HIV and AIDS are different diseases. How does HIV develop? Stages of development of HIV infection

HIV and AIDS is one of the biggest problems and mysteries of mankind. The reason is that this is not just some virus that can be eliminated or quarantined and wait until the epidemic passes. Today, the disease has become widespread.

Quite a few believe that AIDS is the culprit of deaths. People forget about, while they make a rather free choice regarding the choice of partners. Let's see how HIV has to do with AIDS, because that's when you can understand the danger of these diseases.

Many people do not understand how it is different from AIDS, although they do not need to. It is enough that the infection is spread by drug addicts and prostitutes. I must say that until the mid-90s it was so. Later illness went beyond and infected were those who are not in the "risk group". Some people were infected by accident in a tattoo parlor, others had the imprudence to make love to a stranger without using contraception, when they themselves did not know that they were already carriers of the immunodeficiency virus.

Thus, the spread of the disease (let's call it that, although the term is not entirely appropriate, since it is not a disease) has gone beyond all limits.

According to statistics, the growth rate of HIV-infected people in Russia has increased markedly, and today the country is in third place in terms of the incidence rate. Today, millions of people live with this infection.

HIV and AIDS - what is it and is there a difference

What is HIV and AIDS and how they differ from each other - every inhabitant of the planet should know in order to understand what kind of problem it is.

In short, AIDS can be called acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. That is, the infection is acquired, and not inherited. This means that if someone in the family had such a problem, it will not affect the descendants. True, the difference between HIV and AIDS is not in this, but in a completely different way. In order to understand this, it must be said that the infection is dangerous because, by affecting the immune system, it does not give it the opportunity to fight certain diseases. In the protective functions of the body, a noticeable gap is drawn, which cannot be filled with anything. This means that even minor microorganisms can adversely affect human body and the patient simply will not. At the same time, he will die not so much from AIDS, but from a disease that the body could not cope with.

By the way, for this reason, many patients are completely indifferent to HIV or AIDS, what is the difference between an infection or a disease. It is enough for them that even a minor cut or swimming in the pool can “kill” them.

Scientists find it difficult to say exactly which specific pathogen led to the appearance of acquired immunodeficiency - AIDS.

Important! Few people know, but there can be a great many acquired immunodeficiencies, but they are all treatable, as for the problem described above, it is special.

Even 20 years ago, the disease was called a syndrome, although this is not quite precise definition, because today it is known what is the cause of the emergence and development of AIDS. Now doctors usually say that the patient has HIV infection or AIDS. For those who are still not clear about the difference between HIV and AIDS, it can be briefly explained as follows: HIV is an infection that led to the onset of the disease itself. In fact, the infection itself is not yet a disease, but for many it does not matter.

As for HIV, it is a retrovirus that was isolated back in 1983 by two scientists (the Pasteur Institute in France under the leadership of Luc Montagnier and the National Cancer Institute in the USA under the leadership of Robert Gallo).

The peculiarity of the virus is that it launches its gene material in the cells of the human body. That is, infected cells cannot be restored.

How to Give an Accurate Diagnosis of an Infection in the Diagnosis Process

The difficulty lies in the fact that HIV is very changeable, it has many faces, so even the world's best scientists fail to create some kind of vaccine. The virus is very complex structure, although it is extremely sensitive to many physical and chemical influences. The virus dies when exposed to bleach, acetone, ether and alcohol. Once on intact human skin, the virus is quickly eliminated by the body's protective bacteria and enzymes.

Of course, everyone understands that the difference between HIV and AIDS is colossal.

Many scientists agree that AIDS develops against the background of immunodeficiency, but at the same time, HIV is not what leads to the onset of the disease. It can become a catalyst, but in the presence of another unknown factor.

Important! Therefore, those who are interested in whether HIV and AIDS are the same or not should know that these two concepts may not even be related.

Scientists say that in the human body there is a "code program" that does not give various infections a chance to survive. When HIV invades a particular cell, it begins to “rewrite” this program in such a way that the cell itself becomes a derivative of viruses.

