Symptoms of HIV in girls at an early stage. The first symptoms of HIV in women, the development of the disease, the difference and similarity of HIV symptoms in men and women

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) destroys specific immune cells and thereby weakens the immune system, making it useless in the fight against infections and diseases. Untreated HIV infection progresses to (AIDS), a condition that develops as a result of the complete destruction of immunity by the virus.

Although it is possible that an HIV-infected woman may not have any symptoms of HIV infection, in most cases, a woman infected with HIV experiences some symptoms that she does not attribute to the presence of HIV in her body. This is the insidiousness of HIV - it enters the body and sits quietly and imperceptibly destroys the immune system so that it cannot resist any diseases. Because normally, the immune system constantly protects us from a variety of disease-causing pathogens, but we do not notice it. When HIV destroys the immune system, then all these infections jump into the body of a woman without hindrance. Hence the variety and non-specificity of symptoms. And the main diagnostic criteria here is. Do it regularly! At least once a year at least.

Although the symptoms of HIV are mostly similar in men and women, women have symptoms of immunodeficiency that are unique to them.

The 3 Most Common Possible Signs of HIV Infection in Women

Frequent or severe vaginal infections.
Atypical smear results for the detection of atypical cells (Pap smear).
Inflammation of the pelvic organs.

If you have at least one of the above conditions, consult a doctor immediately!

Other, less common symptoms of HIV in a woman's body are:

ulcers, erosions on the genitals,
severe, difficult to treat herpes, fungal infections (thrush).
menstrual disorders (change in the intensity of discharge, cycle skipping, very severe PMS). Stress and, which often accompany HIV infection, can also be the cause of such disorders.
lower abdominal pain. May be a sign of infection of the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes - pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). For some women, PID is like a red traffic light, screaming about the presence of HIV in a woman's body. PID can also manifest itself: unusual vaginal discharge, fever, irregular menstruation, pain during intercourse, pain in the upper abdomen.

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The symptoms described here do not say that a woman has 100% HIV, but they say that you need to be tested for HIV.

Through what time appear early symptoms of HIV in women?

— The first symptoms of HIV in a woman can appear 2-4 weeks after infection and appear as "flu-like" syndrome.

What kind HIV symptoms appear in women in the early stages in the mouth?

- In the early stages of HIV in the mouth of women appear white plaques, white plaques(thrush, candidiasis). //.

What kind HIV symptoms appear at women onearly stages on the skin?

- On the early stages of HIV on the skin in women appears rash. //.

A set of first signs of presence HIV infection in a woman in each case can be different, they can appear within 2-4 weeks after infection and sometimes several years later. That is why it is so important for you and your sexual partner go through before starting a relationship. There are various symptoms of HIV infection in women, depending on the stage of the disease:

stage of acute HIV infection (“flu, cold”),
asymptomatic and subclinical stages (“I don’t feel anything”),
late stage - secondary diseases ("everything sticks"),
the last, terminal, known as AIDS (death).

I. The first symptoms of HIV infection in women

1. Symptoms of acute HIV infection in women

Early symptoms of HIV in women are rashes, mouth ulcers, vaginosis, and thrush.

Rash in women with HIV infection

Early symptoms of HIV infection in women may include:

rash on the body
fever,
sore throat,
severe headaches.
swollen lymph nodes,
nausea,
fatigue,
mouth ulcers,
vaginal infections such as yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis
night sweats,
vomit,
muscle pain and joint pain.

During the acute stage of HIV infection, these symptoms most often last one to two weeks.

HIV Specific Symptoms - Random Eruptions

Video "Early signs of HIV, AIDS in women"

2. Asymptomatic stage of HIV infection in women

When the above symptoms disappear, then the asymptomatic period of HIV infection begins. At this stage, a person with HIV does not feel any signs or symptoms of HIV infection. HIV may not cause any symptoms for months or years, but it is present in the body and actively replicates and begins to destroy the body's immune system by attacking important immune cells. The virus remains active during this stage and can still be passed on to others, so it is important to get tested for HIV infection on time, even if you feel well.

