What are the symptoms of HIV infection?

The symptoms of HIV disease are not specific, but pose a deadly danger to humans. HIV and AIDS are not identical concepts. HIV is the human immunodeficiency virus, and AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is a complex of clinical manifestations due to infection with the virus.

The final stage of HIV infection inevitably leads to death. Statistics and prognosis are disappointing, so you need to understand that absolutely any individual can be a potential source of infection. Modern antiretroviral therapy can delay the sad outcome, as well as improve the patient's quality of life.

What is HIV

Human immunodeficiency virus belongs to the family of RNA-containing retroviruses, refers to slow-acting infections. In the external environment, the virus quickly dies; when exposed to high temperatures, it is inactivated in a short period of time. As part of biological fluids, it remains for several days. Relatively resistant to ionized and ultraviolet radiation. It remains in frozen blood serum for several years. Disinfectants (ethyl alcohol, lysol solution, hydrogen peroxide, etc.) destroy viral particles in 1-2 minutes.

How infection occurs

The source of infection is an infected person. Before clinical manifestations, the virus circulates in the patient's blood in high concentrations (the person acts at this stage as a virus carrier). HIV is found in all biological fluids and tissues of the body. Blood, semen, vaginal secretions are the most common sources of infection.

Unprotected sex is the most common cause of infection.

Sexual transmission of the infection is carried out with homo-, bi- and heterosexual contacts. Male genital organs are less susceptible to damage during active contact, so transmission of the infection is less likely to occur from women to men. You must be aware that the likelihood of infection is high with any type of sexual contact.

The virus enters the bloodstream through microcracks in the skin and mucous membranes of the genital organs, oral cavity, and rectum.

In the world there are people who are immune to HIV infection during sexual intercourse, due to the lack of specific receptors for infection. This contingent is only 1% among Europeans. But getting the virus during a blood transfusion leads to the disease, like in other population groups.

The contact-blood route is carried out by transfusion of plasma and blood components to the patient. Reuse of contaminated medical instruments leads to contamination. Very often this mechanism is common among injecting drug users. Medical workers are at risk due to the likelihood of accidental cuts and blood in the eyes. Theoretically, it is possible to become infected through endoscopic equipment with a short disinfection period.

High risk of intrauterine infection of the fetus from the mother (up to 50%).

From a pregnant woman, the virus can get to the baby through defects in the placenta or during childbirth. It is not excluded infection of the newborn through breastfeeding. Cases of infection of nurses from HIV-infected children have been recorded. There is no reliable evidence of HIV progression in women during pregnancy, and the disease is not a risk factor for preterm birth and the development of low fetal body weight.

Clinical signs

The period after infection until the first clinical signs (incubation period) lasts from 2 to 6 months. The infected person feels great, there are no complaints. This stage is of particular danger to others, since it is impossible to detect the virus in a laboratory study.

Acute phase of HIV

The acute phase or the period of the first clinical manifestations lasts from several days to two months. The first symptoms of the disease are very non-specific, so it is difficult to suspect HIV infection. The diagnosis is difficult to confirm, since blood ELISA for HIV does not give positive results. It is possible to recognize the infection only with the help of PCR, this type of diagnostics is expensive and is available in specialized clinics. Asymptomatic course of the acute phase is possible.

The patient is worried about fever for no apparent reason, in most cases the body temperature does not rise above 38. Accompanied by slight fluctuations in temperature to normal levels. This symptom persists for about a month. Patients rarely notice an increase in lymph nodes. The nodes are painless and do not reach large sizes. Ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs can register an increase in the volume of the liver and spleen. Pain in muscles and joints is episodic and disappears without a trace. The examination does not reveal changes in the musculoskeletal system.

A rash on the face and body causes considerable discomfort.Red spots on the skin take on a variety of forms, there may be single elements or merging with each other. This symptom can manifest itself in the form of numerous pustular rashes.

Sudden nausea and vomiting may occur. Against the background of fever, food poisoning can be suspected. Laboratory examination excludes the diagnosis of poisoning. Frequent episodes of diarrhea lead to weight loss.

