Vine infection

HIV infection: challenges and solutions

HIV infection is a chronic infectious disease that is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and is characterized by damage to the immune system, leading to the development of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and death of the patient as a result of the development of secondary (opportunistic) infections, malignant tumors or damage to the central nervous system .

The first descriptions of the clinical picture of the disease date back to 1981. In 1983, a group of scientists led by Lucien Montagnie (L. Montagnie) discovered the human immunodeficiency virus, a similar message was made by American scientists led by Robert Gallo (R. C. Gallo). In the United States, the first cases of AIDS were reported in 1979. At the beginning of the 21st century, HIV infection has a pandemic spread. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), by the beginning of 2000, 16.3 million people had died from AIDS; 33.6 million are HIV positive. The disease is registered in almost all countries of the world; in a number of African countries, the number of infected people is 15-20% of the adult population. In Russia, the first patients - Africans - were identified in 1985, the first patient - a citizen of the Russian Federation - in 1987; By the end of 1999, over 25,000 HIV-infected people had already been registered.

HIV is a retrovirus, the main feature of which is the presence of the enzyme reverse transcriptase, which transfers genetic information from viral RNA to DNA. There are 2 types of virus known – HIV1 and HIV2. HIV does not have a mechanism for correcting genetic errors, and therefore is prone to mutations, which is essential for antiviral therapy and vaccine development. The only source of the pathogen is a sick person at any stage of HIV infection. The virus is found in all biological fluids of the body, but it is present in concentrations sufficient for infection in blood, semen, vaginal secretions, and breast milk. The main route of transmission of the pathogen is sexual, therefore HIV infection is classified as a sexually transmitted infectious disease.

In addition to sexual transmission, HIV can be transmitted through blood transfusions, the use of untested injection syringes, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, and the use of contaminated dental or surgical instruments. You cannot become infected with HIV through normal contact with a sick person, for example, through communication, shaking hands, touching.

Symptoms of HIV infection can vary and depend on the stage of the disease. In the initial stage of the disease, which lasts from several weeks to several months after infection, symptoms reminiscent of ARVI may be observed: fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, sore throat, skin rashes. At this stage, the patient may have a high concentration of the virus in the blood, which makes it especially contagious. In the secondary stage of the disease, which can last for years, various symptoms may occur, including skin rashes, diarrhea, respiratory tract infections, herpes, cytomegalovirus infection and others. In the tertiary stage of the disease, which occurs when the immune system is so weakened that it cannot fight infections, opportunistic infections such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, candidiasis, cytomegalovirus infection, neurosyphilis and others can develop.

To diagnose HIV infection, special tests are carried out, including a test for the presence of antibodies to HIV in the blood. If the test is positive, a confirmatory test, such as immunoblot analysis, is performed. Early detection of HIV infection allows treatment to begin at an early stage of the disease, which increases the chances of a successful outcome.

Treatment of HIV infection is carried out with antiviral drugs, which reduce the concentration of the virus in the blood and slow down the progression of the disease. Antiviral therapy should begin as early as possible, in the presence of clinical signs of HIV infection or when HIV is detected in the blood. Treatment is carried out under the supervision of a doctor and requires strict adherence to the medication regimen. Maintaining the patient’s immunity plays an important role in treatment, including proper nutrition, regular exercise and giving up bad habits.

Prevention of HIV infection includes using condoms with every sexual contact, using only sterile injection syringes, avoiding shared dental and surgical instruments, maintaining good hygiene when caring for wounds, etc. It is important to follow safety rules