It is a disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus, characterized by acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, which contributes to the occurrence of secondary infections and malignancies due to the profound inhibition of the body's protective properties. HIV infection has a varied course. The disease can last only a few months or last up to 20 years. The main method for diagnosing HIV infection remains the identification of specific antiviral antibodies, as well as viral RNA. Currently, patients with HIV are treated with antiretroviral drugs that can reduce viral reproduction.
General information
It is a disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus, characterized by acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, which contributes to the occurrence of secondary infections and malignancies due to the profound inhibition of the body's protective properties. Today, the world is experiencing a pandemic of HIV infection; the incidence of the disease in the world's population, especially in Eastern Europe, is steadily growing.
Characteristics of the pathogen
The DNA-containing human immunodeficiency virus belongs to the Lentivirus genus of the Retroviridae family. There are two types: HIV-1 is the main causative agent of HIV infection, the cause of the pandemic, the development of AIDS. HIV-2 is a less common type, found mainly in West Africa. HIV is an unstable virus, it dies quickly outside the host’s body, is sensitive to temperature (reduces infectious properties at a temperature of 56 ° C, dies after 10 minutes when heated to 70-80 ° C). It is well preserved in blood and its preparations prepared for transfusion. The antigenic structure of the virus is highly variable.
The reservoir and source of HIV infection is a person: an AIDS sufferer and a carrier. No natural reservoirs of HIV-1 have been identified; it is believed that the natural host in nature is wild chimpanzees. HIV-2 is carried by African monkeys. Susceptibility to HIV has not been observed in other animal species. The virus is found in high concentrations in blood, semen, vaginal secretions and menstrual fluid. It can be isolated from human milk, saliva, tear secretion and cerebrospinal fluid, but these biological fluids pose less of an epidemiological danger.
The likelihood of transmitting HIV infection increases in the presence of damage to the skin and mucous membranes (injuries, abrasions, cervical erosion, stomatitis, periodontal disease, etc.) HIV is transmitted using the blood-contact and bio-contact mechanism naturally (through sexual contact and vertically: from mother to child) and artificial (mainly realized through the hemopercutaneous transmission mechanism: during transfusions, parenteral administration of substances, traumatic medical procedures).
The risk of contracting HIV from a single contact with a carrier is low; regular sexual contact with an infected person significantly increases it. Vertical transmission of infection from a sick mother to a child is possible both in the prenatal period (through defects in the placental barrier) and during childbirth, when the child comes into contact with the mother’s blood. In rare cases, postnatal transmission through breast milk has been reported. The incidence among children of infected mothers reaches 25-30%.
Parenteral infection occurs through injections using needles contaminated with the blood of HIV-infected individuals, through blood transfusions of infected blood, and non-sterile medical procedures (piercing, tattoos, medical and dental procedures performed with instruments without proper treatment). HIV is not transmitted through household contact. Human susceptibility to HIV infection is high. The development of AIDS in people over 35 years of age, as a rule, occurs within a shorter period of time from the moment of infection. In some cases, immunity to HIV is noted, which is associated with specific immunoglobulins A present on the mucous membranes of the genital organs.
Pathogenesis of HIV infection
When the human immunodeficiency virus enters the bloodstream, it invades macrophages, microglia and lymphocytes, which are important in the formation of the body’s immune responses. The virus destroys the ability of immune bodies to recognize their antigens as foreign, colonizes the cell and begins reproduction. After the multiplied virus is released into the blood, the host cell dies, and the viruses invade healthy macrophages. The syndrome develops slowly (over years), in waves.
At first, the body compensates for the massive death of immune cells by producing new ones; over time, compensation becomes insufficient, the number of lymphocytes and macrophages in the blood decreases significantly, the immune system is destroyed, the body becomes defenseless against both exogenous infection and bacteria inhabiting organs and tissues. normal (which leads to the development of opportunistic infections). In addition, the mechanism of protection against the proliferation of defective blastocytes - malignant cells - is disrupted.
The colonization of immune cells by the virus often provokes various autoimmune conditions, in particular, neurological disorders are characteristic as a result of autoimmune damage to neurocytes, which can develop even before the clinical manifestations of immunodeficiency appear.
Classification
In the clinical course of HIV infection, there are 5 stages: incubation, primary manifestations, latent, stage of secondary diseases and terminal. The stage of primary manifestations can be asymptomatic, in the form of primary HIV infection, and can also be combined with secondary diseases. The fourth stage, depending on the severity, is divided into periods: 4A, 4B, 4C. The periods go through phases of progression and remission, varying depending on the presence of antiretroviral therapy or its absence.