In 12% of patients, aseptic meningitis is diagnosed without detection of infection in the cerebrospinal fluid. The patient is worried about a severe headache, there is an increase in sensitivity to light. Ordinary speech brings discomfort, as it is perceived as a loud sound. Specialists identify the pathological symptoms of meningitis. There are frequent SARS associated with HIV, as the disease reduces the immune response to colds.

The virus multiplies in T-lymphocytes responsible for the cellular link of immunity. The cell affected by the virus eventually dies.

Asymptomatic period

This has been going on for several years. The patient does not experience any discomfort and leads a normal life. In some patients, this stage may be accompanied by generalized lymphadenopathy, i.e., damage to the lymph nodes. There is an increase in several groups of lymph nodes from 1 cm or more. The cervical, occipital and axillary groups are most often affected. The duration of the defeat of certain groups is approximately 3 months, then other lymph nodes are involved in the process. Patients rarely go to the doctor with complaints. In the blood test, a decrease in lymphocytes is noted.

Period of secondary manifestations

This stage is characterized as the chronic phase of HIV infection. The patient is concerned about severe weight loss (more than 10%), prolonged fever (for a month or longer), diarrhea of unknown origin. Symptoms of the disease are associated with the addition of opportunistic infections and tumors that do not appear in a healthy person.

Infectious lesions of the upper and lower respiratory tract. Fungal formations appear in the mouth, ulcers and stomatitis are possible. Angina and sinusitis are not accompanied by specific symptoms, but can only be of a protracted nature. Tracheitis and bronchitis are caused by the addition of viral and bacterial infections, complications in the form of pneumonia are not uncommon. Pneumocystis pneumonia is a specific disease for HIV, as it is very rare in uninfected people.

Herpes of the skin and mucous membranes causes extensive rashes, atypical for persons with normal immunity. The elements are distributed on the face and body. Genital herpes affects the genitals and is difficult to treat. Shingles is a herpes infection that is accompanied by rashes and severe pain along the intercostal nerves.

Candidiasis (fungal diseases) manifest themselves in a variety of forms from skin mycoses to the onset of pneumonia and meningoencephalitis. CMVI joins (cytomegalovirus infection), which in HIV is characterized by damage to the liver, spleen, lymph nodes, retina, intestines, and lungs. The disease proceeds in a generalized form. Mycobacterium tuberculosis, in addition to the pulmonary form, causes damage to internal organs and skin. The indicator tumor process in HIV infection is Kaposi's sarcoma. Vascular tumor occurs on the skin and mucous membranes, can affect the digestive organs. The tumor looks like bright burgundy knots with a yellow rim. In patients, the disease is both mild and severe.

These diseases cause a severe and protracted course in patients with HIV. With standard therapy, it is difficult to achieve a positive effect, complications often occur. Suppressed by the virus immunity is not able to resist infections as in a healthy person, so the characteristic clinical symptoms are AIDS-indicative. There are irreversible changes in the patient's body. The immune system is completely suppressed. It is impossible to cure opportunistic infections, cancerous lesions spread throughout the body. The disease leads to death in a few months.

Diagnosis and treatment

The diagnosis is based only on laboratory research methods. Clinical symptoms of the disease are the reason for the diagnosis of HIV infection. ELISA (enzymatic immunoassay) is the most accessible method, but not informative at an early stage of the disease. With a positive reaction, blood is taken again for analysis. After the second positive result, the patient is sent to the center for the prevention and control of AIDS. A set of additional studies is being carried out (PCR, immunoblotting, virological method) to confirm the diagnosis.

Antiretroviral therapy can suppress HIV in men and women to the same extent. Timely treatment slows down the progression of the disease for a long time. Whatever the clinical cases, a specific therapy regimen is selected for each patient.

Prevention

There is no specific prevention, i.e. there is no vaccine against HIV. To protect yourself from the disease, it is necessary to exclude casual sex. Barrier contraceptives do not provide 100% protection against the disease. In medical institutions, a set of measures is being taken to prevent the spread of the virus: sanitization, the use of disposable consumables, control of tests before transfusion of plasma and blood products from a donor.