Will HIV be curable? Can HIV infection be cured? Early symptoms of HIV. How long do people live with HIV? Rapid test for HIV. HIV Treatment Trends

HIV infection is a viral disease. It should not be confused with AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). However, although these are different concepts, they are inextricably linked, since AIDS is the final and most severe stage of infection.

It got its name in honor of the pathogen - a virus. The action of this retrovirus is aimed at the human immune system, due to which characteristic symptoms and conditions appear. The disease is anthroponotic, that is, it is transmitted only from person to person, and not every contact with an infected person is dangerous. It is impossible to transmit HIV through tactile interactions or kisses. It is difficult to say whether this disease can be treated. Scientists have been working on solving this problem for many years, but a way to completely get rid of the virus has not yet been invented. It is possible to carry out maintenance therapy, which will stop the development of the disease and prevent it from developing into AIDS for many years. This significantly prolongs the patient's life, but he still remains

Etiology

It is transmitted directly from person to person, and the routes of its spread are different. First of all, it is worth mentioning sexual contact. The maximum amount of the virus is contained not only in the blood, but also in semen and vaginal secretions. Unprotected sexual intercourse makes the risk of infection quite high, although there is evidence that single intercourse leads to the introduction of the virus into the body only in rare cases. The likelihood of infection increases significantly in the presence of microdamages on the skin and mucous membranes. It is these small injuries that become entry points for infection. Both men and women are susceptible to the virus, and the sexual orientation of the partners does not play a role, since HIV is also transmitted through homosexual contacts.

In second place is contact with the blood of an infected person. Most often, drug addicts become infected in this way by sharing the same syringe with an infected person. Infection can also be introduced into the body through careless handling of medical instruments. Thus, a health care worker can become infected with HIV from a patient. Previously, cases of transfusion of contaminated blood to patients were quite common. At the moment, strict measures have been introduced to screen donors and keep donated blood for 5 months, followed by re-testing it for the presence of the virus. This has significantly reduced the likelihood of transmission of infection through transfusion, but such cases, unfortunately, sometimes occur.

Another way is to infect the child from the mother. Transmission of the virus is possible both during pregnancy and breastfeeding. However, if the mother knows that she has HIV, special treatment and refusal to breastfeed can avoid infecting the child.

What to do if contact with the virus does occur? Next we will look at whether HIV can be treated in its early stages.

What happens when a virus enters the body?

A thorough study of pathogenesis has made it possible to answer the main question regarding HIV: is the infection curable? The harmful effect of the causative virus is associated with its effect on T-helper cells - cells directly involved in the formation of the immune response. HIV causes the programmed death of these cells, which is called apoptosis. The rapid reproduction of the virus accelerates this process, as a result, the number of T-helper cells decreases to such a level that the immune system becomes unable to perform its main function - protecting the body.

Is there a cure for HIV infection?

Therapy carried out in HIV-infected people is aimed only at reducing the reproduction of the virus and prolonging life. Patients can lead a full life due to the influence of special drugs on the process of HIV reproduction. Is the pathology treated at any stage? Unfortunately no.

Infected people are forced to take the strongest drugs throughout their lives. This is the only way to avoid a rapid transition to the terminal stage - AIDS. In this case, the treatment plan must be changed periodically, since long-term use of the same drugs leads to mutation of the virus, as a result of which it becomes resistant to them. The solution to the problem is periodic replacement of medications.

An addition to drug treatment is a healthy lifestyle. Patients are advised to give up bad habits, exercise and eat right.

Forecast

Overall it is unfavorable. We should not forget the answer to the question: “Is HIV completely curable?” This is a currently incurable disease that requires constant maintenance therapy. However, the development of pharmacology and medical technologies makes it possible to prolong the lives of such patients and even gives them the opportunity to have children.

Emergency prevention

The actual question is: can HIV be treated in the early stages? All people, especially health care workers, should be informed that infection can be prevented at an early stage. Any contact with a suspicious biological fluid (blood, semen and vaginal secretions) requires immediate emergency prevention, which means short-term use of antiviral drugs to prevent infection. It is carried out in specialized medical centers, but no more than 24 hours should pass from the moment HIV enters the blood.

How not to get infected?

In order to answer this question, we should recall the main routes of transmission. First of all, promiscuous unprotected sexual intercourse is dangerous. You should be careful when choosing a partner, which will reduce the risk of infection to a minimum. To prevent infection, medical workers must follow the rules for handling equipment and biological fluids. And another measure to reduce the risk of HIV transmission is drug addiction prevention. People need to know whether HIV infection can be treated. This will force them to take all necessary measures to avoid contracting this terrible disease.

Pregnancy and HIV

The infection can be transmitted from mother to child, but this can be avoided if the woman is informed about her condition - HIV infection. Is there a cure for the child’s illness? Carrying out antiretroviral therapy at certain stages of pregnancy helps to avoid infection of the baby. In addition, after birth, these drugs are prescribed to the child for a certain period of time. However, we should not forget that the infection can be transmitted through breast milk. The child should be fed only artificial milk formulas.

HIV infection is a dangerous disease because, despite the treatment, the patient remains a source of HIV throughout his life. However, you should not completely avoid contact with such a person, making him an outcast, because he is a full-fledged member of society. The virus is not transmitted through touching, kissing, or clothing; the airborne route is also excluded. You just need to avoid sexual intercourse and contact with blood.

HIV infection is considered one of the most dangerous diseases on the planet. Despite preventive measures, the virus is spreading rapidly, especially in Africa and Latin America.

The main mode of transmission is unprotected sex with an infected partner. Most sexually mature people are interested in the question: is HIV infection curable or is the disease fatal? Scientists around the world have been trying to find a cure for the virus for decades.

What is it

Many people confuse the concepts of HIV and AIDS. Human immunodeficiency virus is a disease that destroys the immune system.

The pathogen itself is not fatal, but it blocks the immune system; even a cold or fungal infection can lead an infected person to a sad outcome. AIDS is the final stage of infection.

There are four stages of the disease:

• The incubation period extends to one year from the moment of infection. Although for some people it appears within a couple of weeks. During this period, even tests do not show the pathogen in the human blood.
• Primary manifestations or second period. The patient's lymph nodes enlarge throughout the body, the temperature rises, general health worsens, and a rash appears.
• The third stage lasts up to 15 years, the person’s work is disrupted lymphatic system.
• AIDS is the final period of HIV. The immune system is unable to cope with and recognize infected cells, and the virus multiplies at a frantic pace. Death occurs within a few months due to problems with the heart, liver or kidneys. The cause may also be an oncological tumor.

How is it transmitted?

Prevention of HIV infection – best way protect yourself from it. People should know how the virus is transmitted to avoid illness.

1. Infection as a result of unprotected sex. This is the most common cause of infection. The pathogen is found in sperm and vaginal secretions, through microcracks or injuries in the vagina, and on the penis it enters the human body. There is an opinion that it is not always possible to become infected after one unprotected contact, however, the probability is very high. HIV is transmitted regardless of the type of sex; homosexuals are not protected from it and are at high risk.
2. The second common route of transmission is the patient’s blood. Most often this happens if you use one syringe, so drug addicts often become infected. Previously, infection occurred as a result of blood transfusion of a sick person. Today, donors are carefully checked, and the likelihood of infection in the hospital is practically excluded.
3. Vertical mode of infection, when the pathogen passes from the mother to the child during pregnancy or feeding. But if a woman knows that she is sick, then she undergoes special therapy, which prevents the baby from becoming infected. Also, the mother is prohibited from breastfeeding her baby.

The infection cannot be contracted through airborne droplets, through kissing, hugging or other household methods. Do not be afraid and avoid infected people.

Therapy

People faced with pathology wonder whether HIV infection can be treated at the initial stage. Scientists and doctors are still looking for a vaccine and a cure for the pathogen, but have not yet found it.

HIV cannot be completely cured at any stage. Once it enters the body, the infection remains forever in the blood, lymph and secretions of a person. The only thing doctors can do is provide treatment.