Interestingly, a person who has this virus in his body can for a long time not be aware of its presence. And even the HIV test (which is given within six months after infection) is negative. This means that all this time the infection can easily be transmitted from the carrier to other healthy people.

At the same time, you need to understand how HIV differs from AIDS in order to realize that not everyone who becomes infected will be diagnosed with AIDS. Scientists have proven that there are people who live with HIV infection for 10 or even 20 years. Some of the carriers are already elderly. And they never found AIDS. The reason for this is good and strong immunity that manages to fight infection.

Therefore, saying that AIDS and HIV are one, and at the same time, many people are very mistaken.

Symptoms

Having dealt with the difference between AIDS and HIV infection, it is worth moving on to the symptoms of the disease itself. The development of AIDS leads to serious health problems.

who are more likely to develop the disease.

Ignorance does not protect from disease. Many people, having heard about the infection, begin to literally shy away from the infected, who may never become sick. The difference between HIV and AIDS is colossal and the presence of one does not guarantee the emergence of the other, especially in modern world with such high quality medical care.

The difference is very big. More precisely: HIV is a virus, but AIDS is already a disease.

Development of HIV

From the moment when the immunodeficiency virus enters the human body, a long-term struggle begins immune system with illness. The weakening of the immune system - immunodeficiency - develops gradually and often unnoticed by the person himself and others. For a long time, only special blood tests can determine how successfully the body fights the virus and whether it is time to start treatment.
(We thought for a long time with X where he got it from and came to the conclusion that the infection occurred about 3 years ago, and all this time he lived calmly and nothing bothered him, at least he protected himself well)
late stage HIV infection, in which the immune status decreases to 200 cells and specific opportunistic diseases appear, is called AIDS. Thanks to the advent of combination therapy, the stage of AIDS is reversible.

HOW DOES IMMUNODEFICIENCY OCCUR?
Once in the body, HIV attacks certain blood cells: T-lymphocytes - "helpers". These cells play an important role in the immune system: they recognize the "enemy" - bacteria, viruses, poisons - and order other cells to destroy it. On the surface of these lymphocytes are CD-4 molecules, so they are also called T-4 lymphocytes and CD-4 lymphocytes (or CD-4 cells).

The virus encounters a cell with a CD-4 molecule on its surface. The shell of the virus and the cell merge, and the genetic material of the virus enters the cell. With the help of enzymes called reverse transcriptase and integrase, the virus translates its genetic information into the language of a human cell, integrates into the nucleus of this cell and begins to control it. In HIV infection, billions of blood cells contain the genetic material of the virus.

obeying genetic program HIV, the cell begins to produce various components of the virus. Another enzyme of the virus - protease - organizes the structure of the new virus, after which it buds from the host cell, taking with it part of its shell.

There are several explanations why the T4 cell captured by the virus dies:
She loses the molecules that the virus uses for itself.
She "commits suicide" by obeying an internal program
Overflowing with virus particles, the cell explodes and dies
It is killed by other cells of the human immune system to reduce harm to the body.
Perhaps all of these factors are at work.
Losing T4 cells, the immune system can no longer cope with various infections that previously did not pose a danger to the body. The virus infects not only T-lymphocytes, but also other cells containing the CD-4 receptor, including cells with long term life, such as monocytes and macrophages, which can store large quantities virus without dying. They serve as a reservoir for the virus. The virus in such reservoirs is inactive and invulnerable to existing antiviral drugs. This is one of the main obstacles to complete withdrawal HIV from the body.

Immune status determines the number of T-4 (CD-4) cells per cubic millimeter (milliliter) of blood. In a person with an intact immune system, the immune status is typically 800 to 1,200 cells. (In young children, the number of CD-4 cells is normally 2-3 times higher than in adults, that is, with a healthy immune status, it is 2,000-3,000 cells). A decrease in the immune status to 200 cells and below creates the risk of developing life-threatening diseases - opportunistic infections.

Viral load reflects the number of free particles (copies) of the virus circulating in the blood. The viral load test is more often based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method and measures the number of copies of the RNA of the virus. Less than 20,000 copies of the virus per 1 ml of blood is considered a low viral load, more than 20,000 copies is a danger signal. Even the most sensitive modern tests cannot determine viral load below 50 copies per ml, so when it is said that no virus is found in a patient's blood as a result of antiviral treatment, this does not mean that the virus has disappeared, but that the number of copies per ml is below the sensitivity limit of the test used systems.

