People can be divided into two groups according to their attitude towards HIV infection: those who do not consider HIV a problem, continuing their normal way of life, and those who are overly worried about their safety and are influenced by the flow of information pouring from media and other sources. Both one group and the second do not act quite correctly, because the infection has already been well studied today, and experts can say with accuracy where the risk of infection is possible and where it is not. You should understand how HIV infection is transmitted and how it is not transmitted in order to protect yourself from possible problems and not disturb your nerves once again.
In the body of a patient who is infected with HIV, the virus, the amount of which is sufficient to infect another person, is found in breast milk, vaginal secretions, semen and blood. It is through these pathways that HIV infection can enter the body of a he althy person. How is the virus transmitted through sweat, saliva, urine, feces? No way. There are only three routes of transmission: sexual, vertical and parenteral.
Properties of HIV
HIV belongs to the group of unstable viruses and can die under the direct influence of ether, acetone or alcohol. The virus, which is on the surface of he althy skin, is destroyed by bacteria and protective enzymes. It also does not tend to tolerate high temperatures and dies after about 30 minutes at 57 degrees Celsius or when boiled for one minute.
The difficulty in developing a cure and vaccine for HIV is that the virus is constantly changing.
Development of HIV infection
The body's primary response to an invading virus is by producing antibodies. The period that passes from infection to the moment when the active production of antibodies begins can last from three weeks to three months. In some cases, antibodies appear only six months after infection. This period is called the "seroconversion window period".
The latent or asymptomatic period can last from several months to 15 years. The disease at this stage does not manifest itself in any way. The infectious process develops after the asymptomatic period. The first sign that the disease is progressing is enlarged lymph nodes. After the AIDS stage develops. The main symptoms of this period are: frequent or persistent headache, unmotivated diarrhea, loss of appetite, drowsiness, malaise, fatigue, weight loss. At a late stage, tumors and concomitant infections appear, which are extremely difficult to cure.
The disease is associated with a loss of immunity and is dangerous for human life, thereforeIt is important to know how HIV is transmitted. Symptoms that may appear years later are difficult to overcome and return to a normal lifestyle.
HIV Diagnosis
It is impossible to make an accurate diagnosis and determine the presence of a virus in the body only by external signs. Here you need to conduct a blood test, which will indicate the presence of a viral load and antibodies to HIV in it. For this, HIV tests, ELISA (enzymatic immunoassay), polymer chain reaction, and various rapid tests are carried out. With the help of this kind of research, it is possible to establish the presence of a virus in the blood and the degree of its development.
You can do the test at any he althcare organization. A consultation is required first. In the case of a positive result, the infected person should be provided primarily with emotional and psychological support and information on how to lead a future lifestyle. If the result is negative, then you need to have a conversation with the person about how HIV infection is transmitted in everyday life. This will protect him from the possibility of infection.
Methods of HIV transmission
This question should interest everyone who is worried about their he alth. Transmission of HIV infection is carried out only in three ways, which are divided into artificial and natural. The first is sexual. The second is vertical. Its essence lies in the fact that the virus is transmitted directly from mother to child at birth (or to the fetus). itnatural ways.
The third way, which is usually referred to as artificial, is parenteral. In the latter case, infection can occur through blood transfusion, organ or tissue transplantation, intravenous injections with unsterilized devices. The main condition for infection is the presence of the virus in one person and its absence in another person.
Infection through blood
Infect a person can get into the body 1/10000 milliliter of blood, which is not visible to the human eye. The incredibly small size of the virus allows 100 thousand particles to fit on a line only 1 cm long. This is also dangerous for HIV infection. How the virus is transmitted through the blood can be imagined based on the fact that if even the smallest part of the blood of an infected person gets into the blood of a he althy person, then the probability of infection is close to 100 percent. This can happen through donation, with untested donated blood.
HIV infection is transmitted through untreated medical or cosmetic items if they have already been used by an infected person. Most often, such situations occur during ear piercing, tattooing, and piercing in non-specialized salons. The remains of someone else's blood can be invisible and remain even after washing with water. Tools must be treated with special agents or alcohol.
After the HIV epidemic began to spread, the Ministry of He alth strictly controls the work of medical staff. itconcerns donation, sterilization of medical instruments, general work of the staff. Therefore, the mechanism of transmission of HIV infection has already been carefully studied, therefore, in medical institutions, the risk of infection is minimized.
The risk of contracting the virus is high among intravenous drug users through blood-contaminated shared needles, syringes, filters and other drug paraphernalia.
Sexual infection
Speaking about how HIV infection and AIDS are transmitted, one cannot fail to mention the most common method - sexual. The virus in the body of an infected person is found in large quantities in the vaginal secretions and seminal fluid. Any heterosexual unprotected sexual intercourse can lead to infection, and the mucosa of the genital organs acts as a focus. The fact is that microdamages form on the mucous membrane during intercourse, through which the virus can freely penetrate and get from there into the circulatory system, other organs and tissues. The possibility of contracting the virus increases with promiscuity, frequent change of sexual partners, not using condoms, and also when having sexual contact with a partner who systematically uses drugs.
