of the popular myths is that a condom is unable to protect against the virus, since the latex pores are larger than the virus cells. This is wrong. Today, barrier contraception is the only way to prevent infection during sexual intercourse.
If a person suffers from drug addiction and injects drugs, he should always use disposable medical instruments, give injections with sterile gloves, and have individual containers for preparing a narcotic solution. To avoid becoming a victim of direct transmission of the virus through the blood, you should refuse blood transfusions.
To carry out procedures where there is access to blood, choose trusted establishments, ensure that their employees carry out all manipulations with gloves, and that instruments are disinfected in the presence of the client.
If HIV is present in a woman who is preparing to become a mother, the baby’s condition is monitored throughout the pregnancy. Cesarean section and refusal of breastfeeding can reduce the risk of infection of the child. It will be possible to determine the baby’s HIV status no earlier than six months later, when the mother’s antibodies to the virus leave the baby’s body.
Artificial insemination methods can prevent severe infection in a child.
An expectant HIV-positive mother should eliminate all factors that reduce the baby’s immunity: stop smoking, stop drinking alcohol, eat more vitamins, cure all infectious and inflammatory diseases, treat chronic ailments to prevent their recurrence during pregnancy.
By following these rules, you can prevent infection with a dangerous pathology and prevent its transmission to healthy people. Since there is no cure for the disease, the only way to rid the world of the virus is to block its spread.
Good day, dear readers!
In today's article we will look at such a serious disease as HIV infection, and everything connected with it - causes, how it is transmitted, first signs, symptoms, stages of development, types, tests, tests, diagnosis, treatment, medications, prevention and other useful information. So…
What does HIV mean?
HIV infection in children
HIV infection in children is in many cases accompanied by developmental delays (physical and psychomotor), frequent infectious diseases, pneumonitis, encephalopathy, hyperplasia of the pulmonary lymphatics, and hemorrhagic syndrome. Moreover, HIV infection in children acquired from infected mothers is characterized by a more rapid course and progression.
The main cause of HIV infection is infection with the human immunodeficiency virus. The cause of AIDS is also the same virus, because AIDS is the last stage of development of HIV infection.
is a slowly developing virus belonging to the family of retroviruses (Retroviridae) and the genus of lentiviruses (Lentivirus). It is the word “lente” translated from Latin that means “slow”, which partially characterizes this infection, which develops quite slowly from the moment it enters the body until the last stage.
The size of the human immunodeficiency virus is only about 100-120 nanometers, which is almost 60 times smaller than the diameter of a blood particle - an erythrocyte.
The complexity of HIV lies in its frequent genetic changes during the process of self-reproduction - almost every virus differs from its predecessor by at least 1 nucleotide.
In nature, as of 2017, 4 types of virus are known - HIV-1 (HIV-1), HIV-2 (HIV-2), HIV-3 (HIV-3) and HIV-4 (HIV-4), each of which differs in genome structure and other properties.
It is HIV-1 infection that plays a role in the disease of most HIV-infected people, therefore, when the subtype number is not indicated, 1 is implied by default.
The source of HIV is people infected with the virus.
The main routes of infection are: injections (especially injection drugs), transfusions (blood, plasma, red blood cells) or organ transplantation, unprotected sexual contact with a stranger, unnatural sex (anal, oral), trauma during childbirth, feeding a baby with breast milk (if the mother is infected), trauma during childbirth, the use of undisinfected medical or cosmetic items (scalpel, needles, scissors, tattoo machines, dental and other instruments).
For HIV infection and its further spread throughout the body and development, it is necessary that the infected blood, mucus, sperm and other biomaterials of the patient enter the human bloodstream or lymphatic system.
An interesting fact is that some people have an innate defense against the human immunodeficiency virus in their bodies, so they are resistant to HIV. The following elements have such protective properties: the CCR5 protein, the TRIM5a protein, the CAML protein (calcium-modulated cyclophilin ligand), as well as the interferon-inducible transmembrane protein CD317/BST-2 (“tetherin”).
By the way, the CD317 protein, in addition to retroviruses, also actively counteracts arenaviruses, filoviruses and herpesviruses. The cofactor for CD317 is the cellular protein BCA2.
HIV Risk Groups
- Drug addicts, mainly injecting drug users;
- Sexual partners of drug addicts;
- Persons who are promiscuous, as well as those who engage in unnatural sex;
- Prostitutes and their clients;
- Donors and people in need of blood transfusion or organ transplantation;
- People suffering from sexually transmitted diseases;
- Doctors.