Regular examinations for immune status and viral load allow you to:

Appoint on time antiviral treatment. If your immune status has dropped significantly, your doctor may prescribe one of the available antiviral drugs;
timely start the prevention of opportunistic infections.

Opportunistic infections

PNEUMOCYSTIC PNEUMONIA
The causative agent is the microorganism Pneumocystis carinii, which lives everywhere in environment. It is impossible to avoid getting a pneumocyst into the body, therefore, with an immune status below 200, a prophylactic administration of a drug that prevents the development of this disease (bactrim, biseptol) is prescribed.

TUBERCULOSIS
If you have ever been infected with mycobacteria, the causative agents of tuberculosis, at any time in your life, you are at a high risk of developing this disease. Infection with mycobacteria is determined using the Mantoux skin test - it should be carried out regularly, at least once a year. If the test is positive (papule more than 5 mm in diameter), appoint preventive treatment isoniazid for a year. Avoiding infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis is difficult because the infection is transmitted by airborne droplets.

CYTOMEGALOVIRUS
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) can cause people with low immune status dangerous disease eye - retinitis - leading to loss of vision. CMV also causes disease gastrointestinal tract, nervous system and other organs. The risk is greatest with CD4 below 50. With a positive reaction to CMV antibodies and a low immune status, prophylactic treatment (ganciclovir and other drugs) is prescribed. CMV is already present in the body of most people: it is most often transmitted sexually. If you are CMV negative, use condoms or safe sex.

FUNGAL INFECTIONS
Most common fungal diseases- candidiasis. They occur at any stage of the development of HIV infection and are treatable. With a low immune status, esophageal candidiasis is dangerous. No less dangerous fungal infection- cryptococcal meningitis, which occurs when the CD4 count is below 50. In both cases, treatment must be started immediately and not stopped even after the symptoms disappear.

BACTERIAL INFECTIONS
Infection with bacteria in HIV infection can develop into bacterial pneumonia. The risk is increased if you smoke or use drugs. Prevention of PCP helps prevent bacterial pneumonia.

Bacteria can also cause severe gastrointestinal disorders.

HERPES VIRUSES
Such a common infection as herpes, with a low immune status, is serious problem. If you are not infected, avoid infection, which can occur through sexual contact or through contact with people who are sick active form herpes (including with "fever" on the lips).

REMEMBER:
At any stage of HIV infection, the use of raw eggs, semi-raw meat or poultry, unpasteurized milk. If you have pets, keep special care when you clean up after them. raw water, unwashed fruits and vegetables, dirty hands are sources of dangerous infections.

The designations "HIV" and "AIDS" have long been known not only in medicine. Everyone knows that HIV infection is no less terrible than the plague.

However, many people confuse these terms because they do not clearly understand the difference between HIV and AIDS.

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus, retrovirus) is a viral particle that enters the human body and destroys immune cells, causing HIV infection.

AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is The final stage HIV infection, which in almost all cases ends lethal outcome. People who have been infected need to know how long it takes HIV to turn into AIDS, and how to determine that the final stage of the disease has begun.

The opinion that HIV and AIDS are equivalent terms and concepts is absolutely erroneous.

The differences between "HIV" and "AIDS" lie in the definition and meaning of these terms.

Acting as a causative agent of infection, which is able to multiply rapidly, destroying healthy immune cells. The infected person may not even be aware that he has “acquired” the infection, since the disease is initially asymptomatic.

After infection with a retrovirus, several years must pass for the patient to develop immunodeficiency syndrome. With timely treatment and adherence to medical recommendations, many HIV- infected people the disease does not progress to AIDS.

Fourth stage of HIV infection. At this stage, the immune system is completely destroyed, so that a person is threatened with terrible concomitant diseases - infectious, fungal and oncological. A patient with AIDS is underweight, constant weakness and malaise, digestive disorders, convulsions, fever and other unpleasant symptoms. The remaining small cells of the immune system cannot cope with the invasion of pathogens, so that a person slowly dies from disturbances in the functioning of internal organs.