It aims to slow down the virus’s development and spread throughout the body, reducing the risk of complications. When undergoing therapy, the patient’s life increases, and the quality is almost no different from that of a healthy person.

How long can you live with HIV? It depends on how responsibly the patient approaches treatment. With high-quality therapy, the patient lives up to 70 years. If the infected person is treated with publicly available means, he can expect 20-30 years from the moment of infection.

Smoking and alcohol sharply reduce life expectancy; even with therapy, people live one and a half times less. In the absence of any treatment, an infected person will live for about seven years.

Not a single folk remedy can cure a patient with HIV. You cannot refuse conservative therapy and self-medicate. This will lead to the rapid development of the disease and its transition to AIDS.

How is the disease treated?

The main method is antiretroviral therapy, abbreviated as HAART. Doctors prescribe therapy individually, depending on the general condition of the patient and the stage of the disease.

There are four types of antiretroviral drugs:

1. Fusion inhibitors (Fuzeon) are the latest and most advanced type of medicine in existence. It has the fewest side effects. The drug attacks and blocks pathogen cells in the second stage.
2. Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors or NNRTIs (Edurant, Rescriptor). This group is similar to nucleotides. The first drug of this group was registered in 1987. Medicines are allowed to be used even by infected pregnant women, as a preventative measure for medical workers. They are able to block the 4th degree of development of the microorganism.
3. Protease inhibitor (Norvir, Aptivus) - these drugs inhibit the development of the tenth stage of the virus, when they are formed.
4. Nucleo-drugs (Ziogen, Retrovir) - these drugs block the virus at the fourth stage of development, when it is able to transform into DNA.

Doctors prescribe taking several types of drugs at the same time. This helps slow down the spread of the virus early stage.

The microorganism cannot for a long time adjust to medications. If only one type of medication is prescribed, the virus soon develops resistance: it stops accepting the medicine.

In addition to HAART, it is necessary to completely reconsider lifestyle. It is necessary to exclude unprotected sex, because this leads to infection of other people. Sex with a sexual partner is possible only with a condom.

Treatment of complications

Additional diseases are often associated with the virus. Among them: candidiasis, pneumonia, acute respiratory infections, herpes, papillomatosis. These diseases are treated in the early stages.

The therapy differs from the traditional treatment of a healthy person, so the doctor must know about the patient’s HIV-positive status in order to prescribe the necessary medications. Self-medication is contraindicated even for common ARVI.

Emergency therapy

The possibility of becoming infected with HIV is not only for drug addicts or people with promiscuous sex life, but also for medical workers. If the blood or secretions of an infected person gets on the wound or mucous membranes, then emergency measures are taken.

Within 24 hours, a potentially infected person is given a loading dose of chemotherapy drugs. The incident is then reported to the nearest AIDS treatment center. The consultation will decide on further therapy.

Conclusion

The human immunodeficiency virus is fatal; it is transmitted from a sick person to a healthy person through blood, semen, and vaginal secretions.

The disease goes through four stages. When asked whether HIV can be completely cured in its early stages, yes or no, doctors give a firm answer: “No.” All that can be done is to prolong the life of an infected person, improve its quality and minimize the manifestation of complications of the pathology.

Treating HIV is a complex process. The complexity is mainly determined by the short period of determination itself, which was first described in 1981. The disease is fatal. For this reason, serious efforts have been made to develop treatment methods.

By 1986, the first drug, now called zidovudine, was introduced. This medicine is no longer used independently due to addiction. However, it is used as part of the HAART method, which was first published in 1996.

The main task of drugs for the treatment of HIV is to control the reproduction (replication) of the immunodeficiency virus and slow down its development. These complications are actually the cause of death.

Under the condition of lifelong use of HAART drugs, the patient is practically guaranteed a natural life span. Moreover, the HIV treatment system continues to improve. Perhaps a solution to a complete cure will be found.

The basis of treatment for HIV infection is HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy) regimens. Treatment of HIV using HAART regimens involves taking a combination of three to four antiretroviral drugs.

For reference. Treatment of HIV using combination therapy is highly effective and, when prescribed in a timely manner, allows patients to lead a full life.

The effectiveness of therapy depends on the stage of HIV at which therapy was started and the CD4 cell count before treatment. According to recent studies, with CD4 cell levels above 350 cells/mm3 (before HIV treatment), the life expectancy of a patient with HIV can reach up to seventy years.

The goals of treatment for HIV infection are:

• stopping the reproduction (multiplication) of the virus in the body. An indicator of the effectiveness of the therapy is a decrease in the viral load within four weeks - more than tenfold. Within 16-24 weeks, the viral load should decrease to less than 20-50 copies/ml. Antiretroviral therapy should keep the virological load at a minimum level for as long as possible;
• restoration of the patient's immune defense to normal levels. With effective antiretroviral therapy, the viral load is reduced and the number of CD4 lymphocyte cells is restored, due to which the immune response is normalized;
• increasing the duration and quality of life of the patient. With timely treatment for HIV infection, the risk of developing AIDS is minimized. Also, due to a sharp decrease in the viral load, the likelihood of transmission of infection during sexual intercourse and infection of the child during pregnancy is reduced.

HIV dissidents – who are they?

HIV dissidents are a group of people who deny the existence of HIV and believe that antiretroviral therapy is a conspiracy by pharmaceutical companies.
These people pose a particular danger to society.

Such people prohibit treatment of their children (the largest percentage of deaths from HIV are registered in children who did not receive treatment because of the parents of HIV dissidents). They do not take treatment themselves, and, as a rule, do not protect themselves during sexual intercourse, believing that they are healthy (this leads to an increase in the number of HIV cases).

For reference. An example of an HIV dissident is Sofya Myaskovskaya (Oryol HIV dissident). She died from complications of HIV (double pneumonia). She also forbade treatment of her children, two of whom died from complications of HIV at the age of four and one year.

Features of treatment of HIV-infected patients

The main problem in treating patients with HIV infection is the high degree of mutagenicity of the immunodeficiency virus. The virus is able to mutate at lightning speed and remain viable and active even in unfavorable conditions.

For reference. Treatment of HIV with HAART is aimed at rapidly suppressing the viral load and preventing the development of viral drug resistance.

When using monotherapy (only one drug), there is a high risk of rapid development of viral resistance. In this regard, treatment of HIV using combination therapy is significantly more effective than monotherapy.

Previously, zidovudine was most often prescribed to treat HIV, but with such monotherapy, the virus quickly developed resistance. At the moment, to prevent the development of resistance, regimens consisting of three to four antiretroviral drugs simultaneously are most often used. Such combined regimens make it possible not only to quickly and effectively reduce the viral load, but also to destroy mutant forms of HIV that appear during the progression of the disease.

Very important! The patient needs to understand that the effectiveness of HIV treatment directly depends on his conscious approach to treatment. Self-correction of prescribed dosages, skipping a drug dose, or drinking alcohol can lead to the emergence of mutant, untreatable strains of HIV infection.

It is important to note that HIV treatment is paid for from the federal and regional budgets. Most drugs for the treatment of HIV infection are included in the list of vitally important drugs. medicines. Medicines are issued in special infectious diseases departments.

First-line HAART regimens

For first-line therapy, the use of 2 nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors + 1 non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor is indicated.

• preparations of zidovudine + lamivudine + (efavirenz or nevirapine);
• drugs tenofovir + emtricitabine (efavirenz or nevirapine);
• drugs abacavir + lamivudine (efavirenz or nevirapine).

In most cases, efavirenz is preferred among non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor drugs.

A combination of two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor drugs is being considered as the basis for first-line HAART. Emtricitabine in combination regimens acts as a less toxic analogue of lamivudine.

Tenofovir and emtricitabine have also been shown to be slightly more effective than zidovudine and lamivudine when combined with efavirenz.

However, careful evaluation of renal function should be performed before prescribing tenofovir.

Attention. Stavudine drugs are currently excluded from most regimens due to their low safety profile and high incidence of side effects from the therapy.

