How many live with HIV? The relevance of this question is simply undeniable, but it is difficult to give an unequivocal answer. Medicine is now unable to cure people infected with the immunodeficiency virus, but scientists are making progress. At this time, doctors are able to control the amount of HIV in the body. A healthy lifestyle and medicines significantly extend the life of patients.
What is the danger of HIV?
To understand how many years have been living with HIV and what the prospects of an infected person, you first need to figure out why the human immunodeficiency virus is so dangerous . This pathogen is quite young. It was discovered only in the 80s of the last century. It is not fatal in itself. HIV infects only one type of cell in the human body - T-cells. However, they are a key element of the immune system. Because of this, the body cannot resist various infections. They are the ultimate cause of death. AIDS patients die from pneumonia, cancer, hepatitis, tuberculosis, candidiasis and other diseases.
Invisibility of infection
In the body, the virus appears imperceptibly and for a long time does not manifest itself. Therefore, it’s quite difficult to say exactly how many infected people in the world are living with HIV and are completely unaware of it. Once in the body, the pathogen begins to constantly and asymptomatically increase its population, while destroying healthy cells of the immune system. Whether a person is infected is determined using a special blood test. Important indicators are the level of viral load and the number of T-leukocytes in the blood. The lower threshold of the immune system is 200 leukocyte cells per milliliter of blood. If there are fewer, the body's defense stops working completely. Normally, this figure is 500-1500. With an indicator of 350 T-leukocytes, it is necessary to begin active antiretroviral treatment aimed at suppressing the pathogen and reducing its concentration in the blood. The answer to the question of how much they live with HIV directly depends on the degree of regularity and quality of therapy.
Infection evolution
There are five stages of HIV. A period of two weeks to one year after infection is called the window period. It ends when antibodies to HIV appear in the blood. If a person has weakened immunity, this stage does not last longer than six months.
The following is the prodromal period. It is also called the stage of primary infection. The clinical manifestations during this period are as follows:
- hives;
- low-grade fever;
- stomatitis;
- inflammation of the lymph nodes: they increase, become painful.
The final stage of this stage is characterized by the maximum concentration of antibodies and virus in the blood.
Then the disease goes into a stage called the latent period. As a rule, it lasts 5-10 years. Usually the only manifestation of HIV at this stage is a periodic enlargement of the lymph nodes. They become dense, but not painful (lymphadenopathy).
The next step is called pre-AIDS. Its duration is 1-2 years. At this stage, serious inhibition of cellular immunity begins. A person can be tormented by herpes (with frequent relapses). Mucosal and genital ulcers do not heal for a very long time. There is stomatitis and leukoplakia of the tongue. Candidiasis of the genitals and oral mucosa is observed.
Next comes the terminal stage - directly AIDS. It is accompanied by a generalization of opportunistic tumors and infections. The forecast at this stage is usually negative. At this stage, even ordinary flu can kill a person.
How is HIV transmitted?
It is known that AIDS is one of the most terrible diseases of our time. Therefore, absolutely everyone needs to know how their pathogen is transmitted in order to avoid infection and so that the question of how much they live with HIV does not become urgent and relevant. This information also does not hurt in order not to humiliate the sick once again. The pathogen enters the body during unprotected intercourse, during reuse of the syringe, during blood transfusion, through breast milk. Many people mistakenly believe that AIDS is a disease of drug addicts and homosexuals. However, this is just a stereotype. Any person can become infected with this disease. No one is safe from this. Many people become infected through contact with the patient’s blood or during donor fences.
How many people live with HIV
As already mentioned, AIDS is a very dangerous disease. However, it is impossible to reliably predict how many people living with HIV live. Even rough data does not exist. After all, every organism is individual. Some die 3-5 years after infection, others live for decades.
Very approximately can say about how much time they live with HIV, very averaged statistics. On average, this is from 5 to 15 years.
Patient life expectancy cannot be reliably measured for some reason. Firstly, it is no secret that many of the first infected are still alive. That is, for more than 30 years. However, this period is not a limit. Only how much people live with a diagnosis of HIV will show only time.
Secondly, medicine and science do not stand still. Since the discovery of the virus (in 1983), effective drugs have been developed that make it possible to stop the development of HIV. Proper drug therapy can extend the life of the patient. Work on creating a cure for AIDS does not stop. New, more effective drugs are constantly appearing . Antiretroviral therapy can prevent the evolution of the stage of HIV infection into AIDS. Potent drugs block the virus needed for the development of the substance, thereby preventing the disease from progressing.
Thirdly, although infection with the human immunodeficiency virus is not a death sentence, the disease is very serious. How much you can live with HIV depends on the rhythm and quality of life of the patient. And she is not easy. You need to constantly check the level of T-leukocytes with a doctor, maintain your health, lead a correct lifestyle - there should not be bad habits. With a decrease in the level of immunity, it is necessary to take courses of appropriate therapy. In any case, even not too serious diseases should not be allowed to drift. They need to be treated on time. These guidelines should be followed by children with HIV. How long they live, also depends on the characteristics of a particular organism and the timeliness of therapy.
Precautions
People living with HIV / AIDS (PLWHA) need to be careful in everyday life so as not to infect others and their loved ones. Unprotected sex should be avoided, children should not be breast-fed, and needles and other piercing objects should not be reused. It is also necessary to prevent sperm, blood, vaginal secretions from entering the mucous membranes and wounds of healthy people.
How HIV is not transmitted
Many people mistakenly consider HIV-infected people to be extremely dangerous to others. However, the virus is not transmitted through:
- air;
- clothes and towels;
- handshakes (if there are no open wounds on the skin);
- bites of mosquitoes, mosquitoes and other insects;
- any kisses (in the absence of bleeding cracks and damage to the lips and oral cavity);
- dishes;
- swimming pool, toilet, bathroom, etc.
Therefore, it is almost impossible to get infected in everyday life.
HIV medication classes
There are three classes of medications for treating HIV. Therapy is based on the simultaneous administration of three medications from two different classes. Such a combination is necessary so that the pathogen does not get used to drugs. If the chosen course of treatment is effective, it is prescribed for the rest of your life.
What you need to do to survive with HIV
Those who are infected should do everything to strengthen their immunity. You need to try to eliminate stress, as well as negative thoughts about how much you live with HIV. A lot depends on the internal mood. You must also adhere to a healthy lifestyle, eat well (a diet with a lot of proteins), take vitamin-mineral complexes. All this helps the body better cope with the disease. It is also necessary to maintain the body in good shape and at least regularly exercise. You can not abuse alcohol - this reduces immunity and reduces the effectiveness of drugs. It is also recommended to quit smoking. With HIV infection, in no case should you use drugs. Firstly, against the background of this disease, narcotic substances by themselves significantly shorten their lifespan. Secondly, drugs are incompatible with most antiretroviral medicines.