II. Late signs of HIV infection in women

1. Late stage of HIV infection, AIDS in women

Without treatment, it takes months or years for an HIV infection to turn into AIDS, depending on the extent to which the virus has destroyed the woman's immune system.This progression of HIV leads to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).This is the last stage of HIV infection and it means that the body's immune system is severely damaged, as a result of which it becomes more susceptible to other infections, the woman begins to suffer from such diseases that she did not suffer with a healthy immune system. Women with AIDS often suffer from colds, flu, and fungal diseases.

What kind HIV symptoms appear in women in the early stages in the groin?
- On the early stages of HIV in the groin in women appear enlarged inguinal lymph nodes.

Cachexia - wasting, with AIDS, body weight drops sharply.

Symptoms of a woman in the stage of AIDS:

persistent diarrhea,
nausea,
vomit,
rapid unexplained weight loss,
constant unreasonable fatigue,
erosions or ulcers in the mouth,
vaginal infections such as yeast infections (thrush, candidiasis) and bacterial vaginosis
pelvic inflammatory disease,
intermittent fever (fever)
recurring chills,
recurring night sweats,
shaky breath,
dry cough,
persistent or prolonged enlargement of the lymph nodes,
memory loss, confusion, neurological disorders.

2. Additionally, HIV-infected women are more likely to have (than HIV-negative):

thrush and other vaginal infections, bacterial vaginosis,
diseases transmitted through intercourse: gonorrhea (triper), chlamydia, trichomoniasis,
inflammation of the pelvic organs (cystitis (inflammation of the bladder), urethritis (inflammation of the urethra), etc.),
infectious inflammation of the reproductive organs (endometritis (inflammation of the uterine mucosa), vulvovaginitis (inflammation of the vagina and vulva), adnexitis (inflammation of the ovaries), etc.),
menstrual disorders (dysmenorrhea),
human papillomavirus, which causes warts on the genitals and leads to cervical cancer.

Another difference from an HIV-infected man is that it is more difficult for a woman with HIV to notice spots or other changes on the genitals.

one). Vaginal thrush (candidiasis)

Any woman, regardless of her HIV status, can develop thrush. But in women who have HIV plus thrush, it occurs more often and is more difficult to treat.

Thrush symptoms:

vulvar itching,
thick white coating on the surface of the vagina,
burning during urination
vaginal dryness and redness.

Pain during intercourse. Women with thrush should avoid sexual intercourse. this may worsen the course of the disease.

2). human papillomavirus

Human papillomavirus is a viral infection that destroys cells in the genitals, especially the cervix. There are many different types of human papillomavirus (HPV), there are very harmful ones that cause cancer and precancerous erosion of the cervix.

Studies have shown that HPV is 10 times more common in HIV-infected women than in HIV-negative women, especially in HIV-infected women who have a count of less than 500 cells / μl. In another study, 77% of HIV-positive women were found to be infected with HPV.

HPV is very common among HIV plus women. Therefore, his treatment should be started immediately to avoid the spread of viral lesions and serious complications.

In HIV-infected women, the human papillomavirus is 30 times more likely to cause cervical cancer.

Usually HPV is asymptomatic, but sometimes it can show up as small white growths (warts) or spots on the vagina or around the anus. HPV can also be accompanied by discomfort, pain during sexual intercourse. A doctor usually diagnoses HPV by doing a smear, biopsy, colposcopy ( inspection of the entrance to the vagina, the walls of the vagina and the vaginal part of the cervix using magnifying instruments).

Ways to treat HPV

Warts can be removed by cauterization, freezing, cutting, treatment with chemicals (specially designed for this purpose!), treatment with drugs.

3). Inflammation of the pelvic organs

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) - this is a very serious complication (especially in HIV-infected women, whose body defenses are greatly reduced), caused by an untreated infection of the vagina or cervix. If left untreated, the bacterium can travel from the vagina or cervix through the urethra and fallopian tubes to the ovaries and surrounding tissues. POTS may be the cause violations(sticking of the fallopian tubes leading to ectopic pregnancy) reproductive(ability to be born) functions and can even lead to death. Chlamydia and gonorrhea cause VOMT most of all.

Treatment of VOMT requires a very strict, strong course of antibiotics and women with HIV often require surgery.

Main symptoms BOMT are:

fever,
increasing discomfort in the vagina,
undulating pains in the lower abdomen from moderate to severe,
bleeding,
nausea,
frequent pain when urinating

But in many cases, there are no symptoms and the woman does not suspect that the inflammation is progressing.

Since gynecological infections are the first and most common problem in HIV-infected women, regular examinations of the vagina and cervix are essential.

III. HIV in women and pregnancy

HIV can also be transmitted from mother to child during childbirth (called perinatal HIV) or through breastfeeding. Because In Russia, all pregnant women must be tested for HIV throughout their pregnancy, the detection of HIV in a woman during pregnancy helps the doctor timely prescribe antiretroviral drugs to the woman and child immediately after birth, and perform a caesarean section to prevent transmission of HIV from mother to child. With proper HIV medication, the risk of a baby being infected with HIV during birth from HIV plus the mother can be reduced to less than 2%. Without medication, the risk of having a child with HIV is about 40%.

IV. Personal stories of HIV-infected women

I got infected at the beginning of December 2017, and IFA showed positive in January 2018, and already the final blot became positive in February 2018. A month after the infection, I had a high fever, night sweats, no appetite, and a very sore throat like never before in my life. My acute stage of HIV manifested itself very noticeably, but other HIV-infected girls did not have this or everything went unnoticed until a positive analysis. Therefore, in any case, you should not wait for symptoms, but you need to go to be examined. Alina

I checked every 4-6 months because lived with an HIV+ boyfriend who later died in March 2000. After that, I stopped being tested (and in vain, ““) and was already examined in 2007 and then the analysis showed a positive result for HIV. I had an episode of the "cold", but then I thought that I just got the flu, although it was out of the flu season, somewhere in the summer. I didn't have any other signs of HIV infection. Sasha

I was regularly tested for HIV and used barrier protection all the time, but one day I had a little too much at a party and everything got so twisted that we forgot about safety. As it turned out later, he was HIV-positive. A few weeks later, I began to have symptoms like I had a cold, because. I knew a lot about the course of HIV infection, then I realized that I had become infected. A month later, this was confirmed. Nika

I was diagnosed with HIV in the hospital, where I ended up with pneumonia. She did not respond to treatment and the doctors decided to test me for HIV. Then a doctor from the AIDS center came and told me against receipt that I had antibodies to HIV. Then I was transferred to the hospital of the AIDS Center, was prescribed, and I recovered from pneumonia. And I'm currently being monitored for HIV. I come to the AIDS center 2 times a year for a complete examination, correction of the treatment regimen. Now has found the man of the same HIV+. We are going to get married. HIV is not a sentence. Katerina

V. What should I do if I have discovered a symptom of HIV, AIDS?

It is urgent to visit a doctor for examination, examination, other sexually transmitted infections.

The immune system of the human body has an important task: to protect it from various types of diseases. The strength and strong connection of cells create a reliable shield, which can be destroyed by an insidious virus. To start therapy on time, you need to know the signs of HIV in women . The danger of infection is not only in its destructive effect, but also in the ability to “doze off” for a long time before taking on a progressive form. A woman is not even always aware of the presence of the virus in the body, infecting others, and in fact the prevention of HIV infection could save many lives.

Ways of transmission of HIV infection

Contact of a healthy person with a carrier of HIV infection is not always dangerous. The risk of infection exists even with a single contact, even if it is constant, the type and amount of biological fluid containing HIV infection is considered a more significant factor. In a woman with a positive HIV test, the concentration of the virus depends on the stage of the disease. If we talk about the ways of transmission of infection through contact with a biological fluid, then according to the degree of probability of HIV infection, the following should be distinguished:

maximum (through blood, breast milk, cerebrospinal fluid, semen);
minimal (through sweat, saliva, tears, sputum, urine).

Signs of HIV transmission in women by natural infection appear when the maximum concentration of the biological fluid with the virus enters the blood or mucous membranes, for example, during sexual intercourse or the birth of a child. The artificial route of HIV transmission is reduced to invasive procedures of a different nature - from the introduction of intravenous drugs or blood transfusions for medical reasons to tattooing, hardware cosmetic procedures or manicures if the instruments were poorly processed.

The first symptoms of infection in women

How long does it take for HIV to show up? This is the most common question that arises in all people, regardless of gender, in a dangerous situation. The insidious virus has a destructive effect, but the protracted form of its manifestation is no less dangerous. According to some medical data, HIV infection can stay in the body and not manifest itself in any way for more than ten years! Women can learn about the beginning of the reproduction of the virus by the following first signs:

A sharp, often for no reason, rise in temperature to 40 degrees, which cannot be brought down for a week or more.
Headaches, muscle weakness, sweating.
Enlarged lymph nodes (neck, armpits, groin).
Anorexia.
Nausea, spasms, vomiting.
Painful menstruation, profuse mucous discharge.