Symptoms of HIV infection
Incubation stage (1)– can range from 3 weeks to 3 months, in rare cases it extends to a year. At this time, the virus is actively multiplying, but there is no immune response to it yet. The incubation period of HIV ends either with the clinical manifestation of acute HIV infection or with the appearance of HIV antibodies in the blood. At this stage, the basis for diagnosing HIV infection is the detection of the virus (antigens or DNA particles) in the blood serum.
Stage of primary manifestations (2) characterized by the manifestation of the body's reaction to active replication of the virus in the form of a clinic of acute infection and an immune reaction (production of specific antibodies). The second stage can be asymptomatic; the only sign of developing HIV infection will be a positive serological diagnosis for antibodies to the virus.
Clinical manifestations of the second stage occur according to the type of acute HIV infection. The onset is acute, observed in 50-90% of patients three months after infection, often preceding the formation of HIV antibodies. An acute infection without secondary pathologies has a fairly varied course: fever, various polymorphic rashes on the skin and visible mucous membranes, polylymphadenitis, pharyngitis, linear syndrome, and diarrhea may be observed.
In 10-15% of patients, acute HIV infection occurs with the addition of secondary diseases, which is associated with a decrease in immunity. These can be tonsillitis, pneumonia of various origins, fungal infections, herpes, etc.
Acute HIV infection usually lasts from several days to several months, on average 2-3 weeks, after which in the vast majority of cases it enters a latent stage.
Latent stage (3) characterized by a gradual increase in immunodeficiency. The death of immune cells at this stage is compensated by their increased production. At this time, HIV can be diagnosed using serological tests (antibodies to HIV are present in the blood). A clinical sign may be enlargement of several lymph nodes from different, unrelated groups, excluding the inguinal lymph nodes. At the same time, no other pathological changes in the enlarged lymph nodes (pain, changes in surrounding tissues) are noted. The latent stage can last from 2-3 years to 20 or more. On average it lasts 6-7 years.
Stage of secondary diseases (4) characterized by the occurrence of concomitant (opportunistic) infections of viral, bacterial, fungal, protozoal origin, malignant tumors against the background of severe immunodeficiency. Depending on the severity of secondary diseases, 3 periods of progression are distinguished.
- 4A – loss of body weight does not exceed 10%, infectious (bacterial, viral and fungal) lesions of the integumentary tissues (skin and mucous membranes) are noted. Performance is reduced.
- 4B - weight loss of more than 10% of total body weight, prolonged temperature reaction, prolonged diarrhea without an organic cause is possible, pulmonary tuberculosis may occur, infectious diseases recur and progress, localized Kaposi's sarcoma, hairy leukoplakia are detected.
- 4B - general cachexia is noted, secondary infections acquire generalized forms, candidiasis of the esophagus, respiratory tract, Pneumocystis pneumonia, extrapulmonary tuberculosis, disseminated Kaposi's sarcoma, and neurological disorders are noted.
Substages of secondary diseases undergo phases of progression and remission, varying depending on the presence or absence of antiretroviral therapy. In the terminal stage of HIV infection, secondary diseases that have developed in the patient become irreversible, treatment measures lose their effectiveness, and death occurs several months later.
The course of HIV infection is quite diverse; all stages do not always occur; certain clinical signs may be absent. Depending on the individual clinical course, the duration of the disease can range from several months to 15-20 years.
Peculiarities of the HIV clinic in children
HIV in early childhood contributes to delayed physical and psychomotor development. Recurrence of bacterial infections in children is observed more often than in adults; lymphoid pneumonitis, enlarged pulmonary lymph nodes, various encephalopathies, and anemia are not uncommon. A common cause of child mortality due to HIV infections is hemorrhagic syndrome, which is a consequence of severe thrombocytopenia.
The most common clinical manifestation of HIV infection in children is a delay in the rate of psychomotor and physical development. HIV infection received by children from mothers ante- and perinatally is noticeably more severe and progresses faster, in contrast to that in children infected after one year.
Diagnostics
Currently, the main diagnostic method for HIV infection is the detection of antibodies to the virus, which is carried out primarily using the ELISA technique. In case of a positive result, the blood serum is examined using the immunoblotting technique. This makes it possible to identify antibodies to specific HIV antigens, which is a sufficient criterion for final diagnosis. Failure to detect a characteristic molecular mass using antibody blotting, however, does not exclude HIV. During the incubation period, the immune response to the introduction of the virus has not yet been formed, and in the terminal stage, as a result of severe immunodeficiency, antibodies cease to be produced.
If HIV is suspected and there are no positive immunoblotting results, PCR is an effective method for detecting viral RNA particles. HIV infection diagnosed by serological and virological methods is an indication for dynamic monitoring of the immune status.
Treatment of HIV infection
Therapy for HIV-infected individuals involves constant monitoring of the body’s immune status, prevention and treatment of secondary infections that arise, and control over the development of tumors. Often, people living with HIV require psychological help and social adaptation. Currently, due to the significant spread and high social significance of the disease on a national and global scale, support and rehabilitation of patients is being provided, access to social programs is expanding, providing patients with medical care, facilitating the course and improving the quality of life of patients.
Today, the predominant etiotropic treatment is the prescription of drugs that reduce the reproductive abilities of the virus. Antiretroviral drugs include:
- NRTIs (nucleoside transcriptase inhibitors) of various groups: zidovudine, stavudine, zalcitabine, didanosine, abacavir, combination drugs;
- NTRTIs (nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors): nevirapine, efavirenz;
- protease inhibitors: ritonavir, saquinavir, darunavir, nelfinavir and others;
- fusion inhibitors.
When deciding to start antiviral therapy, patients should remember that the drugs are used for many years, almost for life. The success of therapy directly depends on strict adherence to the recommendations: timely, regular use of medications in the required dosages, adherence to the prescribed diet and strict adherence to the regimen.
Emerging opportunistic infections are treated in accordance with the rules of effective therapy against the causative agent (antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral agents). Immunostimulating therapy is not used for HIV infection, since it contributes to its progression; cytostatics prescribed for malignant tumors suppress the immune system.
Treatment of HIV-infected people includes general strengthening and body-supporting agents (vitamins and biologically active substances) and methods of physiotherapeutic prevention of secondary diseases. Patients suffering from drug addiction are recommended to undergo treatment in appropriate dispensaries. Due to significant psychological discomfort, many patients undergo long-term psychological adaptation.
Forecast
HIV infection is completely incurable; in many cases, antiviral therapy gives little effect. Today, on average, HIV-infected people live 11-12 years, but careful therapy and modern medications will significantly extend the life of patients. The main role in containing the developing AIDS is played by the psychological state of the patient and his efforts aimed at complying with the prescribed regimen.
Prevention
Currently, the World Health Organization is carrying out general preventive measures to reduce the incidence of HIV infection in four main areas:
- education on safe sexual relations, distribution of condoms, treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, promotion of a culture of sexual relations;
- control over the production of drugs from donor blood;
- managing the pregnancy of HIV-infected women, providing them with medical care and providing them with chemoprophylaxis (in the last trimester of pregnancy and during childbirth, women receive antiretroviral drugs, which are also prescribed to newborn children for the first three months of life);
- organization of psychological and social assistance and support for HIV-infected citizens, counseling.
Currently, in world practice, special attention is paid to such epidemiologically important factors in relation to the incidence of HIV infection as drug addiction and promiscuity. As a preventive measure, many countries provide free distribution of disposable syringes and methadone substitution therapy. As a measure to help reduce sexual illiteracy, courses on sexual hygiene are being introduced into educational programs.
Any pathology has an incubation period. This is the time period when the virus or any other microbial agent has already entered the body, but the first symptoms have not yet appeared. Its duration can be very different: from several minutes (in case of poisoning) to tens of years in some other pathologies.
During this stage, the pathogen adapts to the host organism, multiplies and spreads. In a number of pathologies, sick people are contagious already at this stage of the disease. How long is the incubation period for HIV? How does it proceed? Is it possible to get infected from a partner at this time? The answers to these popular questions are in the article below.
How does HIV progress?
Like any other pathology, HIV goes through several stages of development:
- The incubation period of HIV infection during which no visible changes occur. The minimum incubation period for HIV infection is approximately 2 weeks. The average incubation period for HIV is about 2-3 months.
- An acute infection that does not last long, no more than two months, and can occur either with clearly visible symptoms or covertly.
- The latent stage, in which there are no noticeable manifestations of the disease, but there is a decrease in T-lymphocytes in the blood, and the body becomes unable to fight any disease due to immunodeficiency. The duration of this period for HIV infection is on average 6-7 years, the maximum period reaches 20.
- The appearance of secondary diseases. Due to a decrease in the number of T-helpers and inhibition of their activity, various diseases begin to occur in the body.
- AIDS. This is a critical stage of the disease, in which the number of T-helper cells reaches a minimum value, and the body becomes unable to resist various infections. There is a disruption in the functioning of vital organs and systems, resulting in death.
What happens during the incubation period of HIV infection?
The incubation period for HIV infection is 2-3 months. Once in the body, the virus penetrates the cell nucleus, after which it changes the genetic program and starts the incubation period for HIV. During the multiplication of the virus, T-helper cells, which are immune cells, form nuclear-free forms that mimic HIV.
In order for the virus that has entered the body to be activated and latent HIV infections to appear, one of the following conditions is necessary:
- active chronic pathologies in which continuous production of antibodies occurs;
- high activity of T-lymphocytes;
- the presence of free T-helper cells that are not currently involved in maintaining immunity.
With the body's standard reaction, the incubation period for AIDS is 2 to 3 weeks. However, there have been cases of AIDS where the incubation period was 10 years.
Seronegative period of HIV infection
In some sources you can find a period called seronegative, when a person is already a carrier of the virus, regardless of the externally noticeable manifestations of the disease. Why does the incubation period of AIDS have such a second name? This is because serological tests are negative for HIV. The latent period is characterized by the presence of the virus in the body, but the immune system does not care about this. This is explained by the low aggressiveness of T-lymphocytes and occurs in two cases:
- all T-lymphocytes are “busy” destroying other pathogens;
- There is an insufficient number of T-lymphocytes in the blood, and the creation of new ones is suspended for some reason.
As a result of one of these reasons, there is no contact between the cells responsible for immunity and the immunodeficiency virus, which leads to the fact that antibodies to HIV are not produced.
Who has the shortest incubation period?
There is a group of people in whom the clinical picture of HIV manifests itself as quickly as possible. These patients are distinguished by the largest number of T-helper cells in the blood and their good renewability. Moreover, there is no significant difference whether HIV infection is in the incubation period - a woman or a man.
The shortest incubation period is observed in this category of patients:
- infants, since their T-lymphocytes are in their infancy;
- drug addicts, because all processes in their body proceed at the limit of their capabilities, including the production of T-lymphocytes.
How long is the incubation period for HIV in such patients? The shortest possible time is no more than a couple of weeks.
If the baby has a congenital form of HIV infection, then the incubation period is often absent altogether, since it occurred during the intrauterine development of the fetus.
Is it possible to become infected with HIV during the incubation period?
During the latent period, the virus is already present in the body, therefore, even if no testing shows its presence, infection is possible. HIV is transmitted in several ways:
- through sexual contact not protected by a condom. In this case, it penetrates through semen or vaginal discharge, and the risk of infection increases if you have multiple sexual partners or have casual relationships.
- through blood. The pathogen enters the body through contaminated blood or through improperly sterilized instruments.
- from mother to fetus in the prenatal period or during lactation.
It is impossible to become infected with AIDS through various everyday activities (kissing, living together or shaking hands).
If, however, sexual intercourse occurs without a contraceptive and there is a possibility of the virus entering the body, then the analysis is done after the incubation period of HIV infection, that is, at least after 3 weeks. And in the absence of the virus, it is recommended to repeat the study six months later.
Incubation period of HIV (AIDS): symptoms
At this stage, symptoms are completely absent. The person looks completely healthy or suffers from his usual chronic diseases. No matter how long the incubation period of HIV is, there is no way to detect the pathogen at this moment.
During the next stage, based on some clinical symptoms, it is already possible to suspect the onset of the disease and undergo the necessary tests. Initially, there is a sharp rise in temperature, inflammation of the tonsils and lymph nodes, and antibiotics and antipyretics do not help. General weakness, sleep disturbance and loss of appetite also appear.
Unfortunately, at the moment there are no medications that can defeat this serious disease. However, the current level of development of pharmacology makes it possible to maintain the sick person in working condition for a long time and makes it possible to enjoy life to the fullest. Therapy will consist of creating a positive psychological environment, taking drugs to suppress the retrovirus and treating secondary pathologies, as well as continuous clinical observation.
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a causative agent of an infectious disease that affects immune cells. The process of increasing the viral load on the body negatively affects the protective functions, which causes secondary infections (candidiasis, mononucleosis, etc.), as well as the development of malignant tumors.