The second difference is in . From the moment of infection with HIV to the stage of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, more than a dozen years can pass. When a person is already sick with AIDS, then he has no more than a year to live.

And the last difference lies in the principles of treatment. In HIV infection, therapy is aimed at suppressing the vital activity of viral cells and maintaining immunity. In immunodeficiency syndrome, all efforts are reduced to the treatment of severe concomitant diseases(such as malignant tumors, tuberculosis, pneumonia).

Knowing the difference between these two concepts, you will be able to avoid illiterate speech turns: “get AIDS”, “AIDS-infected”, “AIDS infection” and so on.

From HIV to AIDS in stages - how one flows into another

HIV infection on the way to immune deficiency syndrome goes through four stages, which in total last from 10 to 20 years. Approximately this is the life expectancy of an infected person from the moment of infection, if you do not take medications.

incubation period. This stage lasts from the moment the virus cells enter the human blood. It takes about 3-12 weeks in time, but in some cases it can take up to several months. It is characterized by an asymptomatic, latent course - you can find out about infection only if you donate blood for tests. Laboratory diagnostics at the end of the incubation period will show the viral load in the patient; at the beginning of this period, no laboratory signs illness.
acute stage. At this time, the first symptoms of the disease are detected in patients for the first time. The duration of the stage is about a year.
subclinical stage. If a person has not been tested, then even at this stage he may not suspect infection. the only clinical sign here is the increase lymph nodes. The stage lasts 5-7 years.
On the last stage developing human immunodeficiency syndrome. The body's defenses are practically absent, so a person cannot resist negative impact pathogenic microorganisms. Only strong antiretroviral drugs can support life at this stage.

In addition, there is a classification of HIV, which was developed by the Russian epidemiologist V.I. Pokrovsky and includes not four, but five stages, the last is the terminal (lethal) stage. Pokrovsky's classification clearly shows how HIV turns into AIDS.

Thus, AIDS and HIV are ambiguous concepts. If with HIV infection you can take inhibitors to suppress viral activity, then with AIDS it will be useless. Therapy is aimed only at maintaining the functions of vital organs.

How to understand that AIDS has begun

The difference between HIV and AIDS is clear, next question- how to determine that the last stage of the infection has begun?

Most reliable way to know that AIDS has come is. At this stage of the disease, the number of CD4 T cells does not exceed 200 per 1 ml of blood - this is a critical level.

In such a situation, opportunistic diseases begin to develop - diseases caused by opportunistic bacteria, viruses, fungi, which are completely harmless to a healthy body.

K include:

a sharp decrease in body weight up to exhaustion;
constantly elevated temperature;
digestive problems, frequent diarrhea;
malaise, fatigue;
difficulty swallowing;
strong dry cough;
alternating fever and chills;
inflammatory processes;
frequent infectious diseases.

These manifestations can be expressed individually, but most often there is a complex of symptoms.

The transition of the disease to the stage of AIDS may also be accompanied by the development of oncological neoplasms in the patient.

Persons infected with HIV can live long and happy life only with constant monitoring by an infectious disease specialist and treatment in outpatient settings. The prognosis for life, subject to all medical recommendations, is most often favorable.

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, when it enters the body, destroys the immune system, which leads to a critically low resistance to the effects of a variety of disease-causing agents.

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

HIV infection can occur in several ways.

As a result of unprotected intercourse (this includes vaginal, oral and anal forms of sex).
Through the blood (with intravenous injections with a contaminated needle and blood transfusions from an infected donor to a healthy person).
Intrauterine route (from mother to fetus).
When breastfeeding (from an infected mother to a 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 has been infected with the immunodeficiency virus, and AIDS is already a clear confirmation of the active development of this virus in the body.

Average duration life HIV infected person can be several decades without the appearance of the main manifestations of impaired functioning 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 immunity, and the treatment of AIDS consists in reducing the intensity of the main manifestations severe ailments that developed against the background of the destruction of the immune system.

