HIV (Hiv), Human Immunodeficiency Virus

HIV (Hiv), Human Immunodeficiency Virus, is a retrovirus that causes the development of AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). There are more than 38 million people worldwide living with HIV, and the virus kills millions of people every year.

HIV infection is transmitted through blood, semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk. It can be transmitted through sexual contact, sharing needles, infected blood and broken skin contact. HIV is not transmitted through normal contact, such as sharing utensils or hugging.

HIV attacks the immune system, destroying T cells that are needed to fight infections. As a result, the immune system is weakened, making the body more vulnerable to disease and infection. Without treatment, HIV can lead to AIDS, which means the immune system is completely destroyed.

Symptoms of HIV infection may manifest differently depending on the stage of the disease. The early stage may be asymptomatic or with mild symptoms such as fever, sore throat and headache. In later stages of the disease, symptoms associated with a weakened immune system may appear, such as persistent fatigue, weight loss, cough and diarrhea.

There are drug therapies that can slow the progression of HIV and reduce the chance of developing AIDS. Treatment involves a combination of drugs that help reduce the amount of virus in the blood and support the functioning of the immune system.

It is important to remember that HIV infection is incurable, but its progression can be controlled with treatment. In addition to drug therapy, it is also important to take precautions to avoid contracting HIV, such as using condoms and not sharing injection needles.

In conclusion, HIV is a serious disease that can lead to the destruction of the immune system and the development of AIDS. But with treatment and precautions, you can control the progression of HIV and live a full life.

**Human immunodeficiency virus** (HIV or Human immunodeficiency virus, HIV) is one of the most dangerous viruses. It is transmitted to humans from infected animals and enters the bloodstream through a wound on the skin or mucous membrane. For a long time, people with HIV do not experience serious disturbances in the functioning of the immune system, which allows the patient not to know about the presence of the virus. But ultimately, developing in cells, it leads to a complete disruption of the functioning of the immune system and manifests itself as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Signs of the disease can be noticed within a few months after infection. The first symptoms are swollen lymph nodes, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, decreased appetite and fever. Subsequently, the patient progresses to fungal and bacterial infections of the skin, lungs, intestines and other internal organs. Without treatment, the life expectancy of such patients is reduced to 1 year.

Treatment of viral infections is carried out in several stages. First, drug treatment is carried out to prevent and treat the replication of the virus, followed by procedures to restore the body’s own immune system, as well as injection and infusion methods to enhance immunity. Treatment involves long-term use of antiviral drugs and their combination. Maintenance therapy is provided with antifungal, antibacterial, and antiseptic medications.