Stages of the disease and their signs

A feature of the course of HIV infection in women is the absence of symptoms. A number of signs of the virus may not appear at all, but others appear as additional ones, because a weakened immune system is not able to cope with the effects of other pathogenic microorganisms. How long does it take for symptoms of HIV infection to appear? Before obvious signs, the virus is able to lie low for a long time, or it manifests itself partially, so many women do not even know about the presence of the disease.

The stages of the development of the disease in women with HIV infection look like this:

Incubation. The average duration of the stage from the moment when HIV enters the body of a woman until the first symptoms appear is about three months, sometimes up to a year. From the moment of infection, active reproduction of the virus is noted, followed by spread throughout the body, but for the immune system of a woman, HIV does not yet pose a threat.
Primary. The duration of this stage of the disease takes about three months. A characteristic sign of the spread of the virus is the appearance of antibodies. Symptoms in women are mild, often HIV carriers bypass this phase without showing the main signs of the disease.
Secondary. If the progression of the disease is slow, then the average duration of this phase is about seven years. Symptoms of HIV infection begin to manifest themselves gradually, it is very rare for a girl or young woman to develop the disease rapidly. Rashes appear on the skin, fever is noted, pharyngitis begins. Swollen lymph nodes, liver and diarrhea are characteristic external symptoms that are signs of HIV in women.
Third. The progressive, acute phase of HIV disease is characterized by a significant depletion of the immune system, leading to secondary infection. The duration, as well as the severity of the disease, depends on the individual characteristics of the organism. Other infections or the diagnosis of oncological diseases aggravate the clinical picture of the development of HIV disease, although remission is not ruled out with proper treatment.
Fourth (AIDS). The irreversible stage of the spread of HIV infection, when any methods of antiviral therapy in combination with the treatment of secondary diseases cannot help the patient. From several weeks to a couple of months, the patient will have to undergo a maintenance course, since a cure for AIDS has not yet been found. The onset of an irreversible stage during infection with HIV infection is evidenced by extensive fungal skin lesions, pneumonia, hepatitis, candidiasis, ulcerative formations on the mucosa.

How is the diagnosis carried out

Multiple studies are carried out to detect HIV infection and make a correct diagnosis. The absence of characteristic symptoms of HIV disease is no less dangerous than an erroneous diagnosis, so the infectious disease specialist will definitely prescribe laboratory tests to detect antibodies. In the early stages of the disease, HIV tests are not always able to detect infection, so women should be retested after a few weeks, even if the first result is negative.

If the diagnosis for HIV infection itself is carried out in the laboratory, then an infectious disease doctor should make a diagnosis based on the data, examination and anamnesis. If the specialist suspects signs of HIV, he will offer the woman to register for health monitoring. To monitor the state of health and not miss the possible development of HIV infection, every six months you will have to take tests for viral load, immune status, or take a course of taking antiretroviral drugs.

Video: how HIV manifests itself in the early stages

The insidious nature of the human immunodeficiency virus is manifested not only in the destructive effect on the immune system. HIV infection does not manifest itself immediately, hiding for several years before inflicting a crushing blow on the body. Although no effective drugs have yet been found to treat AIDS, HIV prevention, knowledge of the symptoms, timely diagnosis is a good chance to resist the disease for a long time. The period of the initial stage of the manifestation of HIV in women has a number of signs, which are better to judge not from the photo, but to learn in detail from this video.

Attention! The information provided in the article is for informational purposes only. The materials of the article do not call for self-treatment. Only a qualified doctor can make a diagnosis and give recommendations for treatment, based on the individual characteristics of a particular patient.

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The immune defense of the body is a reliable barrier that protects it from pathogens.

However, there is a virus that can breach 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 are the signs of HIV in women in the early stages. Timely antiretroviral therapy reduces the risk of developing the extreme stage of infection - AIDS by hundreds of times and prolongs the patient's life up to 70 - 80 years.