To fight infection, preparations containing macrophages and T-lymphocytes are introduced into the body - these are immune cells that are a target for HIV. It can be said that the essence of HIV treatment is to prevent the development of AIDS, when the impact on the immune system is already meaningless.

Important!

The vital activity of the immunodeficiency virus is possible only in the cells of the human body. Outside this environment, it dies very quickly. That is why HIV is not spread by contact-household way.

Stages of HIV and AIDS

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

incubation period. This is the period of time lasting from the moment of infection until the first signs of the disease appear in the patient. Depending on the state of the human immune system initially, this phase can last from several days to several weeks.
Installation period. After the virus enters the body and affects the cells of the immune system, it can take quite a long time. a large number of time before an infected person begins to develop a variety of pathological phenomena. Sometimes infected people periodically experience isolated signs of retroviral syndrome, but usually they are not betrayed due importance. Such symptoms include chronic fatigue, decreased efficiency, aches all over the body.
Final period. In this case, the immunodeficiency virus passes into active phase of his life activity. The human immune system is in an extremely depressed state, so the body cannot resist infectious agents. At 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 is rapidly losing weight. Also feature decreased activity of the immune system - multiple candidiasis ( fungal infections). At the same time, he can become infected with any infection, whether it be pneumonia or tuberculosis, and die from the consequences of the development of infection in the body. In the last stages of AIDS, against the background of a critical weakening of immunity, malignant neoplasms may begin to form in an infected person.

It is conditionally possible to distinguish several stages in the development of AIDS.

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

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

Which is scarier: 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, it is possible to alleviate the patient's condition only by reducing the intensity of the manifestation of the symptoms of the disease that have arisen against the background of a critically weakened immune system.

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

With the timely diagnosis of the carriage 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 your back on people if they have HIV. Be supportive and don't be afraid to get infected through touch and communication. Many are HIV-positive since childhood, they are not at all to blame for the fact that fate decreed this way. Be understanding!

Information about HIV is regularly covered in the media, schools and universities. The population is familiar with ways to prevent infection. But only a small percentage of people understand the difference between AIDS and HIV. Low awareness often leads to mistakes and troubles, so all Russians should familiarize themselves with information about the disease.

The difference between HIV and AIDS in the definition of concepts

Some people mistakenly believe that these terms have the same meaning. It is important to understand how the concepts differ and not to confuse them. Below is an explanation of the abbreviations:

HIV is a human immunodeficiency virus that lives in the carrier's body at the expense of its cells.
AIDS is Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. The condition is characterized by a severe weakening of the immune system and an inability to fight any disease.

Once in the blood, the immunodeficiency virus cannot be destroyed. It remains with a person until the end of life, rarely, but clearly manifesting itself under the condition of undergoing treatment. An infected person can fully live with him for decades. The immunodeficiency syndrome is the last stage of the disease, when the infection has already killed most of the immune cells. This condition is dangerous for humans and often ends in death. Thanks to antiretroviral therapy, it is possible to postpone the onset of the last stage of the disease for a long time and prolong the life of the patient.

Ways of transmission of HIV infection

The immunodeficiency virus is characterized by a small number of modes of transmission. The routes of infection are shown below:

Contact sexual. Infection occurs through vaginal secretion or seminal fluid. This is the most common way of transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus, and it poses a serious danger. The risk of infection depends on viral load partner. But it is impossible to predict the development of pathology and transmission. The infection may begin to spread actively in healthy body after one contact with the carrier and is not transmitted through prolonged unprotected sexual intercourse.
Parenteral injection, transplantation (infection through the blood). Infection occurs during transfusion, transplantation, use of dirty syringes during intravenous drug use.
Vertical transplacental, intranatal (from mother to child through breast milk or in utero). If a woman becomes infected before pregnancy, while carrying a baby, or after childbirth, the human immunodeficiency virus can be transmitted to the baby. Expectant mothers with this diagnosis should take antiviral drugs which will reduce the risk of disease transmission to a minimum.

The ignorance of the population about the ways of HIV transmission has given rise to many myths. There is practically no possibility of infection through manicure accessories, eyebrow tongs, dental instruments (all of these methods transmit hepatitis C and B). In addition, you can not get infected through:

saliva
embrace;
urine;
feces;
common food;
tears;
kisses;
bed dress;
clothes.

