Symptoms of HIV infection in women at different stages. The first signs of AIDS

One of the most terrible diseases Today is human immunodeficiency syndrome, caused by the virus of the same name. A large number of scientists have been searching for a cure for AIDS for a long time, but, unfortunately, So far, the virus that destroys human immunity has not been defeated.

This is due to the fact that the virus genetically mutates after entering the body. Once the immune system starts producing antibodies, HIV changes.

If a person has been infected with one type of virus, then when another strain enters his body, a new infection. In addition, HIV is well masked in the intracellular space, becoming latent.

HIV has negative impact on the immune system, gradually suppressing it. Thus, a person dies not from the virus as such, but from concomitant diseases, because the body loses its ability to resist the simplest infections.

However, a person with HIV can live a long and happy life, have a family and children. For this it is necessary to begin treatment immediately after the first signs of infection are detected. They do not occur immediately; after infection, it can take from several weeks to several months.

It is possible to diagnose the disease in the first stages only by using special diagnostic methods, but some signs can still suggest the presence of a dangerous virus in the body.

The first signs of HIV disease are not clearly expressed and are often confused with a cold or mononucleosis.

Most of us don’t like going to the doctor, especially for such “trifle” things. As a result, time is lost, because the sooner to start taking special drugs, the more successful the treatment will be.

It should also be remembered that no matter how long it takes for symptoms to appear, a person becomes a carrier of the disease immediately after the virus enters his blood. Therefore, it is very important to monitor your health, undergo regular examinations, and if any alarming symptoms immediately seek help from specialists.

Types of HIV Symptoms

The danger of HIV infection is that it practically does not manifest itself at all initial stage diseases.

The main symptoms of AIDS appear long after infection.

Experts introduced classification of symptoms of HIV infection, each of which is characteristic of a specific period of the disease:

• incubation period may last two weeks, several months or a year. The rate of penetration of the virus into all cells of the body depends on several factors, including the state of health of the person, his age and others. individual characteristics. At this stage of the disease there are practically no symptoms. Doctors also call this phase of the disease the window period or seroconversion. It ends when a trace of the virus can be detected in the blood;
• the further course of the disease is accompanied by symptoms characteristic of colds, flu or mononucleosis. The patient's temperature rises to 38°C, a sore throat appears, inflammation The lymph nodes. A person in this state feels weak, diarrhea and vomiting often occur, weight loss is noted, and women may also develop thrush. At first, these symptoms do not appear very strongly, but the brighter they become, the closer the final stage of the disease, which is called AIDS. With such symptoms, it is quite difficult to detect HIV. Particular attention is paid to diagnosis only if the patient himself declares contact with HIV-infected people;
• secondary symptoms of HIV infection are caused by infectious diseases, which develop against its background. This includes staphylococcal skin lesions, candidiasis oral cavity, all kinds of pustular rashes, as well as the occurrence of cancerous tumors.

There are also external signs HIV, the appearance of which should alert a person. These include the appearance of a characteristic rash on the skin that covers almost the entire body. Redness usually appears 5-10 days after HIV infection.

The main symptoms of the disease include significant enlargement of the lymph nodes. They become 2-3 times larger, while the skin above them does not change its color. Localization of compactions is observed in the groin, neck and armpit area, while swollen lymph nodes are not directly related to each other.

Symptoms of HIV in men

At the initial stage of the disease, gender does not have much effect on symptoms.

But later some differences arise; the first signs of HIV infection in men appear as follows:

1. A pronounced rash on the body. Redness on the skin appears more often in men than in women. In this case, the rash has a brighter color and severity. Such signs appear 3 days after infection, and after some time the redness disappears.
2. Approximately 1-3 months after infection, a man may experience flu-like condition. The temperature rises sharply, painful sensations sore throat, chills and night sweats.
3. Symptoms rarely occur one month after infection, but the main one is severe enlargement of lymph nodes, not related to each other.
4. If infection occurs as a result of sexual contact, then such symptoms may occur in men early stages, How mucous discharge from the urethra. It may also be felt pain during urination and discomfort in the perineal area.
5. In most cases, there are no symptoms 3 months after infection. This is an asymptomatic stage. At this stage, the man feels completely healthy; special tests cannot detect the virus.