The classification of HIV infection is as follows:
Classification by clinical manifestations (in the Russian Federation and some CIS countries):
1. Incubation stage.
2. The stage of primary manifestations, which, depending on the course options, can be:
- without clinical manifestations (asymptomatic);
- acute course without secondary diseases;
- acute course with secondary diseases;
3. Subclinical stage.
4. The stage of secondary diseases caused by damage to the body by viruses, bacteria, fungi and other types of infection that develop against the background of weakened immunity. Downstream it is divided into:
A) body weight decreases by less than 10%, as well as frequently recurring infectious diseases of the skin and mucous membranes - pharyngitis, otitis media, herpes zoster, angular cheilitis ();
B) body weight decreases by more than 10%, as well as persistent and often recurring infectious diseases of the skin, mucous membranes and internal organs - sinusitis, pharyngitis, herpes zoster, or diarrhea (diarrhea) for a month, localized Kaposi's sarcoma;
C) body weight is significantly reduced (cachexia), as well as persistent generalized infectious diseases of the respiratory, digestive, nervous and other systems - candidiasis (trachea, bronchi, lungs, esophagus), Pneumocystis pneumonia, extrapulmonary tuberculosis, herpes, encephalopathy, meningitis, cancer tumors (disseminated Kaposi's sarcoma).
All options for the course of the 4th stage have the following phases:
- progression of pathology in the absence of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART);
- progression of pathology during HAART;
- remission during or after HAART.
5. Terminal stage (AIDS).
The above classification largely coincides with the classification approved by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Classification by clinical manifestations (CDC - US Center for Disease Control and Prevention):
The CDC classification includes not only the clinical manifestations of the disease, but also the number of CD4 + T-lymphocytes in 1 μl of blood. It is based on the division of HIV infection into only 2 categories: the disease itself and AIDS. If the following parameters meet criteria A3, B3, C1, C2 and C3, the patient is considered as having AIDS.
Symptoms according to CDC category:
A (acute retroviral syndrome) – characterized by an asymptomatic course or generalized lymphadenopathy (GLAP).
B (AIDS-associated complex syndromes) - may be accompanied by oral candidiasis, herpes zoster, cervical dysplasia, peripheral neuropathy, organic lesions, idiopathic thrombocytopenia, leukoplakia or listeriosis.
C (AIDS)-can be accompanied by candidiasis of the respiratory tract (from oropharynx to lungs) and/or esophagus, pneumocystosis, pneumonia, herpetic esophagitis, HIV-enemy, histoplasmosis, mycobacteriosis, cytomegalovirus infection, cryptosporiasis, coccyidia, coccyid, and coccyxual, coccyxy coccyx uterus, sarcoma Kaposi, lymphoma, salmonellosis and other diseases.
Diagnosis of HIV infection
Diagnosis of HIV infection includes the following examination methods:
- Anamnesis;
- Visual examination of the patient;
- Screening test (detection of blood antibodies to infection using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay - ELISA);
- A test confirming the presence of antibodies in the blood (blood testing using the immune blotting method (blot)), which is carried out only if the result of the screening test is positive;
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR);
- Tests for immune status (counting CD4 + lymphocytes - performed using automatic analyzers (flow cytometry method) or manually using microscopes);
- Viral load analysis (counting the number of HIV RNA copies per milliliter of blood plasma);
- Rapid tests for HIV - diagnosis is made using ELISA on test strips, agglutination reaction, immunochromatography or immunological filtration analysis.
Tests alone are not enough to diagnose AIDS. Confirmation occurs only with the additional presence of 2 or more opportunistic diseases associated with this syndrome.
HIV infection - treatment
Treatment of HIV infection is possible only after a thorough diagnosis. However, unfortunately, as of 2017, officially, adequate therapy and medications that would completely eliminate the human immunodeficiency virus and cure the patient have not been established.
The only modern treatment for HIV infection today is highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), which is aimed at slowing the progression of the disease and stopping its transition to the AIDS stage. Thanks to HAART, a person’s life can be extended for several decades; the only condition is lifelong use of appropriate medications.
The insidiousness of the human immunodeficiency virus is also its mutation. So, if anti-HIV medications are not changed after some time, which is determined based on constant monitoring of the disease, the virus adapts and the prescribed treatment regimen becomes ineffective. Therefore, at different intervals, the doctor changes the treatment regimen, and with it the medications. The reason for changing the drug may also be the patient’s individual intolerance to it.
