Before you methodically begin to list the signs of HIV infection that can occur in women, you need to familiarize yourself with the state of the HIV and AIDS problem in our country. You will not hear the information below on state television channels. They prefer to keep silent about it in schools, but you need to know: we live in an HIV epidemic. Of course, its transmission routes are not as simple as those of plague or cholera, and therefore the “plague of the 20th century,” as it was called in the last millennium, is moving across our country with slow but confident steps:
- In 2020, the virus stopped circulating among reservoirs (drug addicts, homosexuals), and “broke out into the operational space.” Now you can get HIV from an ordinary person who does not belong to risk groups. This means that HIV has entered the general population, and the incidence is steadily increasing;
- Last year, 2020, more than 30 thousand people died from HIV, and registered cases were 1 million 114 thousand;
- Only 32% of patients were treated, which does not prevent the spread of infection (due to lower healthcare costs);
- In 2020, over 100,000 people were infected (this is 5.3% more than in 2020);
- The disease “in large numbers” affects cities and economically developed centers;
- The prevalence of HIV infection as of December 31, 2016 is 594.3 cases per 100 thousand of the country’s population. This means that more than 0.5% of all living people (including the elderly and infants) have HIV. In other words, every two hundred people passing by is HIV-infected;
The infection is detected for the first time most often at the age of 30–40 years (46% of cases). The data presented cannot but cause alarm and require urgent intervention from both the state and private non-profit foundations. We did not mention here the cases of HIV infection in places of detention, the sharp increase in mixed infections: HIV + tuberculosis and chronic viral hepatitis.
Now you know how things stand with this disease in our country. What kind of infection is this, and what causes it?
The main symptoms of HIV in women
Infection with the virus occurs unnoticed by the body; no changes are observed for several weeks. The first signs in girls appear after 2-10 weeks. The symptoms resemble a common cold: the temperature rises (up to 39-40 degrees), the throat hurts, and a dry cough begins. Gradually, the clinical picture is complemented by other signs of disturbances in the body.
All people infected with HIV experience:
- weight loss;
- constant weakness;
- problems with coordination;
- constant exacerbations of herpes;
- increased sweating;
- skin rash;
- pain in joints and muscles;
- indigestion;
- problems with stool;
- enlarged spleen and liver;
- swelling in the area of the lymph nodes.
In the presence of chronic diseases, their exacerbation occurs. Treatment practically does not help, periods of remission become shorter and shorter or disappear completely. Imaginary colds are accompanied by pathologies that develop in the mouth - stomatitis, gingivitis, periodontitis.
Dysfunctions in the endocrine system are noticeable, the female body experiences constant hormonal disruptions. Because of this, the menstrual cycle is disrupted: periods become irregular, discharge may be scanty or too abundant, PMS worsens, and uterine pain intensifies.
When the body recognizes the virus, the production of interlekin, a biological substance that sends a signal to the brain, begins. Heat transfer is reduced and energy production is increased. This leads to a periodic increase in temperature, which is repeated randomly.
Lymph nodes enlarge due to the triggering of the production of antibodies against the virus. Over time, internal symptoms are joined by external manifestations: compactions, minor hemorrhages, red spots on the body. This occurs because the virus cells damage macrophages and T lymphocytes in the skin. Local immunity also decreases, and the susceptibility of pathogens increases.
Asymptomatic period
Once the first acute phase is over, the initial symptoms will completely disappear.
During this seemingly dormant stage, the virus actually replicates within the body. Although the patient does not experience pain, the virus continues to actively weaken the immune system. This deceptive nature of HIV is a key reason why regular testing is mandatory. It usually takes 10 to 15 years (and sometimes more) for HIV infection to progress to the AIDS stage.
AIDS
At the last stage of infection, the immune system is severely damaged, and a person goes from being infected with HIV to having AIDS.
When a person is infected with HIV, his body's defense mechanisms begin to gradually weaken. At the end stage of HIV infection, an individual is susceptible to “opportunistic infections”—viral, bacterial and fungal infections that are usually unable to penetrate a healthy body.
Symptoms at this stage vary greatly as they are usually associated with various opportunistic infections. Some of the most common symptoms include:
- spots under the skin or in the mouth and nose
- blurred vision
- diarrhea that lasts more than 1 week
- swollen lymph glands
- constant fatigue
- a fever that keeps coming back
- memory loss
- depression
- pneumonia
- weight loss
- oral, anal or genital sores
Diseases that typically develop during this stage include tuberculosis (TB), fungal respiratory infections, lymphoma, hepatitis, and some types of cancer.