Do not pose a risk to healthy people public places: swimming pools, saunas, GYM's, massage parlors and more. It is impossible to catch an infection through left syringes or smeared blood. Such myths are invented to intimidate ignorant people. The human immunodeficiency virus is not viable during external environment. The development and reproduction of its cells occurs only inside a living organism.

The blood clotting time is 30-120 seconds, after which the virus dies. Even if you prick with a syringe left on the playground or in the cinema, the blood from it will not enter the human body, without pressure on the piston. To get sick through direct contact with blood smeared on railings or other in public places, contact must occur within the first 60 minutes of leaving it. In addition, it should contain a huge amount of viral particles, and the body of a healthy person should have open wound. In this case, the probability of infection will be no more than 10-15%.

Pathogenesis

The disease and its causative agent have the same name. The virus targets the human immune system. After it enters the body, cells are damaged that have protein structures(CD-4 receptors) on the outside of the shell. These include: T-lymphocytes, monocytes, macrophages and others. HIV differs from other viruses in that it cannot be cured.

In addition, over time, most of the immune cells die in infected people, which leads to a weakening defensive forces person. From opportunistic diseases that develop against the background of the human immunodeficiency virus, patients can die. It is impossible to develop a vaccine against the infection because of its variability. All daughter virions differ from the parent ones by at least 1 element.

In the human body, the immunodeficiency virus goes through several stages. The development cycle of the disease is described below:

penetration period.
dissemination of the pathogen.
The body's primary response.
The fight of the body with the pathogen.
The constant weakening of the human defenses, the development of opportunistic diseases.

Opportunistic Diseases

AIDS is the final stage in the development of the disease. It is characterized by a strong suppression of the immune system, when the body cannot resist any infections. Against this background, the attachment of various opportunistic diseases begins. The most popular ones are listed below:

Pathologies of the central nervous system: neurocognitive disorders, toxoplasma encephalitis, cryptococcal meningitis, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.
Diseases respiratory system: tuberculosis, pneumocystis pneumonia, total mycoplasmal pneumonia.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (gastrointestinal tract): esophagitis (viral or fungal inflammation of the esophagus), megacolon toxic etiology, cryptosporidiosis, generalized salmonellosis, cytomegalovirus infection, microsporidiosis.
Neoplasms: Kaposi's sarcoma, cervical cancer, Burkitt's lymphoma, papillomas on the genitals, large cell lymphoma, anus carcinoma.
Other types of diseases: thrush of the genital organs or oral cavity (damage to the mucous membranes by the Candida fungus), coccidioidomycosis, inflammation of the retina, penicillinosis, histoplasmosis.

Stages of disease development

When considering the difference between AIDS and HIV, it is worth examining the stages of the disease. After the virus enters the body, it goes through several clinical phases:

acute phase. The period lasts about a month after infection. Symptoms of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus are not typical, they resemble a cold moderate. The infected person shows subfebrile temperature(up to 37.5 ° C), urticaria. Often, patients experience prolonged fever, ulcers in oral cavity, papular rash, muscle pain. Digestive disorders may occur: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. It is difficult to assume HIV infection at this stage, because the symptoms do not differ from other diseases. It is possible to assume the penetration of the virus into the body if there is a precedent (unprotected intercourse or injection chemical substances during the last 4-6 weeks).
Acute HIV infection ( latent phase). The period is asymptomatic, it is characterized by the onset of a balance between the cells of the virus and the immune system. Of the signs of infection at this stage, the appearance of lymphadenopathy (diffuse swelling, enlarged lymph nodes) is possible. Detection of human immunodeficiency virus is possible only after examination of blood samples of the carrier.
Pre-AIDS. This phase is characterized by severe symptoms. The patient has a strong decrease in weight, superficial infections develop, ulcers on the skin, cases of infection become more frequent. colds.
AIDS. For terminal stage characterized by the addition of numerous opportunistic infections. The person's well-being is greatly deteriorating. The organism of an infected person cannot cope even with its own opportunistic microflora, which is normal state all healthy people. At this stage, multiple organ failure develops (disruption of the functioning of several systems at once), tumors grow, and the patient dies.