Symptoms of the disease depend on its stage. On days 5-7 after infection with the virus, the “window period” begins - this is the period of time when there are no signs of the disease, tests do not allow determining the presence of antibodies to the virus. The duration of the stage varies from 14 days to 1.5 years, depending on the general state of immunity and the presence of concomitant infectious pathologies.
Patients are interested in how long the incubation period of HIV infection lasts. There is no single answer to this question. In each individual case, the incubation time of the virus is different. According to research, it takes approximately 90 days for the immune system to form antiviral antibodies.
The incubation period of HIV development is characterized by the process of penetration of viral cells into immune cells (T-helper cells). It is impossible to detect HIV at an early stage. The presence of pathology before the onset of antibody production can be determined using PCR analysis. But this test, due to its high sensitivity, too often gives false positive results.
For timely diagnosis of the disease, a potentially infected patient must undergo a blood test every 3 months. If after 1.5 years no antibodies are detected, the patient is removed from the register. 
The incubation period is characterized by the following factors:
- After infection there are no clinical symptoms of infection. It takes from 2 weeks to 1.5 years to detect the virus using blood tests. On average, antibody production occurs within 3 months.
- A partner who is infected with HIV is considered dangerous from the beginning of incubation. Despite the fact that the virus at this stage of development is not detectable by laboratory methods, the carrier of the infection can already transmit it to other people.
The first signs of completion of incubation appear in the form of a rise in temperature or exacerbation of chronic diseases.
A long-term absence of necessary therapy after completion of the incubation stage for immunodeficiency leads to the addition of secondary diseases: candidiasis, meningitis, tuberculosis, cancer, pneumonia, etc.
What is the seronegative period
The seronegative period in the development of HIV infection is called the “window” of the disease (incubation stage). There remains a possibility of infection, but there are no antibodies to the virus in the blood yet.
At the end of the seronegative period, the following stages occur:
- Spicy. Accompanied by clear clinical manifestations of immunodeficiency. The patient's temperature rises, night sweats increase, fungal infections of the mucous membranes occur, and lymph nodes become enlarged. The acute stage begins approximately 3 months after infection, at the end of incubation. Lasts from several days to 1 month. Often there are no acute symptoms of HIV infection at all.
- Latent stage. It is asymptomatic. The latent stage of HIV can last from 1 to 20 years. During this time, the virus actively infects cells of the immune system, but does not yet have a pronounced negative effect on the patient’s internal organs. The body's reaction at this stage is expressed in the production of a large number of antibodies.
The duration of the seronegative period depends on the general state of the patient’s immune system, the presence of concomitant chronic diseases, and lifestyle. 
Incubation period in pregnant women
During pregnancy, incubation lasts the same amount of time as in the normal state of the body. To exclude or confirm the diagnosis of HIV infection during pregnancy, a woman takes a blood test every 3 months to detect antibodies.
Often the disease is detected during pregnancy, before which the patient may not suspect the presence of pathology. The main laboratory sign of HIV is the detection of antibodies to the virus in the blood.
A woman should remember the following properties of pathology during pregnancy:
- In an HIV-infected patient, tests may show a negative result during pregnancy. The indicator does not mean that ARV therapy is not needed. It is necessary to continue treatment according to the doctor's recommendations. This immune system response is still being studied. It is known that during pregnancy, the presence of antibodies can change to a negative result several times, or remain positive until delivery.
- If a negative result is initially determined, it is necessary to repeat the test after 3 months to exclude the possibility of a “window” stage. You can be completely sure that the virus is absent only after 9 months of pregnancy.
If a positive test for the disease is detected in a sexual partner, the woman is prescribed ARV therapy, regardless of the results of her own examination. Infection may not occur for a long time if the viral load in the sexual partner is insignificant. But sooner or later, a woman’s body gets such a number of pathogenic microorganisms that can cause the development of the disease.
Incubation period in risk groups
The incubation period of the disease may differ significantly from the average values, up or down. In people at risk, this period is usually shorter than in other patients.
The risk group includes the following segments of the population:
- persons who use drugs intravenously;
- men having homosexual relationships;
- sex workers and their clients;
- prisoners;
- persons working as “truck drivers” or on a rotational basis;
- people who drink excessive amounts of alcohol, non-injection drugs;
- antisocial persons who are promiscuous;
- children in poor social and living conditions, without proper parental supervision.
The risk of contracting the immunodeficiency virus in these people is much higher than in others. The use of drugs and alcohol causes a special state of the immune system, which is characterized by the active production of free T cells to fight the virus. For this group of people, the “window” time for HIV infection is approximately 10 days.
The incubation period of HIV depends on the individual characteristics of the body and, despite the fact that a person is at risk, it can last up to 1.5 years.
To become infected with the virus, one injection through a used syringe or one unprotected sexual intercourse is enough.
After infection with the immunodeficiency virus, obvious symptoms do not appear for a long period of time. Despite this, the disease is activated immediately after entering the body and lasts immediately until the moment of death. The period from the onset of infection and the manifestation of the first symptoms is defined as incubation.
A characteristic feature of HIV is the long-term course of the disease with increasing symptoms and a detrimental effect on the immune system over many years. Against this background, opportunistic and oncological pathological processes very often begin to develop.
The virus develops in several stages:
- when the course of the disease passes in a latent form, and symptoms are completely absent.
- Early clinical symptoms. During this period, the carrier of the virus may notice the signs of a cold, so many do not pay attention and discover the fatal infection too late.
- Latent stage. The period when symptoms disappear for a while.
- Stage of occurrence of secondary ailments. Characterized by the occurrence of additional pathological lesions.
- Thermal period. This stage is the last when HIV turns into AIDS, in which case life expectancy will depend on therapy and the immune system. On average, carriers of the immunodeficiency virus, provided they follow the recommendations, live about 10-12 years.
Attention! The carrier of the virus is infectious throughout all stages of the infection. Thus, after HIV enters the bloodstream, the patient, even during the incubation period, is able to infect a healthy person. The carrier of the virus poses a particular danger in the final stage of AIDS.
Activation of viral cells requires a certain period of time, defined in medicine as the incubation period. A pathological viral infection is transmitted through body fluids (sperm, vaginal discharge, blood). After penetration into the body, pathological introduction of viral cells into lymphocytes occurs. More specifically, in T-helpers.
The defeat occurs as follows: once HIV enters the cell nucleus, it is activated and begins to change the genetic program. As a result, T-helper cells, which perform a protective function, are reprogrammed into nuclear-free cells that imitate the immunodeficiency virus.
For the virus to become active, certain conditions are necessary, for example:
- Chronic infections in the body that require regular production of antibodies.
- Active T-lymphocytes, which are responsible for immune responses.
- Free T helper cells that do not participate in immune processes.
It is important! It is difficult to answer how long the incubation period of a fatal infection takes, since the standard reaction of the immune system can appear as early as two weeks after viral cells enter the body, or it can drag on for ten years.
Seronegative period
This term means that the virus is not confirmed by serological tests, that is, HIV is in the blood, but the immune system does not react to it. This is explained by a reduced level of aggressiveness of T-lymphocytes. Two main reasons have been identified:
- There is an insufficient number of T-helper cells or reduced production.
- T-lymphocytes do not respond to viral cells, since they are all busy with other infections present.
Reference! The seronegative period is characterized by a lack of contact between HIV cells and immune cells, resulting in no antibody production.
Minimum duration of the hidden period
Groups of people in whom HIV infection has a minimal incubation period are identified. People at risk suffer from rapidly developing AIDS.
The main risk group consists of individuals who have enough immune cells and they are quickly renewed:
- Infants. This is explained by the fact that T-lymphocytes are in the growth stage.
- Drug addicts. In such carriers, the body wears out as quickly as possible, since all processes are activated to the maximum.
It is typical that in groups of people who use drugs, the seronegative period is determined by two weeks, and in some cases – one. In infants, signs of HIV may appear in the first days of life, since the prodromal period occurs during intrauterine development.
Risk groups: how quickly does the incubation period end?
The main group of HIV is made up of drug addicts, so the duration of the incubation period will be considered using their example. The latent course of the disease in such individuals can last from one to five years. After the introduction of viral cells into the body, the activation of diseases that are associated with the immune system (pneumonia, Kaposi's sarcoma) cannot be ruled out.
Instant manifestation of symptoms occurs in people who administer a dose from one syringe. Consequently, the virus is introduced into the blood in sufficient quantities and T-lymphocytes are damaged. If the virus enters the blood again, the incubation period will be minimal. At the same time, the virus has the most favorable conditions to develop.
With high sexual activity, that is, the practice of group unprotected sexual contacts, a detailed clinical picture of the disease is observed. And people who systematically use drugs have an increased rate of HIV infection even during the incubation period.
You can learn about the routes of HIV transmission from the video.
Video - HIV symptoms in men and women. How is HIV transmitted? Signs and prevention
Does the duration of the asymptomatic period depend on the route of infection?
AIDS is a fatal infection that develops in the blood, therefore, practically nothing depends on the route of transmission. In any case, infection will occur when the virus enters a person’s bloodstream. However, the subsequent path of infected blood is very important, that is, when and where the contact of viral and healthy cells occurs.
| Route of infection | Description of the process of penetration of viral cells into the bloodstream |
|---|---|
| Standard unprotected sex | One of the most common ways to acquire HIV. Penetration into the general bloodstream occurs through the inferior vena cava. This prevents rapid contact with T cells. In this case, it is difficult to calculate when HIV will manifest itself (there is a long period of incubation) |
| Anal sex | The process of blood absorption directly through the rectum occurs in several ways: 1. Viral cells penetrate through the mesenteric vein. |
| Through the umbilical cord from mother to child | If infection occurred through vertical infection (umbilical cord vessels were involved), then the infected blood immediately enters the liver tissue, where a large number of free T-lymphocytes accumulate |
It is important! The speed of damage to the body and the mechanism of spread of the virus depend on the quantity in which it enters the body. If there were a lot of pathogenic cells, then the process of contact with T cells will be immediate.
To activate the pathological process, one infected T cell is enough for the mechanism of spread to be irreversible. The body immediately starts producing antibodies to the virus, upon contact with which the immune system is suppressed.
Please note that when the number of immune cells that are responsible for fighting HIV cells decreases, the first symptoms appear. Thus, AIDS goes through the first stage of development in the body - the stage of infection of the organs of the lymphoid system.
Interesting facts about the human immunodeficiency virus can be learned from the specialist’s commentary provided in the video.
Video - HIV infection
To prolong life and slow down the onset of complications (due to timely therapy), you should donate blood annually (once every six months) to test for the presence of the pathogen. If HIV is present in the body, then the duration of the incubation period is equally proportional to the level of the patient’s immune system.
Most often, HIV infection is diagnosed only at the stage of secondary manifestations, when symptoms of trouble become obvious. Signs at the stage of primary manifestations are often blurred and disappear quickly. Infected people do not attach any importance to them. On the other hand, sometimes the cause of the initial symptoms cannot be identified.
Human immunodeficiency virus is a retrovirus that causes HIV infection. Depending on the clinical signs of HIV infection, the following stages are distinguished:
- Incubation period.
- Primary manifestations:
acute infection;
asymptomatic infection;
generalized lymphadenopathy. - Secondary manifestations.
damage to the skin and mucous membranes;
persistent damage to internal organs;
generalized diseases. - Terminal stage.
The primary signs of HIV infection are the same in men and women. Only with the appearance of secondary symptoms does a diagnosis of HIV infection become suspected. At the stage of secondary manifestations, features of the course of the disease in people of different sexes are formed.
How long does it take for HIV to appear?
The very first symptoms of HIV infection, which often go unnoticed, appear between 4 months and 5 years after infection.
The first signs of secondary manifestations of HIV infection can occur anywhere from 5 months to many years after infection.
Incubation period
For some time after infection, the disease does not manifest itself in any way. This period is called incubation and lasts from 4 months to 5 years or more. At this time, the patient does not have any abnormalities in tests, including serological, hematological and immunological. A person is outwardly completely healthy, but he poses a danger as a source of infection to other people.
Some time after infection, the acute stage of the disease begins. At this stage, HIV infection can already be suspected based on certain clinical signs.
Acute infection
At the stage of acute HIV infection, the patient’s body temperature rises to febrile levels, and the tonsils and cervical lymph nodes enlarge. In general, this symptom complex resembles that of infectious mononucleosis.The most common first manifestation of HIV infection is symptoms resembling. A person’s temperature rises to 38˚C or higher for no apparent reason, inflammation of the tonsils appears (), and the lymph nodes become inflamed (usually the cervical ones). The cause of the increase in temperature often cannot be determined; it does not decrease after taking antipyretics and antibiotics. At the same time, severe weakness and fatigue appear, mainly at night. The patient suffers from headache, loss of appetite, and disturbed sleep.
