Every young man at some point in his life is faced with a summons to military service. At the same time, the future soldier has many questions, one of which is whether they take HIV into the army? Is it possible to perform military service in the presence of such a serious chronic illness?
What is HIV?
This infection is a viral disease of the human immune system, in which its resistance weakens, and it becomes more susceptible to various pathogens and tumors.
The disease occurs when the human immunodeficiency virus enters the body. HIV can only live in an organic environment. He does not know how to develop independently, for this he needs a viable cell in which genetic information can be preserved. Subsequently, it becomes a kind of "factory" for the production of viruses.
Disease detection
For a long time, a person may not notice that he is infected. At the same time, he will feel he althy for many years. However, when the number of cells of the immune system drops to a critical level, a person pays attention to the fact that he is sick more often than usual, after which he goes to see a specialist and receives a disappointing diagnosis. You can also find out about the disease quite by accident, for example, when undergoing a medical examination before joining the army.
The entry of the virus into the body
Before answering the question of whether people with HIV are recruited into the army, let's consider the main factors of infection. Everyone should know this information. How is HIV transmitted and how does it enter the body?
Fortunately, HIV is not airborne. Penetration into the body occurs through contact with biological fluids: blood, breast milk, semen, vaginal secretions. The virus is not transmitted through saliva, urine or sweat.
You can get HIV in the following ways:
- When transfused with blood from a person who is a carrier. Each donor must be tested for HIV before donation. Unfortunately, in most cases, medical services do not include testing of donated blood. This is not safe for a potential recipient. People with HIV cannot be donors.
- When using non-sterile piercing and tattoo equipment.
- With unprotected intercourse. This cause of infection is the main one, accounting for more than 70% of cases.
- When using other people's razors and toothbrushes.
- When the virus is transmitted from an infected mother to a fetus (during pregnancy) or to a newbornbaby (during and after childbirth).
- When reusing a syringe previously used by an infected person.
The last and most severe stage of HIV is AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). The opinion of most people that any HIV-positive person has AIDS is a delusion. HIV-infected people have the opportunity to live a long life, undergoing timely treatment. This disease can be contracted quite by accident, because no one is immune from fatal contact with the carrier. But AIDS occurs only when a person does not take care of his he alth, does not undergo treatment, bringing the body to a critical state.
Do they take HIV into the army?
When recruiting for military service, a conscript must pass a commission to determine his physical and psychological condition. Medical examination is carried out directly at the place of conscription. After passing the commission, the recruit’s personal file indicates whether he is fit for service or has diseases incompatible with it.
During the medical examination, young people are tested, among which tests for the presence of HIV are mandatory. During the medical examination in the army, it is impossible to refuse to surrender them. The list of mandatory analyzes is indicated in the relevant documents. Do they take HIV into the army? Definitely not!
After the discovery of this disease, an unconditional removal from military registration takes place, regardless of the stage of the disease. The young man is assigned category D. He is released from service, receivingat the same time, a military ID, which displays the reason for the commission. If a conscript is classified as category D, this means that he will not be called up even during the war. This disease is a 100% he alth restriction for military service.
Why aren't carriers of the virus called up?
There are several reasons why a potential soldier becomes unfit for service:
- The need to protect others from infection. The military commissariat has no right to allow an infected young man to serve. Since soldiers often use common hygiene products (razors, washcloths), there is a possibility of spreading the virus. The risk of getting infected in this way is minimal, but it is unwise to endanger the he alth of military personnel.
- Protection of the patient himself. As HIV progresses, the body weakens, and even the most common cold can be dangerous.
After the discovery of an illness, the infected person is immediately entered on the list of the dispensary, since each infected person must be on a special account.
Can the diagnosis be kept secret?
Many are interested in the question of whether it is possible to hide one's disease and get into the ranks of the soldiers. The only way is to avoid getting tested for the presence or absence of the virus. It is almost impossible to do this, because this diagnostic measure is mandatory.
Thanks to the equipment of modern medicine and new technologies, it is possible to determine the presence of HIV infection as accurately as possible. If the result of the analysisturns out to be positive, the commission's doctors order a series of additional checks to eliminate doubts.
If the conscript is informed about his diagnosis, he should not try to hide this fact. In any case, the presence of the disease will be confirmed.
Young people who know about their diagnosis should not only provide a certificate from the SC, but also be sure to report the illness to the therapist conducting the examination.
Interesting information: HIV is slightly more common in men than in women.
Treatment and control
To date, there is no cure for this deadly disease, but this is no reason to lose heart. In case of illness, you can keep HIV under control by systematically visiting a specialist and conducting the necessary therapy. Only in this case there is a chance to lead a full life, like an ordinary person, and even have a he althy child.
Therapy involves taking certain medications. Many of them are vital for the infected. For example, antiretroviral drugs. These are medicines used to fight HIV infection. They make it possible to maintain he alth in a stable state for a long period.
Best drug
Combination of several ARPs, often referred to as a "drug cocktail", is milder and more effective. Unfortunately, this medicine is expensive and not yet available in many countries around the world. However, morecheap analogues also do an excellent job with their main task, which is to maintain vitality and the general satisfactory condition of the patient's body.
If an infected person refuses to take antiretroviral drugs, HIV turns into AIDS. How quickly the virus will destroy the body is difficult to say. It all depends on the stage of detection of the disease, the individual characteristics of the infected person and the correct prescription of medications.
Also, in addition to taking medication, it is very important to maintain your he alth, for example: eating a balanced diet, resting when necessary, and avoiding stressful situations.