Modern drug development is aimed not only at achieving the goal of effectiveness against HIV, but also at reducing side effects from them.
The effectiveness of treatment also increases with changes in a person’s lifestyle, improving its quality - healthy sleep, proper nutrition, avoiding stress, an active lifestyle, positive emotions, etc.
Thus, the following points can be highlighted in the treatment of HIV infection:
- Drug treatment of HIV infection;
- Diet;
- Preventive actions.
Important! Before using medications, be sure to consult your doctor for advice!
1. Drug treatment of HIV infection
At the beginning, we must immediately remind you once again that AIDS is the last stage of the development of HIV infection, and it is at this stage that a person usually has very little time left to live. Therefore, it is very important to prevent the development of AIDS, and this largely depends on timely diagnosis and adequate treatment of HIV infection. We also noted that the only method of treating HIV today is considered to be highly active antiretroviral therapy, which, according to statistics, reduces the risk of developing AIDS to almost 1-2%.
Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)– a method of treating HIV infection based on the simultaneous use of three or four drugs (tritherapy). The number of drugs is related to the mutagenicity of the virus, and in order to bind it at this stage for as long as possible, the doctor selects a complex of drugs. Each of the drugs, depending on the principle of action, is included in a separate group - reverse transcriptase inhibitors (nucleoside and non-nucleoside), integrase inhibitors, protease inhibitors, receptor inhibitors and fusion inhibitors (fusion inhibitors).
HAART has the following goals:
- Virological – aimed at stopping the reproduction and spread of HIV, which is indicated by reducing the viral load by 10 times or more in just 30 days, to 20-50 copies/ml or less in 16-24 weeks, as well as maintaining these indicators for as long as possible;
- Immunological – aimed at restoring the normal functioning and health of the immune system, which is due to the restoration of the number of CD4 lymphocytes and an adequate immune response to infection;
- Clinical – aimed at preventing the formation of secondary infectious diseases and AIDS, which makes it possible to conceive a child.
Medicines for HIV infection
Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors– the mechanism of action is based on the competitive suppression of the HIV enzyme, which ensures the creation of DNA, which is based on the RNA of the virus. It is the first group of drugs against retroviruses. Well tolerated. Side effects include: lactic acidosis, bone marrow suppression, polyneuropathy and lipoatrophy. The substance is excreted from the body through the kidneys.
Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors include abacavir (Ziagen), zidovudine (Azidothymidine, Zidovirine, Retrovir, Timazid), lamivudine (Virolam, Heptavir-150, Lamivudine-3TC ", "Epivir"), stavudine ("Aktastav", "Zerit", "Stavudin"), tenofovir ("Viread", "Tenvir"), phosphazide ("Nikavir"), emtricitabine ("Emtriva"), as well as complexes abacavir + lamivudine (Kivexa, Epzicom), zidovudine + lamivudine (Combivir), tenofovir + emtricitabine (Truvada) and zidovudine + lamivudine + abacavir (Trizivir).
Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors– delavirdine (Rescriptor), nevirapine (Viramune), rilpivirine (Edurant), efavirenz (Regast, Sustiva), etravirine (Intelence).
Integrase inhibitors— the mechanism of action is based on blocking the viral enzyme, which is involved in the integration of viral DNA into the genome of the target cell, after which a provirus is formed.
Integrase inhibitors include dolutegravir (Tivicay), raltegravir (Isentress), and elvitegravir (Vitecta).
Protease inhibitors— the mechanism of action is based on blocking the viral protease enzyme (retropepsin), which is directly involved in the cleavage of Gag-Pol polyproteins into individual proteins, after which the mature proteins of the human immunodeficiency virus virion are actually formed.
Protease inhibitors include amprenavir (“Agenerase”), darunavir (“Prezista”), indinavir (“Crixivan”), nelfinavir (“Viracept”), ritonavir (“Norvir”, “Ritonavir”), saquinavir-INV (“ Invirase"), tipranavir ("Aptivus"), fosamprenavir ("Lexiva", "Telzir"), as well as the combination drug lopinavir + ritonavir ("Kaletra").
Receptor inhibitors— the mechanism of action is based on blocking the penetration of HIV into the target cell, which is due to the effect of the substance on the coreceptors CXCR4 and CCR5.