When examining the patient, one can determine the enlargement of the liver and, which is accompanied by complaints of heaviness in the hypochondrium, aching pain there. A small maculopapular rash appears on the skin in the form of small pale pink spots, sometimes merging into larger formations. A long-term intestinal disorder appears in the form.
In blood tests with this variant of the onset of the disease, an increased level of leukocytes, lymphocytes is determined, and atypical mononuclear cells are detected.
This variant of the first symptoms of HIV infection is observed in 30% of patients.
In other cases, acute infection may manifest as serous or encephalitis. These conditions are characterized by intense headache, often nausea and vomiting, and increased body temperature.
Sometimes the first symptom of HIV infection is inflammation of the esophagus - esophagitis, accompanied by chest pain and difficulty swallowing.
Other nonspecific symptoms of the disease, as well as an asymptomatic course, are also possible. The duration of this stage ranges from several days to 2 months, after which all signs of the disease disappear again. Antibodies to HIV may also not be detected at this stage.
Asymptomatic carrier stage
At this stage, there are no clinical signs of infection, but antibodies to HIV are already detected in the blood. If the damage to the immune system is minor, then this stage can last for many years. Within 5 years after infection, the following stages of HIV infection develop in only 20–30% of those infected. In some patients, the carrier stage, on the contrary, is very short (about a month).
Generalized lymphadenopathy
Generalized lymphadenopathy is an enlargement of the lymph nodes of two or more groups, not counting the inguinal ones. It may be the first symptom of HIV if the previous stages were erased.
Most often the cervical lymph nodes are affected, especially those located on the back of the neck. In addition, the lymph nodes above the collarbones, axillae, and in the elbow and popliteal fossae may become enlarged. The inguinal lymph nodes enlarge less frequently and later than the others.
Lymph nodes increase in size from 1 to 5 cm or more, they are mobile, painless, not fused to the skin. The surface of the skin over them is not changed.
At the same time, there are no other causes of enlarged lymph nodes (infectious diseases, medications), so such lymphadenopathy is sometimes mistakenly regarded as difficult to explain.
The stage of enlarged lymph nodes lasts 3 months or more. Gradually at this stage body weight begins to decrease.
Secondary manifestations
The occurrence of secondary manifestations may be the first sign of HIV infection, even if many years have passed since infection. The most common conditions that occur are:
- Pneumocystis pneumonia.
A person’s body temperature rises, a cough appears, first dry, and then with sputum. Arises and then at rest. The general condition worsens. Such pneumonia is difficult to treat with traditional antibiotics. - Kaposi's sarcoma.
This is a tumor that develops from lymphatic vessels. It is more common in young men. Kaposi's sarcoma is externally manifested by the formation of many small cherry-colored tumors on the head, torso, limbs, and in the oral cavity. - Generalized infection (candidiasis,).
Generalized infectious diseases occur more often in women. This is mainly due to the fact that HIV-infected women are most often prostitutes or promiscuous. At the same time, they very often become infected with vaginal candidiasis and herpes. The emergence of HIV infection leads to the spread and severe course of these diseases. - Damage to the nervous system, manifested primarily by memory loss. Subsequently, progressive development develops.
Features of the first signs of HIV infection in women
In women, symptoms of HIV include menstrual irregularities and genital diseases. Women are much more likely than men to experience secondary manifestations such as herpes, cytomegalovirus infection and vaginal candidiasis, as well as candidal esophagitis.
In addition, at the stage of secondary manifestations, the first signs of the disease may be inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs, most often acute. Diseases of the cervix, such as carcinoma or dysplasia, may occur.
Features of HIV infection in children
Children infected with HIV in utero have peculiarities in the course of the disease. Children get sick in the first 4–6 months after birth. The main and early symptom of the disease is damage to the central nervous system. The child is lagging behind in weight, physical and mental development. He cannot sit and his speech is delayed. A child infected with HIV is susceptible to various purulent diseases and intestinal dysfunction.
Which doctor should I contact?
If you suspect HIV infection, you should contact an infectious disease specialist. The test can be taken anonymously at the AIDS Prevention and Control Center, which is located in every region. There, doctors also provide consultations on all issues related to HIV infection and AIDS. For secondary diseases, a pulmonologist (for pneumonia), a dermatologist (for Kaposi's sarcoma), a gynecologist (for diseases of the genital organs in women), a hepatologist (for often concomitant viral hepatitis), and a neurologist (for brain damage) are involved in the treatment. Infected children are seen not only by an infectious disease specialist, but also by a pediatrician.