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

For a long time, the disease does not have unambiguous distinctive features that would directly indicate infection with HIV. This can lead to the fact that the patient learns about the infection too late, when the immune defense is damaged so much that it is no longer possible to restore it.

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

Ways of infection can be:

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

The virus cannot penetrate the skin, as they do not have cells into which it can infiltrate. Insect bites, saliva or tears are also not ways of infection. Everyone is afraid of a terrible virus. The fair sex is especially concerned, as they are more emotional than men.

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

Determining HIV disease in the early stages is extremely difficult. 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 are distinctive signs, noticing which, a woman should be tested for HIV testing.

Symptoms that are characteristic of a cold: cough, sore throat and other manifestations may indicate the activation of a retrovirus.
Severe fatigue, which does not go away even after a good rest, can accompany many diseases. However, it is worth noting this symptom and, if possible, undergoing an examination to rule out HIV disease.
Frequent dyspeptic symptoms may be a sign of HIV in women in the early stages. Attention should be paid to daily violation of the stool, nausea or vomiting.
As a result of the destructive activity of the retrovirus, an increase in lymph nodes is observed. The cervical lymph nodes change especially strongly, and in the groin and armpits this symptom is less pronounced.
If sores on the genitals or in the mouth are added to the listed symptoms, then you should be more alert.

HIV can manifest itself more clearly by fever, spastic pains, excessive sweating, lack of appetite, etc. All of these symptoms are similar to other viral infections caused by rotovirus, influenza virus, or enterovirus. If such signs appear unexpectedly and also disappear, then it is better not to neglect the blood test 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 the later stages - anorexia);
the appearance of sores and warts on the genitals;
severe sweating;
pathological changes in the cervix;
painful menstruation;
frequent urinary infections.

A combination of several symptoms, such as swollen lymph nodes, pain in the lower abdomen during menstruation, profuse vaginal discharge, frequent diarrhea, and loss of energy, is a serious reason to be tested for HIV disease.

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

Symptoms of the disease directly depend on the state of the human immune system at the time of infection.

The virus can be in a latent state for several years, but more often it is 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, at which time the infection can still be treated, and the symptoms are minor.

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

Stages of development of the immunodeficiency virus:

Virus incubation period. The duration of this stage of the disease varies from one month to one year. At this time, the virus is actively spreading throughout the body, but does not show activity against immune cells.
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 an increase in lymph nodes, an increase in infectious diseases, an upset in the gastrointestinal tract, and other symptoms.
Progressive stage. During this period, the immune system is already in a phase of exhaustion. The number of associated bacterial and viral infections is increasing. At the progressive stage, oncological diseases can be detected.
immunodeficiency syndrome. The period is characterized by extensive damage to all organs. Symptoms of AIDS can be seen even in the photo, as 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, a 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, then there is a symptomatology similar to a cold.

An infected person may suffer from diarrhea, sore throat, accompanied by swelling of the tonsils, chills. On the skin, various rashes are possible. Such phenomena are short-lived, and the patient often confuses them with the common cold. In the early stages 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 coordination of movement;
an increase in lymph nodes;
frequent exacerbations of herpes;
weight loss;
increased sweating;
systematic violation of the chair;
muscle and joint pain;
persistent dry cough.

Symptoms of HIV in women at an early stage of the second stage of the disease often concern the reproductive system. If at this time a woman has contracted sexual infections, then they are poorly cured. The same applies to inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system. In women, HIV can cause hormonal imbalances.

The menstrual cycle becomes unstable, accompanied by pain, heavy bleeding is possible. After ten years of activity of the virus, the immune system weakens so much that different infections can be present in a woman’s body at the same time: fungal, bacterial, viral, and others.

Diseases are practically not cured, which characterizes the beginning of the development of AIDS. Diagnosis of HIV disease in the early stages is very important. It depends on what state the human immune system will remain in, since after the appointment of drugs, the 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. In the early stages, it is difficult to diagnose an infection. If the doctor suspects that there may be retroviruses in the woman's body, then even with a negative test result, she can be registered. A woman needs to visit a doctor and re-take blood for analysis.