Receptor inhibitors include maraviroc (Celsentri).
Fusion inhibitors (fusion inhibitors)— the mechanism of action is based on blocking the last stage of the introduction of the virus into the target cell.
Among the fusion inhibitors, one can highlight enfuvirtide (Fuzeon).
The use of HAART during pregnancy reduces the risk of transmission of infection from an infected mother to a child to 1%, although without this therapy the percentage of infection of the child is about 20%.
Side effects from the use of HAART medications include pancreatitis, anemia, skin rashes, kidney stones, peripheral neuropathy, lactic acidosis, hyperlipidemia, lipodystrophy, as well as Fanconi syndrome, Stevens-Johnson syndrome and others.
The diet for HIV infection is aimed at preventing the patient from losing weight, as well as providing the body’s cells with the necessary energy and, of course, stimulating and maintaining the normal functioning of not only the immune system, but also other systems.
It is also necessary to pay attention to the certain vulnerability of an immune system weakened by infection, so protect yourself from infection with other types of infection - be sure to follow the rules of personal hygiene and cooking rules.
Nutrition for HIV/AIDS should:
2. Be high in calories, which is why it is recommended to add butter, mayonnaise, cheese, and sour cream to food.
3. Drink plenty of fluids, it is especially useful to drink decoctions and freshly squeezed juices with plenty of vitamin C, which stimulates the immune system - decoction, juices (apple, grape, cherry).
4. Be frequent, 5-6 times a day, but in small portions.
5. Water for drinking and cooking must be purified. Avoid eating expired foods, undercooked meat, raw eggs, and unpasteurized milk.
What can you eat if you have HIV infection:
- Soups - vegetable, cereal, with noodles, meat broth, maybe with the addition of butter;
- Meat - beef, turkey, chicken, lungs, liver, lean fish (preferably sea);
- Cereals – buckwheat, pearl barley, rice, millet and oatmeal;
- Porridge - with the addition of dried fruits, honey, jam;
- Bread;
- Fats – sunflower oil, butter, margarine;
- Plant foods (vegetables, fruits, berries) - carrots, potatoes, cabbage, zucchini, pumpkin, legumes, peas, apples, grapes, plums and others;
- Sweets - honey, jam, marmalade, jam, marmalade, pastille, sugar, sweet pastries (no more than once a month).
Also, with HIV infection and AIDS, there is a shortage of such and
3. Preventive measures
Preventive measures for HIV infection that must be followed during treatment include:
- Avoiding repeated contact with infection;
- Healthy sleep;
- Compliance with personal hygiene rules;
- Avoiding the possibility of infection with other types of infection -, and others;
- Avoiding stress;
- Timely wet cleaning in the place of residence;
- Avoidance of prolonged exposure to sunlight;
- Complete cessation of alcoholic beverages and smoking;
- Good nutrition;
- Active lifestyle;
- Holidays at sea, in the mountains, i.e. in the most environmentally friendly places.
We will look at additional HIV prevention measures at the end of the article.
Important!
Before using folk remedies against HIV infection, be sure to consult your doctor!
St. John's wort. Pour well-dried chopped herbs into an enamel pan and fill it with 1 liter of soft purified water, then put the container on the fire. After the product boils, cook the product for another 1 hour over low heat, then remove, cool, strain and pour the broth into a jar. Add 50 g of sea buckthorn oil to the decoction, mix thoroughly and set aside in a cool place to infuse for 2 days. You need to take the product 50 g 3-4 times a day.
Licorice. Pour 50 g of chopped into an enamel pan, fill it with 1 liter of purified water and place on the stove over high heat. After bringing to a boil, reduce the heat to minimum and simmer for about 1 hour. Then remove the broth from the stove, cool it, strain, pour into a glass container, add 3 tbsp. spoons of natural, mix. You need to drink 1 glass of the decoction in the morning, on an empty stomach.
Propolis. Pour 10 g of crushed powder into half a glass of water and place the product in a water bath to simmer for 1 hour. Afterwards, cool the product and take it 1-3 times a day, 50 g each.
Syrup from berries, apples and nuts. Mix together in an enamel pan 500 g of fresh red berries, 500 g of lingonberries, 1 kg of chopped green apples, 2 cups of chopped apples, 2 kg of sugar and 300 ml of purified water. Set aside until the sugar dissolves, then put the product on low heat for 30 minutes and cook syrup from it. Afterwards, the syrup must be cooled, poured into a jar and taken in the morning, on an empty stomach, 1 tbsp. spoon, which can be washed down with a sip of boiled water.
