Is it possible to cure HIV? HIV - can it be treated in the early stages? Is HIV completely curable?

Nowadays, there are few people left who have not heard about HIV and AIDS, but not everyone understands the difference between these concepts.

What is HIV and what is AIDS?

HIV is a human immunodeficiency virus that, upon entering the body, destroys the immune system, which leads to critically low resistance to the effects of various pathogenic agents.

AIDS (human immunodeficiency syndrome) is directly pathological process in the active phase of development of HIV infection. In this case, those infected exhibit symptoms of various serious diseases caused by suppression of the immune system, which result in death.

HIV infection can occur through several routes.

As a result of unprotected sexual intercourse (this includes vaginal, oral and anal sex).
Through blood (with intravenous injections with a contaminated needle and blood transfusions from an infected donor to a healthy person).
Intrauterine path (from mother to fetus).
When breastfeeding (from an infected mother to her child).

HIV and AIDS - what's the difference?

First of all, it must be said that HIV and AIDS are different stages the same process. More precisely, HIV-positive status indicates the fact that a person is infected with the immunodeficiency virus, and AIDS is already a clear confirmation of the active development of this virus in the body.

Average duration The life of an HIV-infected person can last several decades without the occurrence of major manifestations of a dysfunction of the immune system. If the disease has passed into the AIDS phase, then, most likely, after a few months (depending on the severity current state) the patient is expected to die.

Another significant difference between HIV and AIDS is that when a carrier of the virus is detected, a person undergoes therapy, the essence of which is to stimulate the activity of the protective mechanisms of the immune system, and the treatment of AIDS is to reduce the intensity of the main manifestations serious illnesses, which developed against the background of the destruction of the immune system.

To fight infection, drugs containing macrophages and T-lymphocytes are introduced into the body - these are immune cells that are targets for HIV. We can say that the essence of HIV treatment comes down to preventing the development of AIDS, when the effect on the immune system will no longer be meaningful.

Important!

The life of the immunodeficiency virus is possible only in the cells of the human body. Outside this environment, he dies very quickly. This is why HIV does not spread through personal contact.

Stages of HIV and AIDS

After the immunodeficiency virus enters the blood, the human body undergoes certain pathological changes, which include several main stages.

Incubation period. This is the period of time that lasts from the moment of infection until the first signs of the disease appear in the patient. Depending on the condition it was in the immune system initially, this phase can last from several days to several weeks.
Installation period. After the virus has entered the body and infected the cells of the immune system, it may take quite a while a large number of time before an infected person begins to develop various pathological phenomena. Sometimes infected people periodically experience isolated signs of retroviral syndrome, but they are usually not given due importance. Similar symptoms include chronic fatigue, decreased performance, aches throughout the body.
Final period. In this case, the immunodeficiency virus becomes active phase of your life. The human immune system is in an extremely depressed state, so the body cannot resist infectious agents. During this time, the carrier of the virus may feel constant malaise, fever, suffer from constipation and excessive sweating, especially at night. A person with AIDS rapidly loses weight. Also characteristic feature decreased immune activity - multiple candidiasis ( fungal infections). At the same time, he can become infected with any infection, be it pneumonia or tuberculosis, and die from the consequences of the infection developing in the body. On late stages AIDS, against the background of a critical weakening of the immune system, the infected person may begin to form malignant neoplasms.

Conventionally, several stages of the development of AIDS can be distinguished.

Mononucleosis-like syndrome.
Generalized lymphadenopathy.
Pre-AIDS.
Stage of vivid clinical manifestations.

In the absence of adequate therapy, signs of AIDS appear in a person within 10-13 years after infection with the immunodeficiency virus. At timely detection HIV disease and treatment, the onset of AIDS can be delayed for several decades, or even prevented.

What's worse: HIV or AIDS?

The answer to this question is obvious. AIDS is an irreversible process that cannot be cured. Unfortunately, when the disease enters this stage of development, the patient’s condition can only be alleviated by reducing the intensity of the symptoms of the disease that have arisen against the background of a critically weakened immune system.

Just 15-20 years ago, HIV-positive status was practically a death sentence for a person. However, now, thanks to the rapid development of medicine, many infected people around the world are receiving treatment that allows them to manage active image life and even giving birth healthy children.

With timely diagnosis of HIV infection, the infected person has the opportunity to live a full life. long years, subject to receiving therapy.

And most importantly, don’t turn away from people if they have HIV. Support and do not be afraid to become infected through touch and communication. Many have been HIV positive since childhood; it is not their fault that fate decreed it this way. Be understanding!

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 severe depression protective properties body, which can lead to a number of problems. This list includes secondary infections, malignant formations and so on.

The disease can take different shapes. 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 contributes to 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 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 passing 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;
Availability concomitant diseases;
nutrition;
therapy;
medical care.