When prescribing HAART, it is important to consider a number of limitations:

• drugs containing the letter “d” in the English name cannot be combined with each other (didanosine, stavudine);
• zidovudine and stavudine, as well as lamivudine and emtricitabine, do not combine with each other;
• Didanosine and abacavir drugs are not prescribed in the presence of symptoms of polyneuropathy.

According to indications, regimens containing three nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors may be prescribed:

• preparations of zidovudine + lamivudine + abacavir;
• preparations of zidovudine + lamivudine + tenofovir.

Such regimens are indicated for patients with severe liver pathologies, intolerance to NNRTI drugs, mental disorders, and HIV2 infections.

Second row schemes

In second-line regimens, preference is given to a combination of lopinavir and ritonavir; in rare cases, a combination of atazanavir and ritonavir, saquinavir and ritonavir may be used.

Criteria for the effectiveness of HAART

Prevention of HIV development

Prevention of the development of HIV infection includes:

• protected sexual intercourse (using a condom);
• regular screening for sexually transmitted diseases;
• cessation of drug use;
• a conscious approach to one’s own health (a high risk of infection is observed when performing criminal abortions and tattooing in establishments without a license);
• thorough examination of donors;
• examination of pregnant women to exclude infection of the fetus and newborn during breastfeeding.

Literature

1. Maly V.P. HIV. AIDS. The latest medical reference book. - M.: Eksmo, 2009. - P. 224-307. - 672 s. - ISBN 978-5-699-31017-3.
2. Pokrovsky V.V. (editor). HIV infection and AIDS: National guidelines. - M.: GEOTAR-Media, 2013. - 608 p. - ISBN 978-5-9704-2442-1.

Today, HIV is considered a viral disease that primarily affects the immune, that is, protective, system of a healthy person. Ultimately, the virus leads the immune system to a state in which the body cannot resist the destructive influence of microbes and bacteria, which leads to the formation of tumors and the development of infections.

After entering the human body, the virus enters the stage of HIV infection, making the person a carrier of the disease, a kind of incubator. The last stage of HIV development is known to humanity as AIDS. This is a truly dangerous condition, because during such a period the immune system is so weakened that it is not able to resist even the most basic disease. The body is destroyed, which leads to death. The HIV virus is extremely dangerous because it can “hide” in a person’s blood for a long time and cannot be detected even with the help of special tests. The incubation period lasts up to six weeks.

It is important to understand that at this time an unsuspecting carrier of the infection can become its spreader.

There are three main ways the HIV virus is transmitted:

• sexually - this is the most common option, accounting for more than 70% of cases;
• through blood if the blood of an infected person gets on the skin of a healthy person, this leads to irreversible processes, since there are always microcracks and tiny wounds on the skin (piercings and tattoos are especially dangerous in this regard);
• from mother to child.

First signs of infection

In the first weeks of infection, the patient is accompanied by the following symptoms: fungal infections on the mucous membranes and lungs, constant fever, increased temperature, a characteristic rash, the development of Kaposi's sarcoma, enlarged lymph nodes, fatigue, lack of appetite and much more. At the first suspicion of HIV, you must immediately consult a doctor and undergo all relevant examinations.

To prevent the disease, it is important to donate blood and urine for analysis several times a year.

When it comes to treatment, it is necessary to understand that at present, although medicine is progressing in this regard, a cure for HIV has not yet been created. However, this is not a reason to give up, since you can significantly reduce viral cells in the body, thereby maintaining the possibility of normal life. You can help your immune system every day, it’s not at all difficult. Spontaneous folk thinking already offers a large number of options that strengthen and support the human body.

Treatment of HIV infection

Treatment for HIV involves several main stages:

• etiotropic therapy;
• reducing to a minimum the ability of the virus to reproduce;
• strengthening immunity;
• prevention or treatment of diseases that arise against the background of an organism weakened by infection.

Strengthening the immune system

Recipe 1. Banana peel kvass

The first potent drug that has immune-strengthening properties is kvass made using banana peels. The technology for its preparation is simple. You will need the following ingredients:
banana peel;
sour cream;
sugar;
water.
For three liters of water, you need to take three glasses of pre-shredded banana peel, one glass of sugar and a teaspoon of sour cream. The resulting mixture must be left in a warm place for two weeks, after covering the neck of the vessel with gauze. After the expiration of the prescribed period, kvass can be eaten. A new starter is made after the kvass loses its concentrated, rich taste.
Reception: half a glass - four times a day. It is recommended to use banana kvass half an hour before breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Recipe 2. Calendula tincture

The next equally effective remedy involves using calendula. This tincture can be purchased at any pharmacy.

The administration system is as follows: in the morning - two drops before meals, during the day - one drop, in the evening - two drops. Alternate three days of use and one day of abstinence. Take for five months. Calendula has a beneficial effect on the body and increases its resistance to harmful bacteria.

Recipe 3. A mixture of deadwood, propolis and water

This remedy involves a complete abstinence from alcoholic beverages. You will need the following components:
2 teaspoons of dead meat;
1 teaspoon propolis;
0.5 liters of water.
The technology for making the decoction is simple: add dead fish with water and cook over low heat for two hours. After this, the resulting liquid must be filtered and propolis added.
Reception: the product is considered extremely strong, so it is not recommended to be overzealous with its use. One tablespoon per day after meals will be enough.

Recipe 4. Licorice decoction

It is believed that licorice decoction can completely restore the normal composition of the blood and improve the condition of the immune system. Components:
licorice roots;
honey;
boiling water.
Three tablespoons of plant roots should be diluted in four glasses of hot boiled water and the resulting mixture should be boiled for half an hour. After the broth has cooled completely, you can add three tablespoons of honey. It is recommended to eat once a day. Quantity – one glass.

Recipe 5. Vitamin cocktail

This medicine has proven itself to be very pleasant in taste and effective in boosting immunity. We will need:
cowberry;
green apples;
viburnum;
walnuts;
sugar.
In order to prepare the mixture, you need to take half a kilo of lingonberries, the same amount of viburnum, a kilo of apples and two glasses of walnuts (pre-chopped). Syrup is made from two kilograms of sugar: sugar mixed with water is boiled over low heat. The above ingredients must be poured with the resulting syrup, mixed thoroughly and placed in separate jars.
Dosage: one tablespoon per day immediately after waking up.

Recipe 6. Propolis alcohol solution

Make a solution of propolis in half a liter of alcohol. The tincture should stand for at least thirty minutes, and it is important to shake the contents periodically. After this, the vessel with the liquid must be placed in a dark, dry place for several days. Before grinding propolis, you need to keep it in the refrigerator or cellar for some time.
Taking the resulting tincture involves the following technology: the solution is consumed before bedtime, and every other time you need to add one drop of iodine to the contents. After a week's course, iodine supplementation should be done only twice a week.

Treatment procedures for HIV infection

In addition to numerous tinctures and decoctions that can easily be prepared at home, you can fight HIV with the help of pleasant and familiar actions, for example, going to the bathhouse. A steam bath helps strengthen the immune system, which is so important in the fight against infection.

Experts recommend active fasting as an alternative to taking tinctures. It is believed that such a move leads to an increase in the protective properties of the human body, as it activates its resources and directs them to fight the disease. Active fasting involves completely abstaining from food for at least a day. In order to somehow get rid of the haunting feeling of hunger, you are allowed to drink water with the addition of honey and apple cider vinegar.

An important therapeutic complex is the use of natural products to cleanse the human body of the virus. This treatment requires compliance with certain conditions, on which the success of the procedures depends. If all the rules are followed, the concentration of vitamins and microelements in the blood of the infected person will gradually increase, which will significantly increase the protective functions of the body.
First of all, you need to pay attention to your diet. Before starting treatment, it is important to systematize your food intake, create a schedule according to which breakfast, lunch and dinner will take place at approximately the same time every day. After seven o'clock in the evening, eating is strictly prohibited.

It is important to completely eliminate alcoholic beverages and tobacco from your life. Prohibited foods include fatty, heavy, high-calorie, spicy foods, spices, canned food, smoked foods, dough, and sugar.

Every day, before going to bed, you need to chew nine grams of fresh honeycomb. The same should be done after eating.

During the first, fourth and fifth weeks, wet wraps must be done. You need to find a linen cloth, moisten it with warm water and wrap it around the body. After completing this procedure, you need to go to bed and cover yourself well. It is important to keep your whole body warm. You should lie in this state for two hours. After wrapping, you need to take a lukewarm shower. After showering, it is important to warm your body again. You can use winter clothes for this. It is important to understand that all these procedures are done only after the permission of a doctor who is familiar with your medical history.

Folk remedies used as part of treatment at home cannot be considered full-fledged substitutes for those courses that are offered in professional clinics, and therefore they are usually used only as an auxiliary maintenance of the body at the proper level, a way to strengthen the body and rid it of unwanted microbes that may harm humans.

In addition to herbs, doctors often advise patients to pay attention to such remedies as acupuncture, different types massage, yoga practices and even homeopathy. The realization that a full life is possible even in the presence of the HIV virus is a significant help to the body in the fight against the disease. It is important to meet each day with a good mood and a clear plan for the day.

Video - Treatment of HIV with folk remedies

Do you get sick often?

The human immunodeficiency virus is a pathology that destroys the body's natural defenses. Its danger is that it reduces the body's resistance various infections, contributing to the development of serious diseases and their complications.

It is completely impossible to cure the disease, since its structure is constantly changing, which does not allow pharmacists to create substances that can destroy it. Treatment for HIV infection is aimed at strengthening the immune system and blocking the activity of the virus.

The disease has four stages, the last of which, AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), is terminal.

HIV infection has a very long incubation period. After entering the body, the virus does not manifest itself for a long time, but continues to destroy the immune system. A person begins to get sick more severely and for a longer period of time, since the immune system is unable to cope even with “harmless” infections, which give complications, worsening health conditions more and more.

At the terminal stage, the immune system is completely destroyed, which gives impetus to the development of oncological tumors, severe damage to the liver, kidneys, heart, respiratory system, etc. The result is the death of the patient from one of the diseases of these organs.

HIV has four types, of which the first two are diagnosed in 95% of cases of infection, the third and fourth are extremely rare.

The virus is not resistant to exposure environment, antiseptics, alcohol solutions, acetone. It also does not tolerate high temperatures and dies already at 56 degrees within half an hour, and when boiled it is destroyed instantly.

At the same time, its cells remain viable when frozen (they are able to “live” 5-6 days at a temperature of 22 degrees); in solutions of narcotic substances they remain active for about three weeks.

For a long time, HIV was considered a disease of drug addicts, homosexuals and women of easy virtue. Today, among the carriers of the virus there are people with high social status and heterosexual orientation. Neither adults nor children are immune from infection. The main route of transmission is biological body fluids. Pathogenic cells are found in:

• blood;
• lymph;
• sperm;
• cerebrospinal fluid;
• vaginal secretion;
• breast milk.

The risk of infection increases in proportion to the number of pathogenic cells in these fluids, and at least ten thousand viral particles are required to transmit infection.

Methods of infection

The main routes of transmission of the virus are considered to be

• Unprotected sexual intercourse.

According to statistics, infection through this route is diagnosed in 75% of patients, but the risk of transmitting pathogenic cells is the lowest: about 30% of sexual partners become infected during the first vaginal contact, about 50% during anal contact, and less than 5% during oral contact.

The risk of genitourinary pathologies (gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, fungi), trauma and microdamage to the mucous membranes of intimate organs (scratches, ulcers, erosions, anal fissures, etc.), and frequent sexual contact with an infected person increases the risk.

Women are more likely to accept the virus than men, since the area of ​​the vagina and direct contact with pathogenic cells is larger.

• Intravenous injections.

The second most popular way, since more than half of drug addicts suffer from it. The reasons are the use of one syringe or utensils to prepare the solution, as well as unprotected intimate contacts with dubious partners while intoxicated.

• Intrauterine path.

During pregnancy, the risk of the virus entering the placenta does not exceed 25%; natural childbirth and breastfeeding increase it by another 10%.

• Penetrating wounds from non-sterile instruments: infection occurs during surgical operations in dubious clinics, tattooing, manicure procedures, etc.

• Direct blood transfusion, untested organ transplantation.

If the donor is HIV positive, transmission is 100%.

The possibility of infection depends on the strength of the recipient's immunity. If the natural defense is strong, the course of the disease will be weaker, and the incubation period itself will be longer.

Manifestations of pathology

Symptoms of HIV infection are a manifestation of treatable diseases caused by a weakened immune system, which makes diagnosis very difficult, since a person takes only the necessary tests, treats the consequences of the disease, without even knowing about his true status. There are slight differences depending on the stages of infection.

IMPORTANT! There are no symptoms characteristic of the virus: the manifestations of the disease are individual and depend on the general health of the patient and the diseases caused by it.

The first stage is the incubation period. This is the initial stage, developing from the moment pathogenic cells enter the body until one year. In some patients, the first symptoms appear within a couple of weeks, in others - no earlier than several months.

The average incubation period is one and a half to three months. During this period, symptoms are completely absent; even tests do not show the presence of the virus. It is possible to detect a dangerous disease at an early stage only if a person is faced with one of possible ways infection.

The second stage is the stage of primary manifestations. They arise as a reaction of the immune system to the active proliferation of harmful cells. Usually occurs 2-3 months after infection, lasting from two weeks to several months.

It can happen in different ways

• Asymptomatic when the body produces antibodies and there are no signs of infection.
• Spicy.

The stage is typical for 15-30% of patients, the manifestations are similar to those of acute infectious pathologies:

• increase in temperature;
• fever;
• enlarged lymph nodes;
• skin rashes;
• bowel disorders;
• inflammatory processes of the upper respiratory tract;
• increase in the size of the liver and spleen.

In rare cases, the development of autoimmune pathologies is possible.

• Acute with secondary pathologies – typical for most patients.

Weakened immunity allows existing representatives of opportunistic microflora to actively reproduce, which leads to exacerbation or the emergence of infectious diseases. At this stage, it is not difficult to cure them, but soon their relapses become more frequent.

The third stage is a deterioration in the functioning and condition of the lymphatic system. Lasts from two to 15 years, depending on how the immune system copes with viral cells. Enlargement of lymph nodes occurs in groups (except for the inguinal ones) that are not interconnected.

After three months, their size returns to a healthy state, pain on palpation disappears, elasticity and mobility return. Sometimes relapses occur.

The fourth stage is terminal – the development of AIDS. The immune system is practically destroyed, the virus itself multiplies unhindered. All remaining healthy cells are susceptible to destruction, many of them degenerate into malignant ones, and severe infectious pathologies develop.

AIDS also occurs in four stages

• The first occurs after 6-10 years. It is characterized by a decrease in body weight, rashes on the skin and mucous membranes containing purulent contents, fungal and viral infections, and diseases of the upper respiratory tract. It is possible to cope with infectious processes, but therapy is long-term.
• The second develops after another 2-3 years. Weight loss continues, body temperature rises to 38-39 degrees, weakness and drowsiness occur. Frequent diarrhea, lesions of the oral mucosa, fungal and viral lesions of the skin are observed, the manifestations of all previously diagnosed infectious pathologies intensify, and pulmonary tuberculosis develops.

Conventional medications are unable to cope with the disease; only antiretroviral therapy can alleviate the symptoms.

• The third stage occurs 10-12 years after infection. Symptoms: exhaustion, weakness, lack of appetite. Pneumonia develops, viral infections worsen, and healing of their manifestations does not occur. Pathogenic microflora covers all internal and external organs and their systems, diseases are acute and give new complications.

The duration of HIV infection from the moment of infection until the death of the patient varies from person to person. Some die after 2-3 years, others live 20 years or more. Cases have been recorded of people dying from the virus within a few months. A person’s lifespan depends on his general health and the type of virus that has entered the body.