Common diseases in HIV-infected women
With HIV infection, women are more likely to encounter various diseases of the reproductive system and pelvic organs.
Thrush is most common in HIV-infected women
The most common pathology is chronic thrush.
Bacterial vaginosis
Gardnerellosis (bacterial vaginosis) is a non-inflammatory disease that is not sexually transmitted. The causes are a pathological disturbance of the natural microflora of the vagina. Under normal conditions, the genital tract retains an acidic environment, which prevents the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms.
Important!
With HIV, the death of lactobacilli, which are necessary to maintain an acidic environment, occurs. Bacterial agents begin to actively reproduce, and a nonspecific microflora is formed.
The disease manifests itself with the following symptoms:
- pain during sex;
- pain when urinating;
- unpleasant discharge;
- itching;
- burning;
- dryness of the vaginal mucous membranes.
A smear test can detect vaginosis. Treatment includes sanitization of the vagina and restoration of the number of lactobacilli. The disease responds well to treatment, but due to the action of the virus it can regularly worsen and quickly become chronic.
Human papillomavirus
HPV is an infectious disease that has several routes of transmission. For infection, direct bodily contact or the use of personal belongings that the patient has recently used is sufficient. Many people have been carrying the virus for decades and are unaware of it.
HPV can remain dormant for a long time. The main provocateur of exacerbation is a decrease in the body’s natural defenses. The main symptom of papillomavirus is skin manifestations (what it looks like can be seen in the photo).
Wart-shaped formations on a woman’s body are a sign of papillomavirus
Papillomas can appear on different parts of the body
The patient develops numerous small neoplasms – condylomas or papillomas.
The main danger of HPV is the transformation of neoplasms into a malignant tumor. With HIV, the likelihood of this increases significantly: a weakened immune system is not able to fight pathological cells. It is recommended to remove the growths; constant relapses are possible.
Inflammation of the pelvic organs
Inflammatory processes affecting the pelvic organs are a common cause of female infertility. The causative agents are chlamydia and gonococci.
With pelvic inflammatory diseases, vaginal itching is not the only symptom that interferes with life
The disease is accompanied by a number of unpleasant symptoms, which include:
- burning and itching in the vagina;
- lower abdominal pain;
- foul-smelling copious discharge;
- redness of the mucous membrane;
- swelling of the labia.
Sexual intercourse is accompanied by pain in the vagina. After sex, there is a discharge containing traces of blood. The pain syndrome gradually intensifies and begins to appear during any movements.
How is HIV infection transmitted?
The virus is not only transmitted through sexual contact!
First of all, it is necessary to explain how you cannot become infected with HIV, since there is a lot of speculation on this topic. You cannot become infected by living with someone infected with HIV if:
- You eat and drink using shared utensils;
- Use the same toilet, shower and shampoo;
- You are bitten by the same mosquitoes (this has been proven many times in Africa, where there is a lot of HIV and mosquitoes);
- For “polite” kisses, if the partners do not exchange saliva. But it is better to avoid this, since the presence of wounds in the oral cavity of partners can increase the risk of developing the disease.
The source of infection is a sick person and his physiological fluids: blood, semen, saliva, vaginal secretions, menstrual fluid and breast milk. The virus is also released from tears, cerebrospinal fluid, sweat, feces and urine. But the most dangerous things are blood, vaginal secretions and sperm.
Women become infected more often than men through unprotected sexual intercourse. In addition to the sexual route, there is also a parenteral route - through unsterile needles, instruments, and blood transfusions. The vertical route is less common - when the fetus is infected before birth (with transplacental transmission of the virus). Most often, infection occurs during childbirth, as well as during breastfeeding.
The main cause of infection among young people is unprotected sex. This is how 77% of girls become infected.
The incidence rate in specialized risk groups remains high. Thus, more than 48% of cases in 2020 are drug addicts who do not use disposable syringes.
Of particular concern is the fact that non-gay and non-homosexual contacts currently lead to infection (1.5% of cases), but ordinary ones - between a man and a woman (48.7% of cases). This makes almost any unprotected sex high risk.
Children who became infected from sick mothers are another 0.8% of those infected in 2020 in our country.