Mandatory tests:

ELISA test systems. The first diagnosis is performed by a screening test (ELISA). For this purpose, blood is taken from the patient from a vein (5 ml). Blood sampling is carried out in the morning, on an empty stomach. This analysis detects antibodies to the virus, but does not determine the presence of the viral agent itself. Since the incubation period of viruses is different (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 alleged infection.
immune blotting. This analysis is performed only after a positive screening test result. For its implementation, blood is also taken from a vein, then serum with antibodies to HIV is separated from the obtained material and liquid is applied to a special strip. If the antibodies bind to the antigens that were previously placed on the strip, then the virus is definitely present in the body. The IB 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.

Your doctor may prescribe one of the following medications: Zidovudine, Didanosine, or Nevirapine. There are other analogues of antiretroviral drugs. Treatment should be under the supervision of a physician, since viral agents are able to adapt to different chemicals and a change in treatment regimen may be required. In addition, such drugs have serious side effects, so you can not independently purchase drugs for HIV infection. After prescribing medication, a person must take pills for life.

Russia has a program to provide those in need with such medicines, but they are not always enough. Therefore, you need to be prepared for the fact that medicines will need to be bought. In addition to the main therapy, a woman should strengthen her immune system by all available means. Eat right, treat diseases on time, take vitamins and lead an active lifestyle.

Symptoms of AIDS in women in the early stages and its difference from HIV

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

AIDS stands for:

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

The symptoms of AIDS in women in the early stages are already acute, as 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 normal functioning of the body's defense system. Since the transition of HIV infection to the stage of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, a woman's life expectancy is a maximum of four years.

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

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

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

Candidiasis. Fungi affect any mucous membranes. With AIDS, traces of candida activity are especially noticeable in the oral cavity and on the lips of a woman.
Seborrheic dermatitis. It affects all the skin of a woman. The skin is blotchy and flaky.
Kaposi's sarcoma. AIDS characterizes more than other skin diseases. With this disease, pink spots appear on the skin, which eventually 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, rashes on the skin cause pain.

Doctor on how the first symptoms appear (video)

The human immunodeficiency virus, which is commonly called simply HIV, is a very insidious microorganism, since it can stay in the patient's body for a long time and gradually destroy it. Moreover, the person does not even realize that he is sick.

The clinical course of HIV infection, especially in the early stages, is not characterized by pronounced symptoms, which makes it difficult to diagnose the disease. Patients attribute the first signs to fatigue or do not notice them at all for a long time. But at the same time, it has been proven that the first symptoms of HIV in women are more pronounced than in men, which makes diagnosis a little easier.

In this topic, we want to tell you what HIV infection is, how to deal with it and what are the methods of preventing it. We will also analyze in detail what are the symptoms of HIV in women in the early and late stages.

HIV, as we said earlier, is a virus that enters the human body, multiplies in it and blocks the immune system. As a result, the human body cannot resist not only pathogenic microbes, but even conditionally pathogenic microorganisms.

When a person becomes infected with HIV, he is called HIV-infected, but not sick. The disease is spoken of when the symptoms of AIDS appear. It has been proven that there is a fairly long period of time between the moment of infection and the development of the disease.

The term AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

AIDS is the final stage of the development of HIV infection, which is characterized by a combination of diseases and their symptoms, which appeared as a result of a decrease in the protective properties of the body.

HIV: characteristics and modes of transmission

HIV belongs to the retrovirus family. There are two types of HIV - 1 and 2. Consider the features of HIV.

The virus genome is represented by double-stranded RNA. Also, the pathogen has a number of antigens, for which the corresponding antibodies are produced in the human body.
This virus differs from other viruses in that it has a special enzyme - reverse transcriptase, the main purpose of which is the introduction of information encoded in the RNA of the virus into the patient's DNA.
HIV tropic to human cells that have CD4 receptors.
Almost all disinfectant solutions and high temperatures adversely affect HIV.
The source of this infection is an HIV-infected person or a person with AIDS.
HIV circulates in all biological fluids, namely: tears, saliva, blood, semen, breast milk, vaginal secretions and others.

The greatest amount of the virus is concentrated in the blood, semen and vaginal secretions, as well as breast milk. That's why the disease can be transmitted in the following ways:

sexual: during sexual contact;
vertical: from mother to child during pregnancy, passage through the birth canal, while breastfeeding through breast milk;
blood transfusion: transfusion of infected blood;
blood contact: through medical instruments and needles on which there are remnants of blood infected with HIV;
transplant: when transplanting organs and tissues from an HIV-infected donor.