It is important to note that AIDS is different in that it represents the final stage of HIV infection and the maximum flowering of the disease. Immunodeficiency syndrome is characterized by a critical decrease in the number of cells of the immune system. Their number in a milliliter of blood may not exceed 10, when 600-1900 is considered the norm.

What is the difference between HIV and AIDS

Having considered the question of how AIDS differs from HIV, several conclusions can be drawn. It is important to remember the following:

You can only get HIV (human immunodeficiency virus).
AIDS cannot be obtained from a carrier of the infection, because this is the terminal stage of the disease.
Without antiretroviral therapy, the time interval from the moment of infection with HIV to the stage of AIDS is about 10 years.
If the patient will receive therapy starting from early stage diseases, then AIDS may not develop for decades (30-40 years pass before the onset of the terminal stage).
A patient diagnosed with HIV while taking antiretroviral therapy lives up to 70-80 years, without treatment about 10-11 years from the moment of infection.
AIDS without proper treatment lasts no more than 12 months and up to 3 years, subject to therapy.

Diagnostics

Today, doctors use a lot different ways disease diagnosis. Rapid HIV testing is regularly carried out in shopping malls and educational institutions. All Russians can donate blood for analysis at municipal polyclinics at their place of residence for free or undergo diagnostics for a fee in commercial medical institutions.

It is important to note that positive reaction screening is not the basis for a diagnosis. The patient is then sent to specialized centers HIV. Surveys are conducted voluntarily and anonymously. In Russia, in addition to express tests, a standard procedure is carried out to detect HIV infection, a two-level procedure, which includes the following:

ELISA test system(enzymatic immunoassay screening analysis);
IB (immune blotting) analysis with the transfer of viral agents to a nitrocellulose strip (strip).

How is HIV treatment different from AIDS

Persons diagnosed with HIV should be under constant control of the immune status of the body. Specialists carry out prevention and treatment of secondary infections, monitoring the development of neoplasms. Often, after diagnosis, the patient needs social adaptation and psychological help. The wide spread of the disease has led to the fact that support and rehabilitation of patients is carried out on a national scale. Patients are provided with qualified medical care that facilitates the course of the disease and improves the quality of life.

Treatment for HIV is different from treatment for AIDS. On the this moment The predominant etiotropic treatment of the virus is the appointment of drugs that reduce its reproductive abilities:

NRTIs (nucleoside transcriptase inhibitors): Zidovudine, Didanosine, Abacavir, Stavudine, Zalcitabine and others;
protease inhibitors: Nelfinavir, Ritonavir, Saquinavir;
NTRTs (nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors): Efavirenz, Nevirapine.
fusion inhibitors: enfuvirtide.

Treatment differs in duration. Drugs are taken constantly throughout the life of the patient. Success directly depends on the patient's self-discipline: timely regular medication, adherence to a certain regimen, and diet. It is forbidden to use immunostimulating therapy, because drugs from this group inhibit the protective functions of the body. Additionally, general strengthening and supporting agents (dietary supplements, vitamins), physiotherapy procedures are prescribed.

Treatment of patients with immunodeficiency syndrome differs from that of carriers. It is carried out in several directions:

obligatory placement of the patient in a hospital;
qualified care;
special diet;
active antiretroviral therapy (the method allows even at the terminal stage to increase the number of immune cells in the body);
specific treatment secondary diseases;
chemoprophylaxis of opportunistic infections.

The difference between HIV and AIDS in the prognosis

Concepts also differ in the prognosis of life. The infection is incurable and antiviral therapy may not give the desired effect. The average life expectancy of patients with HIV is 11-12 years. Modern ways treatment and a special way of life significantly prolong this period by 2-4 times. Important role assigned psychological state and the carrier's efforts to adhere to the diet and prescribed regimen.

After the diagnosis - immunodeficiency syndrome - a person's life expectancy is about 1-2 years. qualified health care extends this period to 4 years. In addition, the following have a significant impact on the survival of people with this diagnosis: