Signs of HIV and AIDS are a set of symptoms that indicate infection and the progression of the infection. The immunodeficiency virus is quite insidious, since a long period may not manifest itself in any way. During an asymptomatic (latent) course, the viral load in the body of an infected person increases. So, pathology progresses imperceptibly, and individual signs of HIV and AIDS are perceived by patients as a manifestation of other diseases. That is why it is important to observe the symptoms of both healthy and sick people. In order to detect a dangerous disease in time, you should know how it manifests itself. In this article, we will discuss in detail several important issues related to this topic. Also, the time period when the symptoms appear and what are the first signs of HIV and AIDS in men and women.
A bit of history
The first information about AIDS appeared in the eighties of the last century. At that time, doctors diagnosed a previously unknown pathology. A person infected with it suffered from immunodeficiency. This has previously been observed only in premature infants. After the studies, scientists were able to establish that in such patients immunodeficiency is acquired, not congenital. It is because of this that the disease acquired its name - Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
The first signs of HIV and AIDS were noted in several people from the USA and Sweden. And in 1983, scientists announced the discovery of a new human immunodeficiency virus. Then the story of AIDS began, which continues to this day. True, at this stage we are already talking about the epidemic of this disease. Judging by statistics, there are currently around 50 million people with AIDS worldwide. Unfortunately, there is still no effective drug for this dangerous disease.
That is why an important preventive measure is to inform the public about what HIV and AIDS are, the first signs of men and women. And also what you need to know to prevent infection.
HIV infection and immunity
First of all, you need to understand the differences between the main terms: HIV and AIDS. The first is translated as human immunodeficiency virus. It is the causative agent of the disease, which experts call HIV infection. It has several stages, the last of which is called AIDS.
The human immunodeficiency virus directly affects the immune system. Thanks to the immune system, the body can withstand alien living organisms and substances. During the work of the protective system, antibodies are produced in the human body that fight against pathogens of various diseases and antigens.
At the moment when pathogens enter the human body, the immune response is activated, in which lymphocytes take part. First, they recognize the pathogen, after which they block its action and activate the production of antibodies. The human immunodeficiency virus has a negative effect on the immune system, and therefore it ceases to function properly.
The first signs of AIDS, HIV in women and men
It is important to take this item very carefully so as not to miss the moment when you can still recover from the disease. It can take a long time from getting HIV to getting AIDS. It is worth noting that this period is always different. Experts still cannot understand why in some people the disease progresses a year after infection, while in others the symptoms do not appear for 20 years or more. According to statistics, on average, AIDS develops in 10-12 years.
It is impossible to find out about infection in the first days of infection. The first symptoms of HIV and AIDS may appear after 2-6 weeks. Most often, they are expressed by symptoms of acute respiratory viral infections, influenza or mononucleosis. The primary manifestation of the disease includes:
It is worth knowing that in some cases these symptoms are not observed. This course of the disease is called the asymptomatic stage. At the moment, scientists can not explain the reason why the disease develops in this way.
In some cases, the infected lymph nodes are in an enlarged state for a long time. After a certain period, they decrease, and then the pathology proceeds without symptoms. This form of HIV infection is commonly called persistent generalized lymphadenopathy.
It is worth noting that in the first two or three weeks after infection, a blood test for HIV shows negative results. This period of time is called “window period” by specialists. It is possible to detect infection at this stage only with the help of modern diagnostic methods: an HIV test and PCR. Therefore, do not pull with a trip to the clinic.
As a rule, after the stage of primary symptoms there follows a period during which there are no signs of HIV and AIDS in men and women. This period can last for many years and be accompanied by the development of immunodeficiency. The absence of antiviral therapy at the initial stage of the disease leads to its more rapid development. Therefore, it is very important to detect the infection at the earliest possible date, when the first signs and symptoms of HIV and AIDS appear in men and women.
What does an infected person look like
For a long time after infection, a person is no different from healthy people. It is impossible to distinguish the carrier of the infection before the onset of the first symptoms. But even after the onset of primary manifestations, to say with absolute accuracy that a person cannot have HIV. For example, enlarged lymph nodes can be found in many other diseases. Deprivation, a rash on the body, herpes and so on can be independent diseases.
At later stages, patients develop the following symptoms of AIDS or HIV (in men and women):
weight loss;
fungal infections;
enlarged lymph nodes;
weakness;
dyspnea;
cough;
various rashes on the mucous membranes and on the skin;
mental disorders: confusion, forgetfulness, impaired coordination.
The doctor may suggest the presence of infection by external signs. But they are not diagnosed with only external manifestations. It is impossible to determine from a crowd of people infected with AIDS, since all the symptoms can relate to various diseases. In most cases, an HIV-infected person has no particularities. That is, it will not be possible to recognize him in the crowd.
The first signs of AIDS and HIV in women
One of the first symptoms that appears several weeks after infection is an absolutely unreasonable increase in body temperature to 38-40 degrees. This period can last from 2 to 10 days. It is accompanied by manifestations characteristic of influenza or SARS: sore throat and cough. Therefore, the disease is often confused with a lighter one.
In addition, a woman experiences the following symptoms of AIDS and HIV infection:
Many women initially have larger surface lymph nodes in the occipital region, then on the back of the neck, in the armpits and groin. This symptom can be generalized. Sometimes a sign of HIV and AIDS in girls and women is: severe nausea, vomiting, severe spastic pain and anorexia.
With severe damage to the respiratory system, coughing attacks become more intense and end with attacks of suffocation. With the defeat of the nervous system immunodeficiency virus, the following symptoms may appear:
significant weakness;
severe headaches;
stiff neck;
vomiting
It is worth noting that many women infected with AIDS or HIV are prone to diseases of the genitourinary system. They may observe:
All of the above symptoms are not a 100% guarantee of infection, but their continued presence should be the reason for a woman to see a doctor.
Men How to recognize trouble?
The first signs of HIV and AIDS in men are very similar to the first manifestations of this disease in women. But there are some differences. 5-10 days after infection in men, colorless patches of skin or a red rash appear throughout the body. The rash can be papular, urticarial or petechial in nature. To hide such a symptom can be very difficult.
A few weeks after infection in men, the temperature rises, obvious symptoms of influenza or SARS, severe headache, lymph nodes in the groin, neck and armpits increase. During this period, the patient feels constant drowsiness, complete weakness and apathy.
Often, after infection in the first stages, the patient may experience diarrhea, as well as an increase in the spleen and liver. It is worth knowing that the frequent and inexplicable manifestation of these signs should be the reason for a man to see a doctor.
AIDS
After the initial signs of HIV, which can last up to three weeks, the infected person often has a prolonged fever. Some infected people may not be aware of the disease for many years. They develop immunodeficiency, which leads to long-term treatment of any disease.
The first signs of the transition of HIV to AIDS are the same for men and women. Only the symptoms of diseases of the reproductive system can be different. Long-healing wounds and cuts can signal a disease. In such patients, even a slight scratch can fester and bleed for a long time.
Further AIDS can develop in such forms:
Pulmonary. The patient has pneumocystis pneumonia. As a rule, it is characterized by a long and severe course.
With damage to the mucous membranes, skin and body tissues. The infected person develops erosion and ulcers on the skin, mucous membranes that become infected, progress and grow into muscle tissue.
Intestinal. At the beginning, a sick person develops diarrhea, then dehydration symptoms, as well as rapid and substantial weight loss.
Damage to the nervous system. A person's memory worsens, brain atrophy develops, constant apathy appears, epileptic seizures appear. Often, the condition is complicated by malignant neoplasms, encephalitis and meningitis.
The AIDS stage lasts from six months to two years, after which it is fatal. Very rarely you can hear about sick people who have lived for three years or more. Timely diagnosis of AIDS is complicated by the fact that the first signs of infection are not specific and can be attributed to other diseases.
Frequent and unreasonable increase in temperature, as well as an increase in lymph nodes should alert the patient and his doctor. In such situations, an HIV test is necessary.
Secondary manifestations
By secondary signs of HIV and AIDS, doctors may suspect an infection. However, even these symptoms at first can be considered as an independent disease. Mandatory HIV testing is done in the following cases:
Pneumonia. The patient begins a long dry cough, the temperature rises. Over time, the cough becomes wet, there is a malaise. The use of classical drugs does not give a positive result.
Generalized infections. This is a set of fungal, bacterial and viral diseases. Most often this includes: genital and oral candidiasis, tuberculosis, cytomegalovirus infection, herpes zoster and herpes. Against the background of the viral load, the diseases are particularly difficult.
