Today, the entire adult population of the planet is informed about HIV infection. But doctors
Concerned that this knowledge is still not sufficient. There are no cures for the disease. But the opportunity to slow down its development is real. Timely seeking medical help will greatly help in the fight against the disease. That is why it is necessary to know the
symptoms of HIV infection in women, children and men well.
What is HIV infection?
The disease destroys the human immune system. This is exactly what the abbreviation HIV stands for - "human immunodeficiency virus."
The consequence of the infection is the development of AIDS - the syndrome of acquired immune deficiency - a disease that leads to the death of the patient.
The disease is insidious in that it is impossible to independently recognize the early symptoms of HIV infection. The only way a virus can detect or confirm its absence is through a test.
Among scientists, to this day there is no single opinion about the types of virus, their appearance, spread around the planet. Most researchers in its classification distinguish two types. In some publications, a description of a completely new one appeared - HIV-0. The difficulty in studying the virus and creating a medicine against it is also the fact that the main species have many subspecies.
The place where the virus spread across the planet is considered to be parts of Africa. Scientists suggest that the beginning of this phenomenon falls on the first half of the 20th century. And when the virus appeared in African tribes, one can only guess. After all, no one has ever carried out any diagnosis of diseases among Aboriginal people.
Transmission routes
The habitat of the immune deficiency virus is human internal fluids - blood, breast milk, vaginal discharge, semen. Other substances -
urine, saliva, sweat, tears - may also contain it, but in much smaller quantities.
HIV infection can occur in many ways. More common are the following methods:
- Transfusion of blood infected with HIV. Donor blood is being tested. But the presence of the virus can be detected only six months after infection. The likelihood of using infected donated blood is not excluded.
- Repeated use of one syringe for intravenous injection by different people. This practice is common among people who use drugs.
- During childbirth or pregnancy from mother to baby.
- When breastfeeding a newborn.
- Sexual intercourse with a sick person. More HIV carriers are infected in this way. For infection, the presence of a wound, a crack on the genitals of one of the partners is sufficient.
There are many myths about how to get infected with HIV. Today there is evidence of observations and studies related to the study of this issue. Most scientists deny the possibility of contracting an infection through handshakes, hugs, the use of the same dishes, other household items. Being in the same room with a sick person is also safe. The virus is not transmitted by talking, sneezing, coughing.
The first symptoms of the disease
What are the symptoms of HIV infection that should be addressed? Sore throat, changes in the size of the lymph nodes, fever up to 38 degrees, diarrhea, rash on the body are the first signs of an ailment.
But it is known that these ailments can be caused by many other, less dangerous diseases. Therefore, a person rarely correctly responds to these symptoms. Namely, he does not seek medical help, especially since these symptoms themselves quickly pass.
The consequences of the development of the disease
A person attributes the manifested symptoms to a common cold, mild poisoning, an allergic reaction. He thinks that with the disappearance of signs the disease itself has gone. Maybe this is possible with other diagnoses, but not with HIV infection.
The disease just moved to a new stage of development, which can last unnoticed by the patient. Symptoms of HIV after a year, 10 years, 12 years may not manifest themselves.
But after a 12-year period, the presence of infection will increasingly reveal itself. It is this period of time that most often separates HIV from AIDS.
The immune system of the human body is weakened so that it is unable to protect the patient from even the most "harmless" ailments. Any of these can be fatal. In addition, there are constant complications after illness, which also leads to death.
The difference between the symptoms of HIV infection in men and women
Are there any Doctors have shown that the symptoms of HIV infection in women are basically the same as the symptoms of this disease in men.
Common symptoms for adults are as follows:
- enlarged lymph nodes;
- increase in body temperature within 2-3 days;
- significant weight loss;
- a breakdown that lasts a long or short time;
- frequently occurring pneumonia, fungal infections, herpes, sore throats;
fever;
diarrhea
- rashes on the skin and mucous membranes.
These symptoms may occur in combination or separately. But, what is most dangerous, they may not at all make themselves known for many years. The patient simply does not suspect that he has HIV infection. Symptoms in women are less common than in men. And the course of the disease itself is slower - this is the point of view of some experts. Perhaps this is due to the fact that women usually take care of themselves more than men.
Symptoms of HIV infection in women
A significant percentage of women on the planet are prone to diseases of the genitourinary system. This can lead to weakened immunity and the possibility of infection. Symptoms of HIV infection in women are an increase in the size of the lymph nodes in the groin, fatigue, irritability, painful menstruation, frequent headaches, mucous discharge from the vagina, and pain in the pelvis.
Each of the aforementioned signs of ailments, each of the women at least once in her life must have experienced. Therefore, you should not immediately consider them as symptoms of HIV infection. But their frequent manifestation should alert the person.
Seeing a doctor and blood test can help alleviate anxiety about having HIV. The first symptoms in women can be detected at a gynecologist's appointment. Therefore, observation by this specialist should become regular.
HIV infection in men
The nature of men and women is initially different. Most of the fairer sex strives for constancy not only in terms of life, work, but also in intimate life, too.
Men are prone to action, they are always ready for new sensations. Sometimes this leads to an erratic change of sexual partners. With this lifestyle, HIV infection is potentially acceptable in the body. Symptoms in men, as already mentioned, can manifest themselves more expressively than in the weaker sex. The disease itself from the initial stage to the final stage passes in a shorter time.
Preventive actions
Doctors give a large share in the work related to the prevention of HIV infection to the person himself. Part of the culture of all people should be the rules of personal hygiene and personal safety.
One of the warnings of doctors concerns the reusable use of medical instruments intended for use once. This primarily relates to syringes. Doctors insist that never, under any pretext, people use them again.
The most common way to become infected with HIV is through sexual intercourse. Therefore, the use of condoms is the only reliable and simple way to protect yourself and your partner from infection.
HIV Treatments
Today there are no medications that can cure the disease. The search for scientists around the world in this direction does not stop.
Medicine offers effective methods that can delay the development of the disease.
The main recommendation for an HIV patient is to maintain good shape and maintain excellent well-being. This can be achieved by observing a diet, eliminating stressful situations from life, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Constant medical supervision is another recommendation that should not be neglected. The doctor, using a special technique, monitors the changes that occur in the patient’s body, fixes them and decides on further procedures.
Often, antiviral therapy is used in the treatment of infection. The treatment methods and drugs used are prescribed individually for each patient. Most often, procedures are prescribed in a complex.
Sometimes an HIV patient combines the methods of traditional and alternative medicine in treatment. Massage, yoga, breathing exercises, herbal treatments, acupuncture are the most common methods of folk healing.
The method of acupuncture treatment has its roots in ancient times, it has many supporters. There are a large number of HIV patients who report a positive effect of the procedure on the body.
There is a direction of alternative medicine, where it is believed that all the painful conditions of a person are caused by his own thoughts, feelings, emotions. The mood for well-being is given by meditation, massage, exercise, medicinal herbs.
HIV is one of the most dangerous diseases of mankind. You can be saved from it only by joint efforts, since the disease has no political borders.