HIV infection appears differently in each person, and the timing of symptoms will also vary. Duration of incubation and acute periods depend on how strong the man’s immunity is. If he has good health and is in good condition physical fitness, then the first symptoms of the disease may appear several years after infection.

Symptoms of HIV in women

The timing of HIV manifestation in women is also unclear. But experts note that In a woman’s body, HIV infection develops several times slower than in men. No to this scientific explanation, perhaps this feature is due to the fact that women are usually more attentive to their health.

Just like in men, the first signs of HIV infection in women do not appear immediately after infection. These include:

• seemingly unreasonable increase in temperature body temperature up to 38°C, it does not decrease for 2-3 days;
• decreased performance, loss of strength and general weakness . Such attacks can be short-term or continue for a long time;
• swollen lymph nodes V groin area, as well as on the neck and armpits;
• heavy menstruation, accompanied severe pain and unpleasant sensations in the pelvic area;
• mucous vaginal discharge, after HIV infection, their number increases noticeably;
• frequent headaches and increased irritability.

In addition, women are characterized by symptoms in the early stages such as severe night sweats in the background high temperature and chills. This condition is called generalized lymphadenopathy. When it becomes regular, serious suspicions arise that the woman is infected with HIV. After some time it is noted sudden weight loss.

The initial stage of HIV infection in women can last from 1 month to a year, but most often antibodies to the virus can be detected in the blood 3-4 months after infection. At this moment, the next stage of the disease begins.

Symptoms of HIV in women after a month are similar to the manifestations of this disease in men. A rash may appear on the body, but it will be less bright than in the stronger sex. You feel flu-like, have a sore throat, etc.

Clear signs of HIV appear in almost all patients a year after infection.

As a rule, at this time the disease progresses to acute phase, and all the symptoms of pronounced immunodeficiency appear. But it should be remembered that HIV can slow down its development at any stage of the disease, which makes it impossible to accurately determine the timing of each of them. With adequate treatment, a person can live 10-20 years, and the disease will never reach the final stage, which is irreversible and is called AIDS.

The main symptoms of HIV during pregnancy are the same. The woman experiences a sore throat, her temperature rises, and her lymph nodes are greatly enlarged. Diarrhea may also occur. Pregnancy does not affect the rate of development of HIV, but at this time it is necessary Special attention give treatment.

If an HIV-positive woman is under constant medical supervision, she will be able to give birth healthy child. Studies conducted by the world's leading scientists have not revealed any particular impact of HIV infection on the course of pregnancy. Risk premature birth occurs in HIV-positive and HIV-negative mothers with approximately equal probability.

Stages

After a long study of HIV, experts came to the conclusion that infection in the body develops gradually.

The disease occurs in several stages:

1. The first stage is called the incubation period. On average, it lasts about 3 months, but there are exceptions. Once the virus enters the body, it begins to actively invade all cells. Absent during the incubation period clinical manifestations, antibodies cannot be detected in the blood. The main symptoms of HIV in the early stages appear later.
2. The second stage can occur in different ways. Some patients still have no clinical manifestations; the only reaction to the virus will be the appearance of specific antibodies in the blood. But most often, HIV-positive people experience flu-like symptoms. It's a fever skin rashes, enlarged lymph nodes and painful sensations in the throat. This picture is observed in more than half of sick people already 3 months after infection. This is how he manifests himself acute stage HIV. In addition, at this stage, secondary diseases can develop - this is associated with a significant decrease in immunity.
3. Third stage of HIV (subclinical) most often occurs without symptoms. The only sign of infection in this phase is enlarged lymph nodes. This symptom can occur at any time, but for the subclinical stage it is the only one.
4. The fourth stage is called the phase secondary diseases . During this period, the patient begins to lose weight sharply, he develops viral and fungal diseases, malignant tumors may appear.
5. The fifth stage is called terminal. At this stage, treatment is no longer effective, since damage to the main body systems is already irreversible.
   The most last stage HIV is called AIDS - acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. When the infection turns into this disease, the person dies.

How can you become infected with HIV?

The human immunodeficiency virus penetrates all human fluids, but Only cases of infection through blood have been described, breast milk, vaginal secretions or semen. This is due to the fact that only these biological fluids contain HIV in the concentration necessary for infection.