In older people, HIV infection develops more rapidly, insufficient medical care and related infectious diseases- This is 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 pathogen of this disease. In this regard, much has been written scientific works, which may subsequently give results and allow us to answer in detail the question: “What are the types of HIV infection?”

What is known on this moment? Kinds terrible illness They 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. IN 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. Increase possible 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). Distinctive feature- 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 internal organs. The person dies a few months later.

Thus, with the correct 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.

For more late stages Some other diseases may also 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 they are dying immune cells. You can notice signs of the disease on the body - swollen 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 correct treatment can significantly improve the patient’s condition and makes it possible to live a full and happy life.

Diagnostics

Why is disease diagnosis needed? Of course, to set the 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 he gave 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 in 5 minutes. 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 itself for a long time didn’t show it at all. 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 influence on the immune system, without treatment you will soon have to wait for a whole string of serious and unpleasant diseases.

To prevent the development of AIDS, doctors try to suppress the virus. From the first day the disease is detected, the patient must take special antiviral drugs that have a detrimental effect on life cycle 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 long reception When given the same medicine, 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 in medical institution, to which you are geographically attached, this doctor is not available, then feel free to contact your local hospital.

You can list all your complaints to an infectious disease specialist, and he will prescribe special blood tests. Next will be carried out dispensary observation. 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, it is used A complex approach. 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 avoid such a serious disease as AIDS. Follow them and be healthy!

AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is a late manifestation of infection of the body with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). AIDS is not a disease, but a complex reaction of the body to developing infection, you cannot get AIDS, only HIV infection. According to doctors at Oxford University, the development of the syndrome indicates excessive acute reaction for HIV: groups of people with a significant number of viral particles in the blood who have not undergone antiretroviral therapy and do not have symptoms of AIDS have been identified. Causes of AIDS, its development in HIV-infected people, therapies are still under study. Today, there is scientifically proven information about methods of infection, stages of development of the syndrome and methods of prevention.

What is HIV?

The human immunodeficiency virus was isolated from a patient's lymphocytes in 1983 by a group of scientists led by Luc Montagnier. At the same time, a similar virus was obtained in a US laboratory. In 1987, the disease was named “HIV infection.”

There are two serotypes of the virus: HIV-1 and HIV-2. The first type plays the most significant role in an infectious pandemic, including in Russia. HIV infection -systemic disease organism, provoking a gradual decline in the general immunity of a person. When the immune system is weakened, the body cannot resist the effects of numerous pathogenic microorganisms and fight the development of malignant neoplasms.

The main diseases that arise in the body of an infected person can also affect healthy people, however, as a rule, the dynamics of their development are much more restrained. Some diseases (so-called opportunistic) occur exclusively due to immunodeficiency due to HIV infection, since they are normally inhibited by the immune system.

Why is HIV infection incurable?

The causative agent of HIV infection after penetration into the human body cannot yet be destroyed. Also, despite numerous studies and programs, an effective vaccine against HIV has not yet been created.

This phenomenon is associated with high ability virus to genetic variability: the microorganism changes at the same moment when the immune system begins to produce antibodies. Moreover, if someone infected with one strain of the virus experiences a secondary infection with a virus with an altered genotype, the two strains “carry out” recombination, exchanging gene sections, which leads to the appearance of superinfection. The third reason for the virus’s resistance to drugs is its ability to “hide” in the intracellular space, becoming latent.

Causes of AIDS

It is possible to get AIDS only if you are infected with HIV and the body reacts appropriately to the pathogen. Despite the strengthened opinion that only drug addicts or homosexuals can get AIDS, this has long ceased to be true real situation. HIV infection no longer serves as a marker solely for drug use narcotic drugs, the presence of promiscuous hetero- and homosexual relationships: the prevalence of the virus is detected among various social strata of the population, age groups regardless sexual preferences and harmful tendencies.

According to data World Organization Health care, about 80% of new cases of HIV infection were detected in the territory of Eastern Europe, 18% in Western European countries, 3% in Central Europe. Russia accounts for 81% of Eastern European countries and 64% of all cases reported in the European region.

At the same time, the routes of infection differ by territorial basis: in Europe, homosexual sexual contacts take first place (42%), slightly ahead of heterosexual ones (32%), infection among drug addicts does not exceed 4%.

Russia today - the only country in a world where drug addicts account for more than half of infections common reasons spread of HIV infection (51%). In second place are heterosexual contacts (47%), and only 1.5% is infection among homosexual persons.

It is worth noting that in Russia it is not accurate enough: according to experts, every 100th person, that is, 1% of the population, is HIV-infected in our country, not counting illegal migrants. Experts warn: in a country with so many infected people, where only every third sick person receives free antiretroviral therapy, a large-scale epidemic could begin by 2021.