HIV prevention includes:
- Compliance ;
- Blood and organ donor examinations;
- Examination of all pregnant women for the presence of antibodies to HIV;
- Monitoring the birth of children in HIV-positive women and preventing breastfeeding;
- Conducting lessons to inform young people about the consequences of certain sexual relationships;
- There are movements to work with drug addicts, the goal of which is psychological assistance, teaching about safe injections and exchanging needles and syringes;
- Reducing drug addiction and prostitution;
- Opening of rehabilitation centers for drug addicts;
- Promoting safe sex practices;
- Refusal of unnatural sexual relations (anal, oral sex);
- Compliance by medical workers with all safety rules for working with biomaterials of infected people, incl. diseases such as;
- If a healthcare worker has contact of mucous membranes or blood (cut, puncture of the skin) with an infected biomaterial, the wound must be treated with alcohol, then washed with laundry soap and treated with alcohol again, and after that, in the first 3-4 hours, take drugs from the HAART group ( for example - “Azidothymidine”), which minimizes the possibility of developing HIV infection, and be observed by an infectious disease specialist for 1 year;
- Mandatory treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) so that they do not become chronic;
- Refusal to get a tattoo, as well as visiting unverified beauty salons, cosmetologists at home, little-known dental clinics with a dubious reputation;
- As of 2017, a vaccine against HIV and AIDS has not yet been officially developed; at least some drugs are still undergoing preclinical trials.
The expression “People living with HIV” (PLHIV) is used to refer to a person or group of people who are HIV-positive. This term was coined due to the fact that PLHIV can live in society for several decades and die not from the infection itself, but from the natural aging of the body. PLHIV should never be a stigma to be shunned and kept in isolation. Also, PLHIV have the same rights as an HIV-negative person - to medical care, education, work, and the birth of a child.
Which doctor should I see if I have HIV infection?
HIV infection - video
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 infected with the immunodeficiency virus. HIV infection is dangerous because the patient experiences a strong suppression of the body's protective properties, which can lead to a number of problems. This list includes secondary infections, malignant tumors, and so on.
The disease can take different forms. HIV infection is detected in the following ways:
- antibody detection;
- detection of viral RNA.
Treatment is currently provided in the form of a complex of special antiretroviral drugs. The latter are able to reduce the reproduction of the virus, which promotes 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 (“Can HIV infection be cured?”), you need to understand what kind of disease it is. One thing that can be said about this virus is that it progresses very slowly, and the entire threat comes from the cells of the human immune system. For this reason, the immune system is slowly but surely suppressed. As a result, you can “earn” acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (popularly called AIDS).
The human body ceases to resist and protect itself from 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 when undergoing a special treatment course, life expectancy increases significantly.
The following are factors that affect the rate at which the infection develops:
- state of the immune system;
- age;
- strain;
- 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 treatment process itself 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, many scientific works are being written, which may subsequently give results and allow us to answer in detail the question: “What are the types of HIV infection?”
What is known so far? The types of terrible disease differ only in the location of the source in nature. That is, depending on the region, there are types: HIV-1, HIV-2, and so on. Each of them spreads in a specific area. This regional division allows the virus to adapt to local unfavorable factors.
In science, the most studied type of HIV-1 is, but how many of them there are is a question that remains open. This happened because there are many blank spots in the history of the study of HIV and AIDS.
Stages
Now we will try to understand the question of how many people live with HIV infection. To do this, we will look at the stages of the disease. For convenience and better clarity, we will present the information in the form of a table.
Incubation (1) | This period lasts from 3 weeks to 3 months. During the incubation period, it is clinically impossible to detect this disease. |
Primary manifestations (2) | This stage can take several forms; it is already possible to clinically detect HIV infection. |
Stage 2.1 | It occurs without any symptoms. It is possible to detect the virus because antibodies are produced. |
Stage 2.2 | It is called “acute”, but it does not cause secondary diseases. There may be some symptoms that may be confused with those of other diseases. |
Stage 2.3 | This is another type of “acute” HIV infection; it contributes to the occurrence of side diseases that can be easily treated (sore throat, pneumonia, candidiasis, and so on). |
Subclinical stage (3) | At this point, a gradual decrease in immunity occurs; as a rule, there are no symptoms of the disease. Possible enlarged lymph nodes. The average duration of the stage is 7 years. However, there have been cases where the subclinical stage lasted more than 20 years. |
Secondary diseases (4) | There are also 3 stages (4.1, 4.2, 4.3). A distinctive feature is weight loss, bacterial, fungal and viral infections. |
Terminal stage (5) | Treatment of HIV infection at this stage does not lead to any positive results. This occurs due to irreversible damage to internal organs. The person dies a few months later. |
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.