Get this virus into human body maybe in three ways:

• during sexual intercourse, if it is unprotected. Most people have a stereotype that only homosexuals can get HIV and AIDS. But the virus is transmitted during any sexual intercourse, regardless of the gender of the partners. During anal sex, the likelihood of infection increases. This is due to the fact that the lining of the rectum is quite fragile and is abundantly supplied with blood. The least risky is oral sex, since the environment in the oral cavity itself is aggressive for HIV. But this does not mean that infection cannot occur. The only way to protect against sexual transmission of HIV today is a condom. Only a rubber barrier can prevent the virus from entering the body;
• blood contaminated with HIV enters the body of a healthy person. This is possible when transfusion of blood or its products, as well as when using a non-sterile instrument. The chance of contracting HIV in this way is quite low, since today great attention donor health and sterilization of medical instruments. Bloodborne transmission of the virus is more common among drug users, where multiple people often share the same injection syringe;
• from HIV positive mother to child. The infection process can occur both during pregnancy and during childbirth. Therefore, HIV-infected women extremely rarely give birth on their own; most often, delivery occurs with the help of caesarean section. There is also a high risk of infection for a child when breastfeeding, the virus can enter the bloodstream through microcracks in the child’s mouth. Doctors do not recommend that sick women feed their newborns with their own breast milk.

Because HIV infection long time does not manifest itself in any way, then identifying it in the early stages is possible only through special laboratory research. They can be carried out as part of a preventive examination, but you can take the test at any time. This is especially important if there has been contact with an HIV-positive person.

The body's immune defense is a reliable barrier that protects it from pathogens.

However, there is a virus that can break through this system or destroy it completely.

One of these is the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In order to start therapy on time, it is important to know what the signs of HIV are in women in the early stages. Timely antiretroviral therapy reduces the risk of developing the extreme stage of infection - AIDS - hundreds of times and prolongs the patient's life to 70 - 80 years.

HIV disease occurs as a result of human infection with an immunodeficiency virus or, in other words, a retrovirus. The virus destroys immune cells, causing the body to lose its ability to protect itself from pathogenic microorganisms. HIV is classified into types (HPV-1 and HPV-2), groups and subtypes.

The disease has no clear signs for a long time distinctive features, which would directly indicate HIV infection. This can lead to the patient finding out about the infection too late, when the immune defense is so damaged that it can no longer be restored.

In external environment it does not survive, so HIV cannot be transmitted through the air, through touch, household objects, etc. The only method of transmission is the exchange of body fluids between people. Infection occurs through blood, semen, breast milk, pre-seminal fluid, and vaginal secretions.

Routes of infection can be:

• injection syringes;
• tools used to make tattoos or piercings;
• any type of unprotected sex;
• breast-feeding;
• contact of infected fluid with open wounds;
• blood transfusion.

The virus cannot penetrate the skin because it does not have cells into which it can invade. Insect bites, saliva or tears are also not routes of infection. Any person is afraid of a terrible virus. Representatives of the fair sex show particular concern, as they are more emotional than men.

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Therefore, many of them are interested in the question of how to recognize signs of HIV in women in the early stages. And this is correct, because timely therapy helps preserve immune cells by blocking the multiplication of the virus.

It is extremely difficult to detect HIV disease in its early stages. This is due to the fact that viruses destroy immune cells, the death of which does not cause the usual symptoms: pain, swelling or fever. However there is features, having noticed which, a woman should get tested for HIV.

1. Symptoms that are characteristic of a cold: cough, sore throat and other manifestations may indicate activation of the retrovirus.
2. Severe fatigue that does not go away even after good rest, can accompany many diseases. However, it is worth noting this symptom and, if possible, undergoing testing to exclude HIV disease.
3. Frequent dyspeptic symptoms can be a sign of HIV in women in the early stages. You should pay attention to daily bowel movements, nausea or vomiting.
4. As a result of the destructive activity of the retrovirus, an increase in lymph nodes is observed. Changes especially strongly cervical lymph nodes, and in the groin and armpits this symptom is less pronounced.
5. If ulcers on the genitals or in the mouth are added to the listed symptoms, then you should be more seriously wary.