Routes of transmission

In world statistics, HIV infection comes first through sexual contact with infected person, and with any type of sexual contact. If the carrier of the infection follows the rules of specific therapy, the probability of infection is 1%.

Traumatic sexual contacts, during which cracks may form on mucous surfaces, as well as the presence of erosions, damage to the internal and external integuments due to existing diseases, increase the likelihood of virus penetration. In women, the virus is present in the blood and vaginal secretions, in men - in the blood and semen. Infection upon entry into the body healthy person particles of blood or other biological fluid containing an infectious agent also occurs during invasive procedures, most often associated with the use of reusable syringes without appropriate treatment. Infection is also likely during medical and dental procedures, visits to nail salons, tattoo studios and other places where an instrument may intentionally or accidentally come into contact with an injured surface. Before the introduction of control of donor fluids (blood, plasma) and organs, there were cases of infection from donor to recipient.

The vertical route of infection is the transmission of infection from mother to child during pregnancy, during childbirth or during breastfeeding.

Other methods of infection not related to blood contact, vaginal discharge or seminal fluid does not exist. The infection does not spread through the use of the same utensils, hygiene items, visiting swimming pools, bathrooms and toilets, and is not transmitted through blood-sucking insects, etc. The human immunodeficiency virus is extremely unstable in external environment and quickly dies outside the body.

Symptoms of AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome)

The disease, AIDS syndrome, develops as late complication HIV infections. Immediately after infection, during the incubation period (an average of 3 weeks - 3 months), no symptoms or manifestations are observed, although antibodies to the pathogen are already beginning to be produced.
Stage primary manifestations, replacing the incubation period, can also be asymptomatic or manifest itself as acute HIV infection, which depends on general health a person and the state of his immune system.

The clinical picture of the disease is quite extensive. Early symptoms may include:

feverish condition;
rash on the skin and mucous membranes;
enlarged and/or painful lymph nodes;
catarrhal manifestations, cough, rhinitis, pharyngitis;
weight loss;
persistent or intermittent diarrhea;
increase in size of the liver and spleen.

Such symptoms, including all of the above manifestations, are observed only in 15-30% of patients, in other cases there are 1-2 symptoms in different combinations.
Next comes the latent asymptomatic stage, the duration of which ranges from 2-3 to 20 years (on average 6-7 years). At this stage, there is a significant decrease in the number of lymphocytes in the blood. A drop in the level of lymphocytes, indicating the onset of severe immune deficiency, can lead to the stage of secondary diseases. Among the most common are:

tonsillitis;
pneumonia;
tuberculosis;
herpes;
fungal infections;
intestinal infections;
oncological diseases;
infections caused by protozoa and others.

The next stage, terminal, is characterized by acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or AIDS. At this stage AIDS severe symptoms lead to destruction of life important systems body. This stage is lethal, despite active antiviral therapy.
Modern drugs make it possible to prolong the stages of infection and more effectively combat opportunistic and common infections leading to the death of patients.

AIDS and HIV - diagnostic methods

Photo: Room's Studio/Shutterstock.com

The diagnosis is never made based on symptoms of AIDS or other stages of HIV infection. However, the disease may be suspected based on the following diagnostic signs:

treatment-resistant diarrhea for 2 months or more;
prolonged unmotivated fever;
skin rash in various variations;
development of Kaposi's sarcoma at a young age;
loss of body weight by more than 10%, without obvious reasons.

Confirmation of the diagnosis is made using two tests: a screening test (the most common test enzyme immunoassay) and a confirmatory test assessing the presence of the virus and viral load.

Treatment and prevention of the disease

The basis of therapy is control of virus reproduction and treatment of concomitant diseases. When following the prescriptions of specialists and taking modern drugs it is possible to curb the development of HIV infection.

Treatment should begin immediately after diagnosis. In Russia, centers for the treatment and prevention of HIV infection have been created, which prescribe and dispense medications for HIV-infected people. Additional treatment is aimed at combating cancer and opportunistic infections that arise as a result of decreased immunity and stimulation of the immune system.

Preventive measures consist of observing safety measures during sexual intercourse, medical and cosmetic procedures, regular blood tests for infection and compliance with specialist prescriptions.

According to official data, 658 thousand people in Russia are infected with HIV. These are those who are registered with doctors. However, there are many more patients. And it is these “hidden” patients that cause the greatest concern among specialists. After all, if a person is unaware of the infection, he loses his health and can infect others. On the contrary, someone who finds out the diagnosis, comes under the supervision of doctors and starts taking medications on time is safe for others and can live a long time, normal life and have healthy children. To stop the spread dangerous infection, it is necessary first of all to regularly examine as many people as possible.