Features of HIV in adults and children

The clinical picture of the disease in representatives of the stronger sex does not differ from the manifestations that develop when the immune system is weakened. Girls suffer the infection more severely, as they begin to experience menstrual irregularities.

Menstruation occurs with severe pain, becomes heavy, and bleeding is observed in the middle of the cycle. A frequent complication of the virus is malignant formations of the reproductive system. Cases of organ inflammation are increasing genitourinary system, they occur more severely and take longer.

In babies and newborns, the disease does not manifest itself for a long time, external signs are missing. The only symptom by which one can suspect the presence of pathology is mental retardation and physical development child.

Diagnosis of the disease

It is difficult to detect HIV at an early stage, since the symptoms are absent or similar to the manifestations of treatable pathologies: inflammatory processes, allergies, infectious diseases. The disease can be detected by chance, during a routine medical examination, admission to a hospital, or registration during pregnancy.

The main diagnostic method is a special test, which can be done both in the clinic and at home.

There are a lot of diagnostic methods. Every year, scientists develop new tests and improve old ones, reducing the number of false positive and false negative results.

The main material for research is human blood, but there are tests that can make a preliminary diagnosis by examining saliva or urine using scrapings from the surface of the oral cavity. They have not yet found widespread use, but are used for home preliminary diagnostics.

HIV testing in adults is carried out in three stages:

• screening test - gives a preliminary result, helps to identify people who have been infected;
• reference – carried out to persons whose screening results are positive;
• confirming – establishes the final diagnosis and duration of presence of the virus in the body.

This phased examination is associated with the high cost of research: each subsequent analysis is more complex and expensive, so it is not economically feasible to carry out a full complex for all citizens. During the study, antigens are identified - cells or particles of the virus, antibodies - leukocytes produced by the immune system to pathogenic cells.

The presence of harmful cells can be determined only after achieving seroconversion - a state when the number of antibodies is sufficient for their detection by test systems. From the moment of infection until the onset of seroconversion, a “window period” occurs: during this time, transmission of the virus is already possible, but no test can detect it. This period lasts from six to twelve weeks.

If the diagnostic results are positive, you should contact your doctor to prescribe antiretroviral therapy. Which doctor treats HIV infection? An infectious disease specialist who is usually present at the central clinic of a city or regional center.

Treatment of human immunodeficiency virus

Once the virus enters the body, it remains there forever. Although research into the infection has been going on for decades, scientists have not been able to invent drugs that can destroy pathogenic cells. Therefore, almost 100 years after the discovery of the virus, the answer to the question of whether HIV infection can be treated remains a sad “No.”

But medicine is constantly inventing drugs that can slow down the activity of HIV, reduce the risks of developing pathologies, help cope with them faster and prolong the life of the infected person, making it full. Treatment of HIV infection involves taking antiretroviral therapy drugs, prevention and treatment of concomitant inflammatory processes.

IMPORTANT! Therapy is taking medications, but it is impossible to cure immunodeficiency using traditional medicine. Refusal of pharmaceutical products in favor of unconventional recipes is a direct path to the development of AIDS and the death of the patient.

The effectiveness of treatment depends on many factors, but the most important condition for therapy is the patient’s responsible attitude towards the prescribed treatment. In order for it to produce results, medications should be taken at a strictly defined time, their dosage should be observed, and interruptions in treatment should not be allowed. Diet and healthy lifestyle are also recommended.

If these recommendations are followed, the number of protective cells increases dramatically, the virus is blocked, and even highly sensitive tests often cannot detect it. Otherwise, the disease continues to progress and leads to dysfunction of vital organs: heart, liver, lungs, endocrine system.

For HIV infection, the most effective treatment is antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Its main task is to prevent the development of complications and concomitant pathologies that can shorten the patient’s life. HAART also helps improve the patient’s quality of life and make it full. If therapy is carried out correctly, the virus goes into remission and secondary pathologies do not develop. Such treatment also has a positive effect on the psychological state of the infected person: feeling supported and knowing that the disease can be “slowed down,” he returns to his usual way of life.

In our country, all antiretroviral drugs are provided to a person free of charge after he receives the status of an HIV-positive patient.

Features of antiretroviral therapy

HAART is prescribed on an individual basis, and the tablets included in it depend on the stage of development of the infection. At the initial stage, specialized treatment is not prescribed; it is recommended to take vitamins and special mineral complexes that help strengthen the body’s natural defenses.

Chemotherapy is indicated as a preventive method, but only for those persons who have been in contact with an HIV-positive person or a potential carrier of the virus. Such prevention is effective only in the first 72 hours after possible infection.

In the second and subsequent stages, therapy is prescribed based on the results of clinical tests that determine the state of immunity. The terminal stage, that is, the presence of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, requires mandatory medication. In pediatrics, HAART is always prescribed, regardless of the clinical stage of the child’s disease.

This approach to treatment is determined by the standards of the Ministry of Health. But new research shows that early initiation of antiretroviral therapy produces better treatment results and a more positive effect on the patient's condition and life expectancy.

HAART includes several types of drugs that are combined with each other. Since the virus gradually loses sensitivity to the active substances, the combinations are changed from time to time, which makes it possible to increase the effectiveness of treatment.

Several years ago, scientists introduced a synthetic drug called Quad, which included the main properties of prescribed drugs. The huge advantage of the medicine is taking only one tablet per day, which greatly facilitates the treatment. This remedy has virtually no side effects, is easier to tolerate by the body, and solves the problem of loss of sensitivity to active components.

Many patients are interested in whether it is possible to block the activity of the virus using traditional methods and how to treat HIV infection at home? It should be remembered that such treatment is possible, but only if it is auxiliary and agreed with the treating doctor.

Folk recipes are shown to strengthen the body's defenses. This can include decoctions and infusions of medicinal herbs, the use of gifts of nature rich in vitamins, minerals and beneficial microelements.

Preventive measures

The immunodeficiency virus is a disease that can be prevented, but it cannot be cured. Today, developed countries have developed special programs aimed at preventing HIV and AIDS, which are monitored at the state level. Every person should know the basics of preventive measures, since there is no guarantee that infection will not occur.

You can avoid serious pathology if you treat your own intimate life responsibly. You should avoid sexual contact with questionable people, and always use condoms when having sex with a new sexual partner about whose condition there is no reliable information.

It is important that the sex partner is one and permanent, and has medical reports confirming the absence of HIV.

IMPORTANT! One of the popular myths is that a condom is unable to protect against the virus, since the latex pores are larger than the virus cells. This is wrong. Today, barrier contraception is the only way to prevent infection during sexual intercourse.

If a person suffers from drug addiction and injects drugs, he should always use disposable medical instruments, give injections with sterile gloves, and have individual containers for preparing a narcotic solution. To avoid becoming a victim of direct transmission of the virus through the blood, you should refuse blood transfusions.

To carry out procedures where there is access to blood, choose trusted establishments, ensure that their employees carry out all manipulations with gloves, and that instruments are disinfected in the presence of the client.

If HIV is present in a woman who is preparing to become a mother, the baby’s condition is monitored throughout the entire pregnancy. Caesarean section and refusal to breastfeeding. It will be possible to determine the baby’s HIV status no earlier than six months later, when the mother’s antibodies to the virus leave the baby’s body.

Methods of artificial insemination can prevent the occurrence of severe infection in a child.

The expectant HIV-positive mother should eliminate all factors that reduce the baby’s immunity: stop smoking, stop drinking alcohol, take more vitamins, cure all infectious and inflammatory diseases, carry out therapy for chronic ailments to prevent their recurrence during pregnancy.

Currently, society knows several thousand diseases, but HIV infection can easily be considered one of the most dangerous.

In the 21st century, this disease has become a real plague, a kind of invasion that is quite difficult to fight.

Unfortunately, this scourge affects not only adults, but also very young children, pregnant women, young people and even the elderly.

We can conclude that all people are equal before HIV and absolutely everyone can become infected with it. Therefore, any person suffering from this virus asks a fair question: is it possible to treat HIV? folk remedies?