HIV can manifest itself more clearly by increased body temperature, cramping pain, increased sweating, lack of appetite, etc. All of these symptoms are similar to other viral infections caused by rotavirus, influenza virus or enterovirus. If such signs appear unexpectedly and also disappear, then it is better not to neglect checking your blood for HIV.

Distinctive signs of HIV that are observed in women in the early stages

The main symptoms of the presence of a retrovirus in the body are characteristic of any person, regardless of gender.

However, there are signs that can only be found in women, in particular:

• sudden weight loss (in later stages - anorexia);
• the appearance of ulcers and warts on the genitals;
• heavy sweating;
• pathological changes in the cervix;
• painful menstruation;
• frequent genitourinary infections.

A combination of several symptoms, for example, enlarged lymph nodes, pain in the lower abdomen during menstruation, heavy vaginal discharge, frequent diarrhea and loss of strength is a serious reason to be tested for HIV disease.

Symptoms of HIV in women in the early stages of the disease

The symptoms of the disease directly depend on the state of the person’s immune system at the time of infection.

The virus can remain latent for several years, but more often it becomes active after one or two months. Symptoms of HIV in women depend on the stage of the disease.

The early stages are divided into two periods, during which time the infection can still be treated and the symptoms are minor.

At the third stage of disease development, symptoms manifest themselves more intensely. Late stage characterized by complete destruction immune defense and the addition of many secondary infections.

Stages of development of the immunodeficiency virus:

1. The period of incubation maturation of the virus. The duration of this stage of the disease varies from one month to one year. At this time, the virus actively spreads throughout the body, but does not show activity against immune cells.
2. Primary stage. The beginning of this period is preceded by the appearance of antibodies to HIV. This stage takes from seven to ten years. The virus attacks immune cells, which is manifested by enlarged lymph nodes, an increase in infectious diseases, gastrointestinal disorders and other symptoms.
3. Progressive stage. During this period, the immune system is already in a phase of exhaustion. The number of attached bacterial and viral infections. At an advanced stage, cancer can be detected.
4. Immunodeficiency syndrome. The period is characterized by extensive damage to all organs. Symptoms of AIDS can be seen even in photographs, since the entire skin is covered with spots and rashes, and the mucous membranes are covered with a white coating. No cure for AIDS has yet been found. Due to the fact that the immune system is completely destroyed, the person quickly dies.

Symptoms of HIV in women in the early stages during the development of the virus may not manifest themselves. If the immune system is weakened, symptoms similar to a cold occur.

An infected person may suffer from diarrhea, sore throat accompanied by swelling of the tonsils, and chills. Various rashes are possible on the skin. Such phenomena are short-term nature, and the patient often confuses them with a common cold. At the early stage of the second period, the symptoms of HIV in women may also be unclear.

The disease may be accompanied by the following phenomena:

• periodic rise in temperature in the absence of other signs of disease;
• severe weakness, apathy or depression;
• frequent colds;
• violation of movement coordination;
• enlarged lymph nodes;
• frequent exacerbations of herpes;
• loss of body weight;
• increased sweating;
• systematic disturbance of stool;
• muscle and joint pain;
• constant dry cough.

Symptoms of HIV in women early in the second stage of the disease often concern reproductive system. If at this time a woman becomes infected with sexually transmitted infections, they are difficult to cure. The same applies to inflammatory organ diseases genitourinary system. In women, HIV can cause hormonal imbalances.

The menstrual cycle becomes unstable, accompanied by pain, and heavy bleeding is possible. After ten years of virus activity, the immune system weakens so much that women can simultaneously have various infections: fungal, bacterial, viral and others.

The diseases are practically not cured, which characterizes the onset of the development of AIDS. Diagnosing HIV disease in the early stages is very important. The state of a person’s immune system will depend on this, since after the drugs are prescribed, viruses will stop actively multiplying and destroying immune cells. In Russia, HIV infection is diagnosed using ELISA tests or IB (immune blotting).

Additionally, other methods can be used - rapid tests and PCR. It is difficult to diagnose the infection in the early stages. If a doctor suspects that a woman may have retroviruses in her body, then even with negative result tests, can register her. The woman needs to visit a doctor and have her blood tested again.