To convince our citizens of the need to test our citizens, the Ministry of Health is holding a large-scale nationwide HIV testing campaign for the second year in a row. Last year, visitors to shopping and entertainment centers could take a rapid test. This time the project was supported by Russian Railways, and the opportunity to get checked quickly and anonymously became available to train passengers and those who saw them off and met them at stations. The campaign started in Vladivostok and will end at the end of October in St. Petersburg. 24 regions with the highest prevalence of HIV infection were selected for the special train route. In two months, 15 thousand people were tested

Medicines are free

It is possible to stop the HIV epidemic. For this purpose, the Ministry of Health, together with the expert community and public organizations has developed and is implementing a state strategy to combat HIV, designed until 2020. It provides not only information campaigns that motivate regular examinations like the current campaign, but also an increase in treatment coverage, the prevention of transmission of the virus from an infected mother to a child, the creation rehabilitation centers for drug users - the most dangerous risk group, etc. This close attention This is the first time the highest authorities have given attention to the problem.

And there are already results. So, in 2011-2015. the number of new patients increased every year by 10%. In 2016, annual growth was already 5.3%, and in the first half of this year - 3.3%. Coverage modern treatment Over 10 years, HIV-infected people increased 6 times and in the first half of 2017 exceeded 44%. And in some regions, for example, in Crimea, where a very high incidence was noted in 2014, it is even higher. This made it possible to reduce HIV mortality by 26% in 2015 alone. Thanks to thoughtful preventive measures, within 10 years Russia has become one of the world leaders in stopping mother-to-child transmission of the virus. Today, 98% of children born to HIV-positive mothers are born healthy.

“Last year we tested more than 32 million citizens for free. This is very important, because today’s medical capabilities make it possible to provide assistance to such people,” said Minister of Health Veronika Skvortsova. — We have all the necessary drugs that are recommended by the best international experts and WHO. And starting this year, the procurement of HIV drugs was centralized at the federal level, which made it possible to reduce their cost and increase treatment coverage, bringing the treatment regimen to the best international standards. Already, 80% of patients receiving therapy have virtually zero viral load (the virus is not detectable in the blood - Ed.). By 2020, we must provide modern treatment to 90% of HIV-infected people.”

This means that Russia has every chance to rid itself of the burden of HIV, just as smallpox, plague and other scourges were once defeated.

Events

Two weeks after a child was first cured of HIV, scientists said: similar treatment can help adults.

The most important thing is to start early treatment, although this does not guarantee success.

Professor Azier Saez-Sirion(Asier Sáez-Cirión) from Pasteur Institute in Paris analyzed 70 people with HIV who were treated with antiretroviral drugs between 35 days and 10 weeks after infection. This is much earlier than HIV patients are usually treated.

All participants had their medication regimen interrupted by various reasons. For example, some people made their own decisions to stop taking medications, while others tried other medications.

In most volunteers, the disease returned after stopping treatment, and the virus recurred to the same level as before treatment. But in 14 patients, among whom there were 4 women and 10 men, there were no relapses of the virus after stopping treatment, which was carried out for an average of 3 years.

Although 14 patients had traces of HIV in their blood, the levels were so low that their bodies could control it without medication.

Treatment of HIV infection

On average 14 participants stopped taking medications 7 years ago, and one of them managed without medication for 10.5 years.

Just recently, it was announced that a baby was “functionally cured” of HIV after being given three antiretroviral drugs almost immediately after birth: zidovudine, lamivudine And nevirapine. However, experts warned that fast treatment not suitable for everyone, but it is important to start as early as possible.

"There are three advantages early treatment", Saez-Ciriona explained. "This limits the HIV reservoir, the diversity of the virus and preserves the immune response to the virus that controls it."

Moreover, none of the 14 patients were so-called “super-controllers,” that is, 1 percent of people who naturally are resistant to HIV and quickly suppress infection. In addition, most had severe symptoms which led to early treatment.

"No matter how paradoxical it may sound, the worse they felt at the beginning, the better they felt later", the scientists said.

How long does it take for HIV to appear?

A month or two (2-4 weeks at the earliest) after HIV has entered the body, the first signs of infection may appear. But sometimes HIV symptoms may not appear for years or even ten years after infection. This is why it is important to get HIV tests to help detect the presence of the virus.

First signs of HIV

During the first 2-4 weeks after HIV infection (and up to 3 months), 40-90 percent of people may develop acute symptoms illnesses that are similar to flu symptoms. It is called " acute retroviral syndrome" and is natural reaction for HIV infection. During this time, the level of the virus in the blood is high, and a person can more easily transmit it to others.

Symptoms may include:

Heat

Night sweats

A sore throat

Muscle pain

Headache

Fatigue

Enlarged lymph nodes

After early symptoms HIV disappears, the virus becomes less active, although it is still present in the body. During this time, the person may not experience any symptoms. It is called latent phase which can last up to 10 years and longer.

After HIV progresses to AIDS, symptoms of fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, fever, chills and others appear.