Visiting medical organizations of all forms of ownership has also become unsafe: 16 cases of infection were identified in 2020, and all of them arose in connection with the use of either non-sterile reusable equipment, as well as during transfusion of blood and its components.
Manifestations of HIV infection at different stages
Immediately after infection, an incubation period begins, which is usually asymptomatic. The rate at which primary signs appear depends on the initial state of the organism.
With good immunity, incubation lasts up to a year, with weakened immunity, symptoms appear within 2-4 weeks.
With a weakened immune system, HIV symptoms can occur within a month
| Stage | Characteristic | Development time |
| Primary | The initial stage of manifestation of the main symptoms. The virus eliminates immunocompetent cells, and antibodies are produced. Susceptibility to any diseases increases, chronic diseases worsen. | From 2-3 weeks to several months |
| Hidden | The immune system tries to fight the virus, the disease passes without symptoms. The infection can only be recognized by performing a serological test. | From 2 to 20 years |
| Secondary infections | The compensatory forces of the immune system end, the body loses protection from the effects of pathogenic microorganisms. Infected people “catch” any fungal, bacterial and viral diseases. The formation of malignant tumors is possible. | |
| AIDS | The last stage, immunodeficiency syndrome. All systems and organs are affected. Secondary diseases do not respond to treatment and are fatal. | Leads to death |
When do the first signs of HIV appear?
Depending on how the clinical picture develops, the stages of development of the disease are distinguished:
- Incubation period
- Primary stage, which may present with acute infection, no symptoms or generalized lymphadenopathy
- Secondary, accompanied by involvement of the skin mucous membranes in the process, damage to internal organs and systems
- Terminal
Primary signs of infection are equally pronounced in both women and men.
The onset of the disease has mild symptoms that rarely anyone pays attention to.
Therefore, it is not always possible to say exactly how many days later the clinical picture of the disease may appear.
Most often, the disease develops after unprotected sexual intercourse.
The first signs of infection appear on average between three weeks and five years after infection.
In some cases, symptoms become apparent after 2-3 months.
The first symptoms of the disease are increased body temperature and enlarged lymph nodes.
In men, primary signs of infection may look like this:
- the presence of a fungal infection that cannot be treated
- presence of skin rash
- increased sweating and feeling hot
- fatigue
- causeless weight loss
- decreased visual acuity
- frequent colds and acute respiratory infections
- shortness of breath, persistent cough
- decreased motor function
- dementia
- diarrhea
- presence of nausea with vomiting
- inflammatory processes in the mouth
- swollen lymph nodes
In women, unlike men, the initial symptoms are:
- herpetic rashes
- vaginal candidiasis
- cytomegalovirus infection
With intrauterine infection of children, the first signs may appear as early as the fourth month of the baby’s life.
The disease is expressed by brain damage by the following manifestations:
- Often such children suffer from mental retardation and decreased intelligence.
- Signs of the child’s physical development are also observed: the baby is slowly gaining weight, sits up late, etc.
- Frequent intestinal disorders and the addition of purulent infections
Which doctor should I contact?
Due to the fact that in the early stages, signs of HIV infection resemble a common cold, patients usually seek a first consultation with a general practitioner.
If you notice the first symptoms, consult a doctor immediately
If an immunodeficiency virus is suspected, a referral is issued to an infectious disease specialist, who prescribes the necessary diagnostic measures and, if the diagnosis is confirmed, selects treatment.
Symptoms in the second stage
The above symptoms of HIV in men in the early stages intensify, and the transition to the second stage begins. Joint pain is added to them, movements become difficult and become painful. The man feels a constant aching pain. Muscle tone is still reduced.
The virus continues to multiply, killing immune cells in the process. The body responds by enhancing the proliferation of lymphocytes, so there is a persistent increase in all lymph nodes. At the initial stages, this can be detected by palpation, but after a couple of months they become visible to the naked eye. Swelling is noticeable in the armpits, groin area, neck and behind the ears. The peculiarity is that enlarged lymph nodes are not painful, and the inflammatory process is not visually monitored.
With further development of the disease, damage to all organs and systems is observed. The digestive tract suffers first. Due to suppression of the immune system, pathological flora in the intestines begins to actively multiply, and the body becomes unstable to parasites and bacteria. This is manifested by frequent intoxication and intestinal disorders.
The skin also loses its ability to defend itself against pathogenic agents, secondary staphylococcal and fungal infections occur here, and candidiasis progresses in a severe form.
HIV diagnosis
To confirm or refute HIV infection, the following is prescribed:
- ELISA;
- immunoblotting.
Important!
The first necessary analysis is the ELISA screening test system. During the procedure, blood is drawn.
The test is taken in the morning, always on an empty stomach. The result does not indicate the viral agent itself, but determines the presence or absence of antibodies.
During the incubation period, antibodies are not yet formed, and it is impossible to determine the disease. The first ELISA test is done approximately a month after possible infection. You can also take such an analysis for preventive purposes once every 6-12 months.
If the screening is positive, immunoblotting is performed to definitively confirm the diagnosis.
The patient again donates blood, from which serum containing antibodies to the virus is separated. The liquid is applied to the antigen test strip. Analysis accuracy is 100%.
It is necessary to take an HIV test several times
If desired, anyone can take a rapid HIV test. This can be done at the AIDS center or at special mobile points. The study is conducted anonymously, the result will be ready within half an hour. Capillary blood, urine or saliva are donated.
Some pharmacies sell rapid tests for home use. Biological fluids are applied to a special strip; if they contain antibodies, a positive result is displayed. In this case, it is recommended to repeat the study after 3 months, but it is better to immediately contact an infectious disease specialist or an AIDS center.
How to recognize an HIV-infected person
People infected with HIV look just like everyone else.
If they are already in the last third stage - AIDS, they are easier to detect, but even then you cannot be sure that they have AIDS - it could be cancer or tuberculosis. An HIV-infected person cannot be recognized. The only way to know about the disease is to get laboratory test results. An initial negative laboratory does not guarantee that the results will not seroconvert in the next few weeks or months. The HIV virus can sometimes be latent with a certain minimum value that does not show positive results. Subsequent seroconversion may take up to six months after the initial infection.
Consequences of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus
Once the diagnosis is confirmed, antiretroviral therapy is selected. It includes constant use of drugs (usually Nevirapine, Didanosine, Zidovudine are prescribed). These drugs prevent the virus from entering cells, keeping the immune system from being destroyed. You will have to take pills for the rest of your life.
If sick people do not take medications, the destruction of the immune system continues.
Gradually, HIV turns into AIDS - acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. At this stage, the body is unable to resist any disease, and even a mild cold can kill. The patient has several months left to live; drug therapy does not work.
How does the disease develop?
There are four stages of disease progression, each with its own symptoms and manifestations:
- Latent period (hidden or incubation). According to statistics, the duration of this stage is 1-2 months, in some cases longer. At this stage, the virus actively multiplies inside immune cells. The first symptoms may appear during this period or the next.
- Second stage of the disease. Symptoms become noticeable. Antibodies to the virus are produced, which looks like an allergic reaction.
- Third phase. Usually develops within a year from the moment of infection. Here the symptoms become characteristic, mainly due to the addition of secondary infections against the background of decreased immune activity.
- The fourth stage is the final stage of the disease, the transition of HIV infection to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). If in the previous stages the disease can be stopped, then this marks an irreversible death within a year.
Routes of HIV infection and timing of symptoms
The immunodeficiency virus is present in all physiological fluids of a sick person. It can cross the placental barrier. But the concentration of HIV in different liquids differs, which explains their different epidemiological significance.
AIDS is considered a sexually transmitted disease because infection most often occurs through sexual contact. The infection is present in large quantities in the following physiological fluids:
- pre-cum and sperm;
- blood;
- cervical secretion;
- vaginal discharge;
- breast milk.
The easiest way to become infected is through the transfer of the above physiological fluids from a sick person to a healthy one. Despite the fact that this sexually transmitted disease is classified as an STD, infection can occur through non-sexual contact, for example, through the transfusion of contaminated blood, the use of unsterile instruments and needles, or from mother to baby during pregnancy, childbirth or lactation.
Important! The highest risk of infection is through unprotected sex with an infected partner.
The virus is also present in small quantities in other physiological fluids: urine, cerebrospinal fluid, saliva, sweat. But due to the low concentration of infection, such a cause of infection is excluded.
The first signs of HIV are mild and often go unnoticed. The earliest symptom to appear is usually a minimum of three weeks to a maximum of three months from the time of infection. In men, a longer latent course is possible.