Mandatory tests:

• ELISA test systems. The first diagnosis is performed by a screening test (ELISA). For this purpose, blood is taken from a vein (5 ml) from the patient. Blood sampling is carried out in the morning, on an empty stomach. This test detects antibodies to the virus, but does not determine the presence of the viral agent itself. Since the incubation period of viruses varies (from 2 to 6 weeks), the test may not reveal anything soon after infection. Therefore, it is recommended to take it no earlier than 3 weeks after the suspected infection.
• Immunoblotting. This analysis is performed only after positive result screening test. To carry it out, blood is also taken from a vein, then serum with antibodies to HIV is separated from the resulting material and the liquid is applied to a special strip. If antibodies bind to antigens that were previously placed on the strip, then the virus is definitely present in the body. The information security result is 100% correct.

Treatment of HIV disease

A patient with HIV infection is prescribed antiretroviral therapy. Modern drugs stop the processes of suppression of the immune system by blocking the introduction of virions into cells, preventing them from multiplying.

The doctor may prescribe one of the drugs: Zidovudine, Didanosine or Nevirapine. There are other analogues of antiretroviral drugs. Treatment should be carried out under the supervision of a physician, since viral agents are able to adapt to different chemicals and changes in treatment regimen may be required. Besides, similar medicines have serious side effects Therefore, you cannot purchase medications for HIV infection on your own. Once prescribed medication, a person must take the pills for the rest of his life.

Russia has a program to provide those in need with such medicines, but there are not always enough of them. Therefore, you need to be prepared for the fact that medicines will need to buy. In addition to basic therapy, a woman should accessible ways strengthen the immune system. Eat right, treat diseases in a timely manner, take vitamins and lead active image life.

Symptoms of AIDS in women in the early stages and how it differs from HIV

The progressive stage of HIV infection turns into AIDS. Some people confuse these two concepts. HIV is a virus that kills cells of the immune system and causes AIDS - acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. This diagnosis is made when a person develops opportunistic diseases, that is, those that the immune system of a healthy person can easily cope with on its own.

AIDS stands for as follows:

• syndrome - a number of symptoms characterizing any pathological condition;
• acquired - indicates that the person was infected with an infection from the outside;
• immune - related to human immunity;
• deficiency - means lack, lack of immune cells.

Symptoms of AIDS in women in the early stages are already acute, since most of the immune cells have died, and the rest cannot cope with numerous infections. Women often suffer from colds, inflammatory, infectious and fungal diseases.

They develop diseases that did not exist during the period normal functioning the body's defense system. From the moment HIV infection progresses to the stage of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, a woman’s life expectancy is a maximum of four years.

The symptoms of AIDS in women in the early stages are multiple, in particular, she suffers from:

• fungal diseases of the mucous membranes (candidiasis);
• syndrome chronic fatigue and prolonged depression;
• persistent diarrhea;
• mental disorders;
• weight loss, anorexia;
• papillomas and warts on the genitals;
• extensive damage to the mucous membranes by the herpes virus;
• infectious and inflammatory diseases, which develop in different organs;
• oncological diseases.

There are a number of diseases that most often accompany AIDS. This is candidiasis seborrheic dermatitis, Kaposi's sarcoma and herpes zoster.

• Candidiasis. Fungi affect any mucous membrane. With AIDS, traces of candida activity are especially noticeable in the woman’s mouth and lips.
• Seborrheic dermatitis. Affects all skin of a woman. The skin is blotchy and flaky.
• Kaposi's sarcoma. AIDS is more common than other skin diseases. With this disease, skin appears pink spots, which over time change color to brown and purple.
• Shingles. The disease can be inherited or occur with a significant decrease in immunity, that is, with AIDS. With this disease, skin rashes cause pain.

​The doctor explains how the first symptoms appear (video)

Some diseases, which include the human immunodeficiency virus, are particularly insidious. In order to prevent the development of this dangerous disease, it is important to pay attention to HIV symptoms Women, as well as men, must be able to recognize them in a timely manner. U different women the first signs of pathology appear at various points during its course, therefore the approach to diagnosing and treating HIV infection should be carried out professionally and individually.

The first signs of the disease: symptoms in the early stages

The treacherous nature of the infection lies in the fact that HIV in its early stages or occurs latently (that is, with virtually no initial symptoms) or is mistaken for another disease with similar symptoms. According to some statistics, in the female population, signs of HIV appear more clearly, and therefore diagnosing the disease is noticeably easier. Such consolation may be weak, but it certainly inspires clear hope for a more favorable outcome.
What are the initial HIV signs in women infected with this disease?