Infections that are sexually transmitted today, there are about 30. Many of them contribute to the development of various inflammatory diseases, which can also cause HIV infection. Most infectionsaccompany inflammation and damage to the mucous membrane of the genital organs, which also contributes to the easy penetration of HIV into the body. Dangerous for infection and sexual intercourse during menstruation. The concentration of the virus is much higher in semen than in vaginal discharge. Therefore, the probability of transmission of the virus from a woman to a man is lower than from a man to a woman.
Homosexual unprotected contacts are even more dangerous. Due to the fact that the rectal mucosa has no devices for sexual intercourse, the risk of traumatic injury in this area exceeds the possibility of injury in the vagina. Infection through the anal passage is more real due to the fact that it is abundantly supplied with blood. By the way, you can get infected through oral sex, although here the probability is not as high as in previous cases.
Thus, with any sexual contact, HIV infection can enter the body. How is the virus transmitted and what are the ways to avoid infection? It is enough just to streamline your sex life and use protective measures.
Infection of the child from the mother
Just a few years ago, this method of infection was very common, and an infected mother could not hope for the birth of a he althy child. There were exceptions, but rarely. The development of modern medicine to date has achieved positive results in reducing the risk of infection of the child from the mother. Methods of transmission of HIV infection from mother to fetus or child are as follows:through breast milk while breastfeeding, during childbirth or even during pregnancy. It is extremely difficult to find out at what point the infection occurred, so sick pregnant women need to register as early as possible and monitor the he alth of their unborn baby.
Possibility of infection at home
Although the risk of contracting HIV at home is low, it is still there. The most common is the transmission of infection through piercing-cutting objects. The question of how HIV is transmitted in everyday life is of concern to many, especially those who live under the same roof with an infected person.
The virus can be transmitted through personal hygiene items (such as razors). It is worth remembering that it is impossible to get infected through the general use of the toilet, since the virus is not transmitted with urine and feces, when swimming in the pool, through shared utensils and other household items.
Infection in everyday life often occurs artificially, through damaged skin. If, for example, the blood or mucous secretions of a patient enter the body of a he althy person, then we can already talk about infection.
HIV is not transmitted
The virus is not transmitted through the air (airborne), through food, water. Staying in a room with an infected person also does not threaten a he althy one. The use of household items (dishes, towels, bathroom, pool, linen) also does not pose any danger. The virus is not transmitted through shaking hands, kissing, smoking one cigarette, using onelipstick or handset. Also, HIV is not transmitted through insect bites or animals.
HIV and AIDS
HIV infection destroys the immune system, thereby reducing the body's resistance to various diseases. If in the first period infection can occur imperceptibly, not manifest itself outwardly, then at subsequent stages the immune system is weakened to such an extent that the body becomes subject to any infectious disease. Such diseases include those that very rarely affect uninfected people: inflammation of the lungs caused by microorganisms, a tumor disease Kaposi's sarcoma.
The condition when a person infected with HIV begins to develop infectious diseases, the cause of which lies in the problems of the immune system, is called AIDS.
HIV Prevention
No matter how HIV is transmitted, it is important that it is life-threatening for humans. In order not to face such a serious problem, it is necessary to lead a correct lifestyle and follow the recommendations of doctors.
Among all methods of fighting AIDS, the most effective is HIV prevention. It includes: having only one sexual partner, avoiding sexual contact with drug addicts, prostitutes, as well as with little-known people, avoiding group contacts, using protective equipment. These points are extremely important, since HIV infection is most often transmitted sexually through unprotected sex.
For your own safety, remember not to use someone else'spersonal hygiene items (medical instruments, toothbrushes, razors or razors). Everyone has the right to insist that in the office of a beautician, gynecologist, dentist and other specialists they are served with disposable new instruments.
The he alth sector should periodically carry out preventive measures regarding AIDS. These include: promotion of safe sex, careful screening of pregnant women, screening of blood donors and individuals at risk, birth control, refusal of infected women to breastfeed their babies.
Prevention within the walls of medical institutions implies: the use of only disposable instruments for the treatment of HIV patients, thorough hand washing after working with an infected patient. It is also necessary to carry out disinfection when the bed, environment or household items are contaminated with secretions and secrets of the patient. You should definitely remember that it is better to prevent a problem than to solve it later, and in this case, than to live with it later.
HIV treatment
In this case, as in many others, time is measured by days. The earlier the problem is detected, the more likely it is to return the patient to a normal lifestyle. HIV treatment focuses more on delaying the development and progression of the virus so that it does not turn into the more serious disease, AIDS. An infected person is immediately prescribed a complex of treatment, which includes: drugs that prevent the development of opportunistic infections, and drugs thatwhich affect the virus directly, interfering with its development and reproduction.
It's hard to live with a disease like HIV infection. How it is transmitted, how it develops, how to protect yourself - everyone should know the answers to these questions, because it is unlikely that the patient will be able to lead a normal life, especially if he finds out about the problem a few years after infection. Therefore, it is so important to monitor your behavior and take care of your he alth, because this is the most expensive thing we have, and, unfortunately or fortunately, money cannot buy it.