HIV is not transmitted through kissing, air, shaking hands, insects, clothing, or shared utensils. But there is a low risk of contracting this infection through razors and manicure accessories used by a sick person or an HIV-infected person if they have leftover blood after cuts.

HIV: risk groups

Considering the various ways in which HIV can be transmitted, the following high-risk groups can be formed:

injecting drug addicts;
sexual partners of drug addicts;
persons with disordered intimate life who prefer sexual intercourse without the use of barrier contraceptives;
patients who received blood transfusions without prior HIV testing;
medical workers (nurses, surgeons, dentists, obstetrician-gynecologists and others);
men and women who provide sexual services for money, as well as persons who use such services.

During HIV infection, the following stages are distinguished:

Early Symptoms of HIV in women may include:

Early symptoms of HIV infection in a woman appear after an average of one month with a flu-like syndrome, so most patients rarely seek medical help and treat their “cold” on their own at home. Literally after two weeks, the above symptoms subside.

In the photo you can see what the skin manifestations of HIV infection and AIDS look like.

Symptoms of the latent stage

The latent stage of HIV infection in women is characterized by an asymptomatic latent course. Patients lead a normal life, not even suspecting that they are infected, while the virus actively multiplies and gradually destroys the immune system.

In addition, despite the fact that the disease does not manifest itself in any way, a woman can be a source of infection, especially for her sexual partner.

Stage of secondary diseases

This stage of the course of HIV is characterized by the addition of opportunistic infections, such as:

mycoses of various localization;
skin lesions (warts, papillomas, pink rash, urticaria, aphthae, seborrhea, lichen psoriasis, rubrophytia, molluscum contagiosum and others);
diseases of a viral nature;
bacterial infections;
shingles;
inflammation of the paranasal sinuses;
throat inflammation;
chronic diarrhea;
increase in body temperature;
pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis;
hairy leukoplakia
CNS lesions;
cancerous tumors of various localization;
Kaposi's sarcoma and others.

AIDS symptoms in women

Symptoms of AIDS in women appear if HIV infection is not treated.

Signs of the transition of HIV infection to AIDS are the following manifestations:

If you have been experiencing fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, excessive sweating and other symptoms of HIV infection for more than a month, especially if you are in a high-risk group, we strongly recommend that you get a free anonymous HIV test at your nearest polyclinic , an anonymous HIV/AIDS diagnostic room or a center for the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS.

All pregnant women are tested for HIV in the first and second trimester. In the case of a positive HIV test, the woman is referred for a consultation to the AIDS center, where the test is repeated and the infectious disease doctor is consulted.
A child can become infected with HIV from the mother in several ways: in late pregnancy, while passing through the birth canal, while breastfeeding.
Modern antiretroviral drugs that a woman takes during pregnancy minimize the risk of transmitting the virus to her baby. All drugs prescribed by a specialist of the center are issued at the pharmacy free of charge with a prescription.
If left untreated, every second child is born with HIV.
All children born to HIV-positive mothers or fathers are examined three times using PCR.

HIV diagnosis

What are the most accurate tests to determine HIV? Today, there are only two tests that can detect HIV, namely:

immunofluorescent analysis (ELISA) of blood, which is performed to detect antibodies to HIV. The formation of antibodies to the pathogen takes several weeks, so ELISA is recommended to be carried out 2-3 weeks after the alleged infection. Performing this test earlier than the specified time will be uninformative;
immunoblotting reaction, which is carried out in the presence of a positive ELISA. The method is based on the detection of antibodies to HIV. The reliability of this test is close to 100%.

Also, for the diagnosis of HIV, polymerase chain reaction and express methods that detect the presence of the virus itself can be used.

HIV treatment

Treatment of HIV consists in the systematic use of antiretroviral drugs, symptomatic therapy and prevention of concomitant diseases.

The most effective anti-HIV drugs today are Zidovudine, Nevirapine and Didanosine.

All antiretroviral drugs are dispensed free of charge at the pharmacy of the HIV/AIDS center upon presentation of a prescription from the attending infectious disease specialist.

Unfortunately, despite the high level of development of world medicine, it has not yet been possible to find an effective drug that could completely cure HIV. But early detection of HIV significantly affects the prognosis of the disease, since modern antiretroviral drugs, if prescribed in a timely manner, can stop the progression of the disease.