This is the problem: neither on the 1st day after contracting HIV infection, nor on the 5th, and in general, during the first 2 weeks, a woman may not even realize that a terrible infection is developing inside her .

But in the period between the 2nd and 6th weeks from the start of the virus entering the body, the first symptoms of HIV may manifest themselves as the following:

• an infected woman suddenly develops a high (up to 38-40 °C) body temperature;
• the condition is aggravated by signs of chills, fever, general loss of strength, muscle pain;
• the following changes occur in the digestive system: diarrhea that occurs without prior dietary disturbances, nausea, and sometimes vomiting;
• night sleep women are accompanied by increased sweating;
• menstruation, if it occurs during this period, occurs more profusely, the pathology is accompanied by increased intrapelvic pain (what to do with painful periods is described here);
• lymph nodes located in the neck, armpits or groin area (and possibly simultaneously in all these places) increase significantly in size; at an early stage, the symptom may not be visualized, but is easily detected by palpation;
• similar condition can last from 2-3 days or more, but not longer than 7-10 days.

Due to the similarity and non-uniqueness of the symptoms of HIV, in the early stages they are mistaken for colds, flu, mononucleosis, and so on, which they prefer to treat independently at home. But consultation with a doctor should not be neglected in any case, because only if HIV infection is detected at an early stage and exposed adequate treatment, the disease does not become a death sentence.

How does the disease manifest itself after a month?

After 1 month, the first bright symptoms of HIV, as a rule, are muffled, and the pathology continues to progress and destroy the immune system from the inside. HIV infection can manifest itself with the following symptoms, which initially appear sporadically, and over time develop into permanent conditions:

• protracted colds and exacerbation of chronic;
• headaches and migraines (read about other possible causes of headaches here);
• increased fatigue and insomnia (a somnologist and neurologist will help you cope);
• depression and a feeling of apathy (consulting a psychologist will help you cope);
• digestive disorders and rapid loss muscle mass bodies;
• persistent diseases of the genitourinary system (thrush, endometriosis, erosion, and so on);
• exacerbating manifestations of herpes simplex and genital;
• damage to the skin and mucous membranes by multiple or single ulcers, pustules, rashes (for treatment, consult a dermatologist);
• ENT diseases, aggravated by manifestations painful cough(consults ENT);
• muscle pain and aches;
• increased sweating and dizziness (other causes of dizziness are described here).

The listed first signs of HIV in women can be either single or join each other, acquiring multiplicity, and have both mild and more pronounced manifestations.

If at the very beginning of infection the disease could not be recognized even by a blood test, then after 1 month a test for HIV infection shows the real picture. It is important not to ignore the first warning symptoms of HIV that occur at an early stage, especially if a woman is included in the so-called “risk group”:

• underwent a blood transfusion;
• got a tattoo, piercing;
• often changes sexual partners.

A woman should be wary of the duration of the symptoms that arose at the initial stage or the illogicality of their appearance (for example, digestive disorders without the slightest change in diet).

It should be remembered that when the first signs of HIV infection occur in specialized AIDS prevention centers, you can take both a rapid HIV test and a detailed one. laboratory analysis on a completely anonymous basis.

How the disease develops, stages and symptoms

HIV infection has certain stages of development. The processes occurring at one time or another have their own timing and manifestations.

1. Incubation stage.
It begins from the moment of infection and lasts from 2 weeks to 3 months. Depending on the state of a woman’s immunity, the first stage of HIV infection can last up to six months or even a year. During this period, the virus cells actively multiply and spread throughout the body's systems through immune cells, which in turn produce antibodies to HIV infection. Making a diagnosis at this stage is difficult; the first symptoms of HIV at an early stage are subtle and episodic; decline begins protective functions body.

2. Stage of primary manifestations.
Her average duration about 1 year, in some cases the duration of the period can vary from 2 weeks to several years. At this time, HIV viral cells continue their aggressive invasion of the body, and the immune system, in turn, actively produces antibodies. The first manifestations of HIV symptoms occur: fever, long-term acute respiratory viral infections, influenza. Susceptibility to disease increases, lymph nodes become inflamed and increase in size, digestive system crashes begin to occur.