HIV infection. What is this?

HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. In this disease, all cells of the immune system are affected. If the immune system gradually begins to weaken, then the virus slowly but surely moves into the stage of a much worse disease - AIDS.

A sick body is unable to fight viruses and infections because it has lost its protective functions. It is safe to say that a disease of this kind requires timely medical intervention.

Procedures specially designed for this and disease prevention must support the entire body, since the body cannot independently protect itself from the occurrence of tumors and other equally dangerous diseases.

Penetrating into a person’s blood, the virus can “hide” for a long time, without making itself felt, since it remains in the incubation period from 2-3 months to a couple of years.

At the end of this time, the virus begins a period of active reproduction, gradually infecting and destroying all immune cells of the human body.

If the virus is not detected at an early stage, then its destructive effect directly leads to an already fatal disease - AIDS.

Information about HIV infection first became known to the public around 1981. Then the world saw 3 articles in the newspaper, which described in detail the rather strange symptoms of the disease.

Experts could observe such a phenomenon for the first time, since before this time, diseases associated with the immune system had never been encountered before. After this article, symptoms of the disease were discovered in drug addicts and people suffering from hemophilia.

Many people suffering from HIV sincerely believe that this disease can be overcome with the help of medicinal plants . Unfortunately, this is a very dangerous misconception.

Why? The fact is that full treatment should be carried out exclusively under the strict supervision of doctors. In addition, the patient is required to regularly take prescribed medicines for a long time.

But nevertheless, it will be very useful to supplement such treatment with plants that cleanse the body and strengthen the immune system. You just have to discuss this issue with your attending physician.

Many people are deeply mistaken in thinking that HIV infection will inevitably lead to fatal outcome .

According to experts, if the patient follows all precautions and uses medications prescribed by doctors for prevention, it is quite possible to avoid death.

Infected people can live to old age and even give birth to offspring, although it is not at all recommended for them to do this.

Like any infection or virus, HIV has its own routes of infection. So, it is transmitted through:

Common Misconceptions

The good news is that the immunodeficiency virus does not enter the body of a healthy person through airborne droplets. Believing this misconception, many people are wary of any contact or even conversations with people infected with HIV.

However, we can safely say that the virus does not have the ability to be transmitted from a sick person to a healthy person by breathing.

In addition, the virus cannot be transmitted through the use of shared objects. Therefore, you can immediately eliminate the risk of infection through this route.

Some people erroneously claim that the virus is carried into healthy bodies by various insects, such as mosquitoes. However, the truth is that insect bites do not pose any threat of HIV infection.

Currently, it is possible to improve health and even slow down the progression of a deadly disease, AIDS, not only with medications, but also with proven folk remedies.

However, I would like to immediately note that absolutely any alternative treatment for HIV cannot be compared with antiretroviral therapy, which means it can only be used in combination with medications and with the permission of a specialist.

In order to find out exactly what and how to treat HIV infection at home, it will not be enough to simply find recipes and try them on yourself through trial and error. Let us remind you that treatment with folk remedies should be carried out strictly under the supervision of a doctor.

What are the benefits of using certain medicinal herbs for HIV infection? Healing plants can have a noticeable positive effect on the general condition of the entire immune system.

Regular use of proven traditional methods will help not only strengthen the immune system, but also suppress the viability of the merciless virus, which is task number one for people suffering from immunodeficiency.

Below are some of the most effective, but at the same time simple ones. folk recipes with HIV infection.

You can prepare a powerful remedy to strengthen the functioning of the immune system - this is banana kvass, prepared on the peel.

To prepare it, wash and dry thoroughly with a napkin about three cups of finely chopped ripe banana skins. After that, transfer them to a large 3-liter jar. Add 1 glass of sugar and one teaspoon of natural sour cream to them. Mix the resulting mixture thoroughly.

Then fill the banana peel jar completely with warm clean water up to your shoulders. Cover the neck of the jar with gauze and tie it tightly. Place this composition in a warm place, perhaps near a battery.

Kvass preparation time - 2 weeks. At the end of this period, pour out one liter for the next preparation, and you can safely drink the rest.

Herbal treatment for HIV is also widely used. St. John's wort decoction has proven itself to be one of the most effective decoctions for HIV infection, since this plant can suppress the symptoms of immunodeficiency.

To prepare it you will need 100 g of carefully crushed dry St. John's wort, 50 g of sea buckthorn oil and 1 liter of clean water. First you need to bring water to a boil, add St. John's wort herb and simmer over low heat for an hour.

Then you should strain the broth, add sea buckthorn oil and stir everything well. The resulting mixture should be infused for several days. The decoction should be consumed 4 times a day, with a dosage of half a glass.

As strange as it may sound, the most common green tea, which many people drink every day, helps prevent the development of AIDS.

This is explained by the fact that it contains cahetins, a substance that helps inhibit the replication of the virus. It is enough to consume 1-2 cups of this pleasant drink per day in order to significantly slow down the progression of this disease.

Traditional medicine in the treatment of HIV infection (AIDS) cannot give 100% results, however, in combination with properly selected antiviral therapy, it can significantly prolong the patient’s life and make it much better.

Nowadays, hydrogen peroxide has become one of the most common alternative methods for treating various diseases. However, you need to remember that this remedy is not a panacea for all diseases, so it must be taken in the correct doses and only on the recommendation of a doctor.

Some believe that peroxide completely kills HIV and try to overcome it with the help of this liquid. However, this is a cruel misconception. After all, everything is based on the fact that our modern medicine has still not found effective way for the treatment of such a serious disease.

Interestingly, studies were specifically conducted in the United States to learn more about the results of treating HIV with hydrogen peroxide.

As a result of such tests, they came to the conclusion that HIV-infected people experienced noticeable relief after the procedures with peroxide and the disease slowly receded. Therefore, we can conclude that reviews of the treatment of HIV infection with hydrogen peroxide are very mixed.

Treatment with hydrogen peroxide was actively promoted by Professor Neumyvakin I.P.. Neumyvakin did not use any special methods in HIV therapy. He came up with three simple ways to use the medicine and distributed them generously.

These are oral, external and intravenous infusion. The last method is considered the most dangerous of all. It is not recommended to use this method on your own at home, since it will require both medical knowledge and special tools.

ARVI begins in exactly the same way as in other people not infected with HIV infection. At first, simple nasal congestion, barely noticeable malaise, a slight sore throat and other similar signs of illness should be a cause for concern.

How dangerous is ARVI with HIV? A common cold that develops against the background of immunodeficiency can contribute to the development of tracheitis, bronchitis, and pneumonia.

With this disease, it is necessary to ensure sufficient fluid intake into the body, especially if signs of hyperthermia are observed.

ARVI is quite common among AIDS patients. It manifests itself with its usual symptoms, but appears due to severely reduced immunity.

How dangerous is tuberculosis for people with HIV?

An HIV-infected person suffers from a weak immune system, which means the tuberculosis bacillus can easily penetrate inside the body.

An infected person can very quickly become infected with any form of tuberculosis if he is in the same room as someone who has this disease.

Treatment of tuberculosis for HIV infection is quite long, which requires adherence to a strict regimen established by the attending physician. Therefore, we can conclude that people with AIDS and HIV may be at risk.

Within a year, up to 10% of infected people become infected with tuberculosis in the absence of therapy. If tuberculosis is treated in a timely manner, tuberculin bacilli cease to be released, so the infected person is no longer contagious and is absolutely safe for others.

Toxoplasmosis is an infection that is the main cause of damage to the central nervous system in people with AIDS.

With HIV infection, the following symptoms of toxoplasmosis can be observed:

• persistent headache;
• fever;
• confusion;
• severe weakness;
• possible paralysis of one side of the body;
• speech disorders;
• loss of sensation in the limbs;
• loss of vision.

At sexual contact With an HIV-infected person, the only way to prevent possible infection is to use a condom.