Almost all civilized people have heard that HIV symptoms in women manifest themselves somewhat differently than in men. The immunodeficiency virus works to constantly suppress the immune system, which leads to the fact that it becomes increasingly difficult for a person to fight a particular disease. Ultimately, when the patient's immunity is completely weakened, the patient cannot cope with the most common cold.

HIV infection became widely known in the 80s of the last century. To date, there is no medicine that could cope with this problem, although the disease has been studied in detail. According to experts, not a single woman is immune from HIV infection, but if you follow the basic rules of personal hygiene and adhere to the rules of prevention, you can protect yourself from the likelihood of becoming infected is quite large.

signs

Signs of HIV infection may not manifest themselves for a long time, you can live for about 6 years without suspecting anything. At this time, the woman feels well, but the current disease is hidden, sooner or later it will begin to progress. If a woman is not aware of her problem, she becomes a person who inadvertently infects other people.

The disease can be congenital (transmitted from the mother) or acquired. In a woman, symptoms of manifestation become noticeable much earlier than in men. They also have a brighter form of manifestation.

You can find out about the presence of HIV only with the help of a special laboratory blood test. In other ways, the disease cannot be accurately diagnosed.

Symptoms of HIV infection at the initial stage of its development may be similar to signs of a cold or poisoning.

A woman who is not yet aware of her problem can often be diagnosed with diseases associated with the genitourinary system, which are difficult to treat.

Even in the early stages, the disease may be accompanied by herpes, which affects the mucous membranes. The pelvic organs suffer from constant infectious diseases, warts and sores appear. Regardless of the ambient temperature, a woman has increased sweating, causeless fever, white spots on the oral mucosa and an increase in all lymph nodes. In some cases, the symptoms of HIV in women are manifested in the form of frequent indigestion (diarrhea), constant fatigue and complete lack of appetite.

The first signs of HIV in each woman can manifest themselves in different ways and at different times after infection, since the decisive factor in this situation is not the sex of the person or his age, but the strength of the immune system.

Pregnancy can significantly weaken the immune defense in women. During menstruation, the body's defenses are also significantly weakened.

HIV infection can proceed for a long time without any symptoms, and then begin its intensive development. This factor is still not fully understood.

If a woman develops the following symptoms, she is recommended to get tested for HIV:

very painful menstruation;
menstrual irregularities;
hormonal disruptions;
genital herpes;
candidiasis, which is constantly repeated;
pneumonia;
ulcers on mucous membranes;
fungal infections of the body;
the appearance of malignant neoplasms;
swollen lymph nodes.

Symptoms of HIV in women can manifest themselves in the form of an increase in body temperature up to 38-40 ° C, which can last about 10 days. Additionally, there is muscle pain, general weakness and nausea. Uncharacteristic discharge from the genitals is observed.

stages

HIV in women has 4 stages. The first stage proceeds in a latent form (this is the so-called latent period).

From the moment the infection enters the body to its intensive spread, a whole year can pass.

In the early stages, it is impossible to determine the presence of HIV, since the analysis does not detect antibodies in the body until the end of the incubation period.

The process of spreading the infection occurs despite good immunity. Then the disease moves on to a new stage (second stage), when antibodies to HIV begin to be produced in the body. During this period of time, an increase in lymph nodes is observed, they become painful and disturb patients. A woman has problems with the work of the gastrointestinal tract, a sore throat and red spots appear on the skin.

In the third stage, the disease subsides. Due to the fact that all previously disturbing symptoms recede, a woman can infect other people without even knowing it. HIV manifests itself in the third stage only in the form of persistent lymphadenopathy. The woman constantly feels tired and irritable. She may sweat more, especially during sleep.

The fourth stage is AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), which ends with the death of the patient. More than one year may pass from the end of the incubation period to the onset of the fourth stage. In some patients, AIDS appears only after 12-15 years.

At the last stage, a woman has a lesion of mucous membranes with candidiasis, which practically cannot be cured. Also, the disease leads to the appearance of papillomas and warts on the external genitalia, a sharp loss in weight, prolonged depression and the development of other serious illnesses, which ultimately causes death.

It is impossible to get rid of HIV infection, as there is no cure. Therapy is based on inhibition of the processes of suppression of the immune system.