Sarcoma Kaposi. This is a tumor in the lymph nodes that looks like a single tumor or a cluster of several. It is localized on the neck, trunk, head and mouth. In some cases, the skin with a sarcoma acquires a cherry hue, although most often the disease goes away without changing the color of the skin.
Intoxication syndrome. Half of those infected with HIV show signs of poisoning: joint and muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, severe weakness, sweating at night.
In addition to these symptoms, an infected person exacerbates chronic diseases. Secondary symptoms of the disease can occur one after another or together. The duration and timing of the onset depends on the availability of treatment, the age of the patient, bad habits and other factors. On average, each symptom lasts from 1 to 2 weeks. Diarrhea and cough may not go away for several months.
CNS
Damage to the nervous system, especially the brain, is one of the main problems of the human immunodeficiency virus. Disorders of the central nervous system are observed in most infected with HIV. There are several ways to damage the peripheral and central nervous system:
The entry of infected lymphocytes into the central nervous system.
The impact of secondary infections, as well as neoplasms, which often occur in HIV.
The first signs of damage to the nervous system include:
Over time, symptoms of damage to the nervous system and brain become more pronounced. The patient has a fever, a change in behavior, convulsions. With brain damage, a sharp deterioration in vision is observed. In the final stages of disease progression, the patient may be paralyzed. Mental disorders reach dementia and personality changes. Some diseases of the central nervous system are treated. But the presence of such diseases complicates the therapy as a whole and accelerates the onset of the last stage.
Where to go
You can suspect a malfunction in the body according to general symptoms. To establish the presence of the virus in the blood is possible only through laboratory tests. There are two ways to detect infections: the identification of markers and antibodies of the pathogen. This can be done using tests. At present, tests for home use have become popular. To do this, using a special scapula, a scraping is taken from the oral mucosa, which is then placed in the reagent. This rapid test shows the result within 15-20 minutes. Unfortunately, it is not sold in all countries.
If one of the doubtful signs appears, you should consult a doctor or the nearest AIDS center. It is believed that self-diagnosis is impossible. Patients with HIV infection are observed in the infectious disease specialist. In addition, a therapist and an immunologist are consulted, and in case of damage to systems and various organs, an examination of specialized doctors is carried out: neurologist, pulmonologist, gastroenterologist, dermatologist.
Treatment
In order to provide effective treatment for HIV patients, specialists use measures to suppress the activity of the virus. In addition, there is a confrontation with emerging opportunistic infections and cancer, which arise against a background of decreased immunity.
As a rule, the patient is prescribed a special cure for AIDS, the effect of which is aimed at activating the body's defenses. Unfortunately, to date, an effective AIDS vaccine does not exist. Therefore, doctors are trying to do everything possible to minimize the manifestation of symptoms and improve the condition of the infected.
Before the appointment of any therapeutic course, a diagnosis is initially performed and the stage of the disease that this patient has is identified. The main indication for treatment is a decrease in immunity, as well as the development of secondary diseases. To date, the most promising treatment for HIV and AIDS is the integrated use of antiviral agents that inhibit the growth of the virus, as well as immune activators, to suppress rapidly developing immunodeficiency.
The main problem that one has to face in treating HIV infection is the high toxicity of drugs. In addition, the virus adapts very quickly to any drugs, so doctors use combination therapy. A remedy for the disease is still in development. , , .
, , , . . .
, . , , , 10 .
. . , - .
Drugs
. , , . , , .
Communication
It is important for each patient to provide not only a special treatment, but also a favorable psychological environment. Infected people should regularly communicate not only with the doctor, but with the same patients. For people with immunodeficiency virus, it is easier to make acquaintance in a familiar environment, among the same infected.
Today it is known that most people with HIV and AIDS make friends on the Internet: sometimes a group or forum of a social network is no less important support, like communicating with a doctor. Moreover, such communication helps to gain experience from the "positive patients."
Prevention
Today, HIV and AIDS prevention is an urgent issue in almost all countries of the world. In order not to become infected, each person must be aware of how AIDS is transmitted, and also understand that with simple household contacts, infection does not occur.
Scientists have finally established the transmission of the virus. That is why an important link in the issue of prevention is an orderly sexual life and refusal of drugs. But even if sexual intercourse takes place with one regular partner, a condom is an important safety measure.