3. Latent stage (or incubation).
The longest, asymptomatic and insidious period of the disease. It lasts from 2 years, in some cases up to 2 decades. Symptoms of signs of HIV infection are extremely rare, the woman lives ordinary life, without realizing the harmful developing pathology. At this stage, the immune system launches various compensatory processes, and the HIV virus, despite the absence of any symptoms of HIV, inexorably spreads and causes irreparable harm the entire body as a whole.

4. Stage of secondary diseases (or pre-AIDS).
At the moment of its achievement, the woman’s immune system is completely exhausted, she has exhausted all her compensatory mechanisms and is unable to resist any infections. This is a time when the first symptoms increase significantly, the exacerbation of hitherto hidden pathologies, and the body’s loss of protective functions. Symptoms can be expressed in sudden weight loss and constant diarrhea, complete exhaustion and dementia, defeat skin and so on.

5. Terminal stage(or AIDS).
The last stage of the disease, called acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, ends fatal. Accompanied by extensive damage to all systems and the progression of serious illnesses. It is completely irreversible and lasts from 1 to 3 years.

Therapy for the disease is usually prescribed or.

Ways of infection and how to protect yourself

Surely there is not a single person on the entire planet who would like to become a patient in the HIV department. Therefore, it is very important to take care of yourself, your health, and pay attention to various abnormal symptoms that resemble the first signs of HIV development. The immunodeficiency virus is found primarily in human blood, a man’s sperm, a woman’s vaginal secretions, and her breast milk. From this we can conclude that HIV infection is transmitted:

• sexually - real danger people who frequently change sexual partners and those who practice unprotected sex;
• vertically - from an HIV-infected mother to her child during pregnancy and through breast milk;
• through blood - in the “risk zone” are people who have received transfusions donor blood(she could be HIV-infected), drug addicts who inject drugs and use a common syringe for everyone.

HIV is not transmitted by everyday means through the use of common objects, neither by airborne droplets, nor through hugs and handshakes, it is not transmitted by blood-sucking insects. And yet it is worth using individual hygiene items, keeping healthy image life, choose partners carefully and undergo regular medical examinations. Do not try to analyze the first symptoms of HIV on your own, no matter what they seem to you.

If you have any doubts about infection HIV infection or treatment of a disease - You can ask a question to an immunologist or infectious disease specialist online, without registration and on an anonymous basis.

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The human immunodeficiency virus is the most dangerous pathogen among all known, which is why it is so important to recognize the symptoms of HIV in women in time. We will consider the main signs of the disease below.

• Additional symptoms

Main symptoms of HIV in women

Signs of HIV in women are almost the same as in men, but in some cases they are more pronounced. This disease may not manifest itself at all if the person’s immunity is in in good condition. That is why, without special laboratory tests, it is time to detect in your body dangerous virus will not work.

Symptoms appear more often in women than in men. This is due to the characteristics of the body. The signs of AIDS are much easier to identify than those of HIV. When a viral pathology turns into running form, then a number of changes occur in the body.

The immune system is so weakened that any disease, even the most harmless one, can become fatal.

Signs of AIDS are constant complicated pneumonia, tumors and other troubles associated with the body’s inability to resist common pathogens. This is why it is so important to detect the virus in time before it reaches its most dangerous stage.

They may appear a couple of weeks after infection or may not make themselves felt at all. It all depends on the characteristics of the body’s protective functions. The manifestation of HIV infection in women can be reduced to the following signs:

1. Temperature rises to 38-39°C. This symptom is often accompanied by colds and flu.
2. Cough and pneumonia. Occurs in rare cases.
3. Exacerbation of candidal infection. The appearance of thrush often signals a malfunction in the female reproductive system, in particular, the entry of pathogenic flora and viruses into it.
4. Exacerbation of herpes. Often, when HIV enters the body, other viruses also begin to become active. This is especially true for herpes.
5. Prostration. Weakness and Bad mood appear infrequently, as a rule, if immunity is significantly reduced.

It should be noted that the first symptoms of HIV may or may not be present, so if there was a risk of contracting such an infection, it is necessary to do a blood test.