At later stages, some other diseases may appear. They arise as a result of decreased immunity. These include:
- angina;
- pneumonia;
- herpes;
- fungal infections and so on.
After this period, the latent stage will most likely begin. It leads to the development of immunodeficiency. Now 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 occur in the order given above, but some steps may be missing. The same can be said about symptoms.
HIV in children
In this section you will find out whether HIV infection in children can be cured. First, let's talk about the causes of infection. These include:
- infection in the womb;
- use of unprocessed medical instruments;
- organ transplantation.
Regarding the first point, the probability of transmitting the infection is 50%. Treatment during pregnancy is a condition that significantly reduces the risk of infection. Now about the risk factors:
- lack of treatment;
- premature birth;
- natural childbirth;
- uterine bleeding;
- taking drugs and alcohol during pregnancy;
- breast-feeding.
Considering these factors, you can reduce the risk to 10-20 percent. Treatment for HIV infection is certainly necessary. At this stage of medical development, 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 disease diagnosis needed? Of course, to make a final and accurate diagnosis. If your fears are confirmed, you should immediately go to the doctor. There is no need to hesitate here: the sooner you start treatment, the fewer problems there will be in the future. Under no circumstances 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. In which country is HIV treatment treated? In all cases, you just have to go to a special institution where you need to get tested. When you receive an answer in your hands, if the result is positive, do not hesitate, go to a specialist.
To confirm the diagnosis, you need to undergo a rapid test to detect infection. If it gives 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 the disease at home yourself. Remember, until recently it was necessary to donate blood from a vein, but now you go to the pharmacy and find out the result 5 minutes later. You can also order a rapid HIV test via the Internet.
The test requires just a drop of blood from your finger. Don’t forget that you need to wash your hands, for a puncture it is better to use a “doll” (purchased at a pharmacy), wipe your finger with alcohol. The HIV test is a real breakthrough in diagnosing 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 dough;
- massage the finger you will be piercing, treat it with alcohol;
- make a puncture and place your finger over the blood reservoir;
- drop 5 drops of solvent into a special container;
- We wait 15 minutes.
Treatment
Treatment of HIV infection is carried out using 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 has not shown itself for a long time. This should not be done, because sooner or later the body will give up. It should be remembered that the virus has the most negative impact on the immune system; without treatment, you will soon have to wait for a whole series 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 rapid adaptation to an unfavorable environment. For this reason, after taking the same medicine for a long time, the virus gets used to it and adapts to it. Then doctors resort to a trick - combining antiviral drugs. This is necessary so that it is impossible to develop resistance to them.
Drugs
In this section we will talk about what drugs are used to treat HIV infection. It was previously mentioned that therapy is carried out using antiretroviral drugs. In total, there are 2 types of them:
- 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 medications in the dosage and according to the regimen prescribed by your doctor.
Is it possible to be completely cured?
So, can HIV infection be completely cured? At the moment, no remedy has yet been developed that would get rid of the virus 100%. However, medicine does not stand still; perhaps a miracle drug for HIV infection will soon be developed.
Currently, medicine will help those infected to live a long and happy life by 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 immunodeficiency, you should contact this specialist. Where can I find it? Reception should be carried out in each clinic. If the medical institution to which you are geographically attached does not have this doctor, then feel free to contact the regional hospital.
You can list all your complaints to an infectious disease specialist, and he will prescribe special blood tests. Further clinical observation will be carried out. 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 long do people live with HIV infection? If treated, it is possible to live up to 80 years with this disease. The earlier you start treatment, the easier it is to prevent the development of AIDS, which is the cause of death in this disease.
There is currently no drug that eliminates HIV infection 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 described 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 used. The main means of therapy are antiviral drugs.
- lead a safe and orderly intimate life;
- be sure to treat sexually transmitted diseases;
- avoid contact with other people's blood;
- use disposable sealed syringes (do not use if packaging is damaged).
These simple rules will help you avoid such a serious disease as AIDS. Follow them and be healthy!