The risk of contracting an infection is present in the following cases:

• for any type of sexual contact;
• when vaginal discharge or sperm gets into the oral cavity, mucous membranes, or damaged, injured skin (cuts, wounds).

The only method of preventing HIV infection in people addicted to drugs is treatment for such addiction and the use of individual syringes and needles.

For HIV-infected parents, the best way to prevent HIV in an unborn child is the regular use of antiviral drugs during pregnancy, or complete abstinence from natural breastfeeding after the birth of the baby.

During medical procedures, the main method of prevention remains the use of disposable instruments for injections. When it comes to blood donation, only careful testing of this blood can reduce the risk of infection.

Since doctors have not yet come up with a vaccine against HIV infection, it is imperative to carry out timely prevention of this terrible disease.

AIDS is not an independent disease. This is acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, which is caused by HIV. It manifests itself in various diseases that can lead to death. The causative agent of AIDS infects leukocytes, which provokes a decrease in the protective forces of the immune system. The body can no longer fully protect itself from infections and bacteria. Even the smallest virus, which a healthy person’s immune system can quickly and easily get rid of, can cause death in people with AIDS. According to recent studies, in Russia the number of people infected with the immunodeficiency virus has reached 1 million 6 thousand 388 patients.

Some scientists claim that HIV was transmitted to humans from monkeys in the 30s of the 20th century. However, doctors started talking about it only in the 1980s. Since then, scientists have begun searching effective treatment from AIDS. The pathogen, once in the body, may not immediately cause the appearance of the syndrome. It happens that people get sick ten or more years after infection. The routes of transmission of the pathogen are as follows:

• sexual contact with an infected person;
• during blood or plasma transfusion;
• instrumental and injection;
• perinatal from mother to child;
• transplantation for organ and bone marrow transplantation.

The virus can also be transmitted through casual contact, for example, through damaged skin or mucous membranes. An infected mother can infect her baby through breastfeeding. However, it is worth remembering that the virus is not transmitted through tears, saliva, food or water. Only liquids containing blood impurities can be dangerous.

Most often, infection occurs through sexual contact with a sick person. In men, the immunodeficiency virus is contained in the blood and semen. In women, the pathogen is also present in vaginal discharge. The virus can be transmitted through all types of sexual contact.

A large percentage of those infected are people with drug addiction. They also become infected when using poorly sterilized syringes. Drug addicts often use the same needle to inject substances into several people, so their risk of contracting AIDS is especially high.

Which doctor will help?

The disease is considered fatal, so a person with such a diagnosis must register and undergo qualified treatment in an appropriate institution. The following specialists can help such people:

These specialists know how to treat AIDS and how to prolong the life of a patient with such a diagnosis. At the first appointment, the doctor will carefully listen to all the patient’s complaints. The doctor will also ask you to tell about the details of his personal life, the number of his sexual partners. After the mandatory examination, the specialist will ask him a few simple clarifying questions:

1. How long ago did signs of the disease appear?
2. Has the patient ever had casual unprotected sexual intercourse?
3. Did he take drugs?
4. Was he given a blood transfusion?
5. Has he been in contact with someone infected with HIV?
6. Did he have any organ transplants?

The survey helps the doctor determine how the patient might have become infected. The diagnosis can be confirmed by examination, which includes blood, urine, and stool tests. Sometimes doctors may also prescribe instrumental research methods, for example, if complications are suspected.

AIDS treatment is already a reality!

Today, people with immunodeficiency syndrome are provided with qualified assistance and support. However, everyone is concerned about the question of whether AIDS is completely curable. To date, a vaccine that would completely kill the virus and defeat the syndrome has not yet been found. But modern medications allow:

• significantly prolong the life of a patient with such a disappointing diagnosis;
• slow down the development of the disease;
• create artificial immunity.

Therefore, it is very important to seek qualified help in a timely manner. Scientists have developed several effective treatment regimens, thanks to which people with HIV and AIDS can lead full and active lives. Antiretroviral drugs used for treatment are constantly being improved and supplemented. Therefore, today it is generally accepted that a person who regularly undergoes treatment can live several decades or more.

Treatment for AIDS is aimed at fighting infections and cancer that arise due to the patient's suppressed immune system. However, it is not able to remove the virus itself from the body. The pathogen inserts its genes into the immune system, causing cells to create copies of themselves.

How to treat in hospice

Today special medical institutions, which treat people with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. These are hospices in which qualified specialists provide care to patients with any stage of illness. Such institutions are created especially for people who need hospitalization and special care.

Some people are interested in how AIDS is treated in hospices. In such institutions, comprehensive care is provided to patients. In hospices, patients can receive completely free of charge:

• consultations with highly qualified immunologists;
• psychological assistance;
• chemoprophylaxis;
• antiretroviral therapy;
• surgical assistance.

In such facilities, one nurse cares for five patients, unlike other hospitals where she must care for about 25 patients. Hospices are provided with all the necessary drugs that help prolong the lives of people with AIDS. The institutions treat both people who have just been diagnosed with HIV and hopeless patients in very serious condition. The latter are provided with 24-hour care.

Modern medicine has made great progress in diagnosing and treating many serious illnesses. But there are still diseases that cause a lot of fears and doubts. Among these is HIV - this infection has already claimed and continues to claim the lives of many people. Because of this, the immunodeficiency virus has become known as a modern plague, and many people wonder whether HIV can be cured. Diagnosing the disease at the initial stage allows you to take the necessary measures in time and supplement the treatment prescribed by the doctor with folk remedies.

How can you become infected and how does it manifest itself?

When HIV enters the body, it may not make itself felt for a long time, but in the meantime, infection of cells occurs at incredible speed. The virus “attacks” the immune system, suppressing the work of cells responsible for detecting any infection that has entered the body. With HIV, the body becomes unable to resist pathogenic bacteria, which leads to various ailments. Anyone who carries HIV becomes susceptible not only to the most dangerous microorganisms, but even to those with which a healthy person can easily “get along.”

The final stage of HIV infection is AIDS. And when asked whether AIDS can be cured, any doctor will answer that the patient has no chance of recovery. AIDS today cannot be treated - a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome dies due to the fact that the immune system affected by the virus cannot withstand the emerging diseases.

You can become infected with HIV through sexual contact, during a blood transfusion, from giving an injection or using unsterile medical instruments, and the virus can also be transmitted from mother to unborn child. HIV is not so easy to detect, but early detection of the disease requires testing, which is especially important for people who are at risk. HIV can also be detected by the following symptoms, which are more indicative of the duration of the disease:

• increased sweating during sleep;
• swollen lymph nodes;
• increased body temperature;
• feeling of constant fatigue;
• weight loss for no particular reason;
• feeling of pain;
• the appearance of dark red spots on the skin.

Until now, representatives modern medicine It was not possible to find a miracle cure to destroy the terrible virus. HIV therapy is based on its temporary suppression, which can significantly prolong the patient’s life. And treatment of HIV with folk remedies at home is aimed at increasing immunity. An adequate immune response helps control viral replication.

Herbal treatment

HIV can be treated at home with decoctions and tinctures of medicinal plants:

Treatment with bee products

Healing the disease with the help of propolis and honey consists of gradually destroying HIV, purifying the blood and saturating it with essential microelements. All these measures are aimed at increasing the protective functions of the body. But before starting such therapy, it is important to balance your diet and eliminate bad habits. You need to eat at a strictly defined time, the interval between meals should not exceed 4 hours, food must be chewed with special care and it is forbidden to eat food after 19 hours. The diet must include vegetables, fruits, rye bread, seafood, milk and cottage cheese. It is better to replace sugar with honey.

An effective remedy in treating the disease is an alcohol solution of propolis. Place 100 g of crushed propolis in a glass container and pour 0.5 liters of 96% alcohol. Shake the mixture for 30 minutes, and then put it in a dark place for 5 days, also shaking it periodically. Then strain the tincture through cheesecloth and take 1.5 hours before meals and before bedtime, 15-20 drops dissolved in 0.5 glass of warm water.