Additional symptoms

When people see photos of AIDS patients, they think that they are far from this disease and that it is very rare, but this is not so. Infection can occur both vaginally and anally, or through unsterilized medical instruments that come into contact with blood.

HIV infection affects everyone differently. However, the risk of getting the disease is higher in women than in men. HIV infection is very insidious at first because it can masquerade as other diseases. Primary signs often look like a common cold, and the person does not even suspect that he is infected. You should be especially vigilant if ARVI occurs too often and all the symptoms of reduced immunity are present:

• fast fatiguability;
• constant feeling of fatigue;
• causeless cough;
• Availability heavy discharge from the genital tract;
• exacerbation of chronic diseases;
• the appearance of viral infections.

AIDS in women has more clear signs than the presence of the initial stage of this viral disease. Serious irreversible consequences occur in the body, which without treatment lead to death.

Symptoms of AIDS in women:

• complicated bronchitis and pneumonia;
• the occurrence of ulcerations of the mucous membranes;
• severe ARVI;
• joint pain;
• bleeding of unknown origin;
• benign and malignant tumors;
• loss of appetite;
• weight loss;
• unsatisfactory condition;
• chronic fatigue.

The symptoms of HIV infection pose a serious difficulty in recognizing the disease itself, which is fraught with complications. In the early stages, it is very easy to miss the presence of the virus in the body. Afterwards, specific antibodies are formed in the blood, which can only be detected in laboratory conditions. Moreover, preferably no later than 3 months after the occurrence dangerous situation infection.

Symptoms of infection, unfortunately, are not typical for this particular disease; the above signs may indicate other pathologies. This is why it is so important to donate blood to dispel all doubts.

Today, AIDS is one of the five main killer diseases (including cancer, diabetes, and pneumonia) due to which people die on our planet. greatest number of people. The disease is growing and spreading to new regions.

AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is a stage of the human immunodeficiency virus, when, due to its development and the gradual decrease in the immunity of the infected person, his condition is characterized by constantly occurring opportunistic infections (diseases caused by viruses and bacteria that do not cause healthy people with normal immunity diseases), tumor and others non-communicable diseases.

Immunodeficiency syndrome is very insidious disease. The first ones are very easy to miss, because most often in the first stages of this disease there are practically no symptoms. However, they can sometimes appear a short period of time after infection.

In order not to miss it in time, you need to know what they include:

1. Causeless and asymptomatic increased temperature the patient's body to 37.5-38 degrees, which goes away as suddenly as it appears.

2. Enlarged lymph nodes in the groin, armpits, and neck. They do not hurt and have a compacted structure to the touch.

3. Red spots all over the body.

4. Increased fatigue.

5. Periodic fever and night sweats.

6. Occasional discomfort in the throat, pain when swallowing.

7. Problems with stool, diarrhea.

Such symptoms are typical for a simple cold or flu, so many people do not pay attention to these signs. However, the first signs of AIDS fade and reappear over time, which may mean that the disease is progressing.

Symptoms of the disease also include persistent pneumonia, herpes, cytomegalovirus infection, tuberculosis.

In a person who is HIV-infected, the first signs of AIDS are also frequent illnesses, which people with normal immune system go away on their own or are fairly easy to treat; they can lead to a condition where diseases begin to develop internal organs, often ending in the death of a person.

Additionally, other first signs of AIDS may appear: white spots in the mouth, as well as rapid and significant individual symptoms in women and men.

The first may be frequent infectious diseases pelvic organs and vaginal infections that are difficult to treat, abnormal cervical smear.

The first signs of AIDS in men, which do not appear in women, are, firstly, a rash, which appears from one week to a month and can appear as multiple patches of discolored skin. Secondly, men who have this disease often experience headaches. Unlike women, in men the signs of AIDS are very vague and short-lived.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is advanced stage HIV infection is very dangerous and difficult to treat. In order not to miss the moment and not put your life in danger, it is better, at the slightest suspicion, to undergo a test for the presence of the immunodeficiency virus, which today is the only reliable way to identify this disease, giving a 100% result. Even if HIV has entered the body, if it is detected in a timely manner, its reproduction can be controlled using modern medicines stop development in the body.

Take care of yourself and remember possible consequences your weaknesses.