Children and patients for whom alcohol tincture is contraindicated can use aqueous extract of propolis. Pour 100 g of crushed propolis into 100 ml of distilled water, simmer in a water bath for a couple of hours and strain. Take 1 tsp. extract.

You can prepare the following healing mixture: put 50 ml of sea buckthorn or corn oil and 50 ml of alcohol tincture of propolis into a 0.5 liter jar and, stirring, fill the container to the top with honey. Mix everything well. Take 1 tsp. 1 hour before meals and before bedtime.

You can take 0.5 cups of warm water with 4 tsp after meals and before bedtime. apple cider vinegar and 1 tsp. honey For 7 days, every day add 1 drop of iodine to the mixture. Starting next week, add iodine twice a week. After eating and before going to bed, chew a small amount of honeycomb. In the first, fourth and fifth weeks of such therapy, it is necessary to wrap the body with damp linen cloth, and then go to bed and cover yourself warmly. So you need to lie down for an hour, then take a cool shower, and then dress warmly. In the second and third weeks of therapy, perform these steps twice. During treatment, it is very useful to consume honey - you need to eat at least 150 g of it per day. But this useful natural product can only be used by those people who do not have individual intolerance.

How to warn?

It is too difficult to cure a disease; it is much easier to prevent its occurrence. To do this, it is necessary to adhere to a number of preventive measures:

• maintain personal hygiene;
• have a permanent sexual partner;
• exclude intimate relationships with people who may be carriers of HIV (this could be drug addicts, girls of easy virtue);
• require in clinics that medical staff use well-treated instruments and new gloves when examining each patient.

All these methods will help prevent such a terrible virus from entering the body, which disrupts the functioning of the immune system and causes AIDS. But if HIV was detected based on the test results, then special attention should be paid to concomitant diseases that can lead to serious consequences. HIV treatment must be carried out continuously, complementing therapy with a correct lifestyle, balanced diet, physical exercise and prevention of stressful situations.

Despite advances in the study of infectious diseases, HIV treatment does not yet completely eliminate immunodeficiency, so for most patients such a diagnosis sounds like a death sentence. But it is important to note that for HIV, treatment with modern antiretroviral drugs allows you to delay severe complications and AIDS. If you follow the prescribed regimen and give up bad habits, it provides a person with a long and fulfilling life.

The only effective treatment for HIV is highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), aimed at suppressing the activity of the HIV pathogen and slowing down the transition to the terminal stage.

There are three main goals in HIV therapy:

• virological – eliminate the reproduction of the infectious agent;
• immunological – to resume the functioning of the immune system;
• clinical – to improve the patient’s quality of life and condition.

HIV treatment should begin as soon as possible after diagnosis - effectiveness depends on this. After all, the sooner you start acting on the virus, the less time it will have time to harm the immune system.

When immunodeficiency is detected in late stages, especially with AIDS, antiretroviral therapy has virtually no effect on the course of the disease. Life expectancy is reduced to 10-12 months. And according to a study by American scientists, with timely treatment and when the disease is detected at an early stage, a patient with HIV can easily live up to 70 years. The only important condition is lifelong medication use.

During treatment, medical supervision and laboratory diagnostics are important - the retrovirus is able to adapt to unfavorable conditions caused by treatment. The medications used cease to act on the infectious agent, which is immediately reflected in blood tests (antibody titer). The HIV clinic begins to progress, then it is necessary to change treatment tactics and combine medications.

Currently, so-called tritherapy is used - a combination of three (less often four) drugs, each of which acts on a certain stage of pathogen reproduction. Such a scheme makes it possible to suppress not only the existing type of retrovirus in the patient’s body, but also mutated forms that arise in the process of its adaptation to the action of the drug. If HIV is detected at an early stage, when the CD4 lymphocyte titer is above 350 cells, immunodeficiency is treated as with a lower level of T cells, but with the help of two drugs from different pharmacological groups.

How to treat HIV in women and HIV in men largely depends on concomitant pathologies, because in addition to HAART, drugs are needed that are determined by the etiology of secondary diseases. Women are more likely to experience inflammatory processes in the reproductive organs, cycle disorders, and fungal infections. internal organs. There is also a more pronounced manifestation of HIV with a clear clinical picture. Men experience a rash, diarrhea, swollen lymph nodes throughout the body, and joint pain. Thus, HAART is the same for any gender and age; differences in treatment are determined by the presence of concomitant diagnoses.

Is it possible to cure HIV infection?

According to statistics for 2017, there is not a single patient who has been able to completely cure HIV. It is impossible to destroy the virus; it is only possible to suppress its activity and reproduction, and as long as the pathogen is present, a complete cure for HIV is impossible. This is why HIV is treated throughout life - if you stop taking prescribed medications, the virus becomes active and the immunodeficiency begins to progress. The immune system, adapted to an inactive virus, does not have time to restrain its reproduction; the production of antibodies occurs very slowly, the virus multiplies quickly and leads to irreversible consequences.

Modern drugs for the treatment of HIV and AIDS

Treatment of HIV using modern antiretroviral therapy is based on inhibition of viral replication (reproduction of copies of maternal DNA of the virus) inside T cells at different stages. Depending on the process being suppressed, the following groups of drugs are distinguished:

• suppress reverse transcriptase, the enzyme that is responsible for the creation of HIV DNA based on the RNA of the virus (Zidovudine, Stavudine, Phosphazide, Abacavir);
• block protease, an enzyme that breaks down complex molecules into proteins necessary for DNA synthesis (Ritonavir, Amprenavir, Saquinavir);
• inhibit integrase, an enzyme that integrates viral DNA into the target cell of the human body (Raltegravir, Dolutegravir);
• affect the receptors of the target cell, as a result of which they do not allow the virus to pass through the cell membrane (Maraviroc);
• block the process of virus penetration into the target cell (Enfuvirtide).

All antiretroviral drugs have side effects, which complicate treatment for HIV infection, especially in the presence of concomitant diseases:

• liver cirrhosis, pancreatitis, renal failure, gastrointestinal disorders;
• allergic reactions with a malignant course;
• metabolic disorders;
• suppression of bone marrow and hematopoiesis;
• polyneuropathy;
• toxic effect on the nervous system.

Many side effects can cause life-threatening conditions for the patient, so medical supervision and dynamic monitoring are necessary during therapy.

Restoring the immune system during treatment

Antiviral therapy for HIV infection helps control immunodeficiency. But almost 20% of patients experience a side condition such as inflammatory immune reconstitution syndrome (IRS). The essence of this syndrome is that when the immune system is restored, it becomes able to respond to some infectious disease, the pathogen of which was in the body. For example, a patient was infected with cytomegalovirus before active therapy, but his immunity due to HIV was so weak that there was no response to the invasion of the pathogen. After the start of HAART, the level of lymphocytes and macrophages increased, they began to actively fight cytomegalovirus, the patient immediately began clinical manifestations and deterioration of the condition. According to the same scheme, in the first few months from the start of treatment, any infectious disease may worsen or reappear. This effect on the body significantly complicates antiretroviral therapy. An HIV patient may even refuse further treatment, because before the start of therapy he felt much better, despite his immunodeficiency.

There are enough options for infectious diseases with IVIV, but the most common are mycobacterial, cytomegalovirus, cryptococcal, pneumocystis and herpetic infections.

IVIV is treated symptomatically, depending on the infection that occurs. It is not recommended to interrupt antiretroviral therapy in this case, since the patient’s condition usually stabilizes after 2-3 months. And if you interrupt therapy and then start again, then VSIV will arise with renewed vigor.

In general, despite the negative aspects of this syndrome, in general it is good sign! If the immune system begins to work and respond to external stimuli, then the treatment is effective and the immunodeficiency can be treated.

Victory over HIV is possible only if the patient is disciplined and follows all medical instructions. If the patient is a drug addict and does not give up the addiction, then treatment for HIV infection will not bring any results. In addition to treatment, diet, adequate physical activity, vitamin therapy, giving up bad habits, and avoiding contact with infectious patients are necessary.