In which Human Immunodeficiency Virus (Hi-Virus) is a virus from the retrovirus family. People who have become infected with the HI virus develop AIDS after an incubation period of several years. The virus is transmitted through unprotected sexual contact, a blood transfusion or contaminated syringes. So far, an HIV infection or AIDS can be treated - but not cured.
What is the human immunodeficiency virus?
The Human immunodeficiency virus is the causative agent of the immune deficiency disease AIDS. A person is said to be HIV positive if they have antibodies to the virus in their blood.
The human body forms antibodies whenever a virus infection is to be warded off. If a person has become infected with the HI virus, in most cases, in the first three months after infection, they will show symptoms that are similar to a flu-like infection. The symptoms subside fairly quickly and the patient remains symptom-free for years.
Symptoms, ailments & signs
The symptoms of an HIV infection can express themselves differently in different people. In some cases, the infection is asymptomatic for years, which means that it often goes unnoticed. Other infected people develop mild or serious infections early on. A few days to weeks after being infected with the virus, many sufferers go through an acute HIV phase with unspecific symptoms that can be similar to those of a flu-like infection or flu.
Frequently there is fever that lasts for several days, heavy night sweats, weakness, headache, joint pain and muscle pain, as well as swollen lymph nodes in the armpits or neck area. About half of those infected with HIV also develop a small, itchy rash on their back, stomach or chest that can last for several days. This typically occurs in combination with fever.
However, this does not have to be the case. It is also significant that there is frequent loss of weight and appetite. Other possible symptoms include open spots in the mouth, tonsillitis, inflammation in the throat, recurring fever and diarrhea. An early HIV infection is often confused with glandular fever due to the pronounced symptoms.
Meaning & course
Immediately after an HIV infection, those affected do not notice the infection at first. During this phase of the disease, the doctor speaks of "Stage A, new infection without symptoms".
During this phase, there is only an acute HIV illness, which can easily be mistaken for a flu-like infection due to the symptoms that occur. Symptoms include swollen lymph nodes, headaches and aches and pains, tiredness, fever and loss of appetite.
Apart from this episode, a patient with an HIV infection can usually live completely symptom-free for years. If the infection goes unnoticed, the patient will move to stage B HIV infection. For the first time, the patient will show symptoms that are concomitant AIDS diseases. These include fever attacks of over 38.5 degrees for which no other cause can be identified, repeated diarrhea, shingles, various infections and fungal infections in the mouth and throat.
In stage B, the patient will perceive steadily losses in his quality of life, his body will deteriorate more and more in its function. If the infection progresses even further, the patient will develop symptoms of stage C - also called full-blown AIDS. The patient shows significant weight loss due to severe diarrhea.
In addition, the immune-weakened body can no longer fend off any pathogens, so that the patient shows numerous, rarely occurring infections, such as pneumonia, salmonella, toxoplasmosis or increased fungal infection of the esophagus, trachea, bronchi and lungs. Many stage C patients have malignant diseases such as cervical cancer, Kaposi's sarcoma, or non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Complications
In the event that an infection with the human immunodeficiency virus is not treated, the number of helper cells in the body continuously decreases. A serious immunodeficiency then occurs on average after about ten years and is determined by the diseases that define AIDS.
If left untreated, an outbreak of AIDS after an infection with HIV leads to death over time. Even if HIV is treated with anti-retroviral combination therapy, complications can still arise. Due to the high mutation rate of the virus itself, the efforts of the patient's immune system, which is still present, in combination with a suitable therapy can initially achieve an improvement, but can be canceled out again by the development of resistance in the HIV.
It is then necessary to readjust the medication. In almost all cases, mild and moderate side effects can be assumed. Some active ingredients are toxic for the internal organs in the long term and therefore only lead to serious damage after a long time.
Another complication is the occurrence of a so-called superinfection with HIV: the person who is already infected becomes infected with another strain of the human immunodeficiency virus. This puts additional stress on the immune system and makes therapy more difficult.
When should you go to the doctor?
People who have alternating sexual contacts should generally carry out a control test for sexually transmitted diseases at regular intervals. If contraception does not take place with a condom, there is an increased risk of infection with sexually transmitted diseases. Since the first symptoms of the human immunodeficiency virus often only show at an advanced stage, the person affected should develop a good feeling for changes in their health.
If you have swollen lymph nodes, incomprehensible weight loss or persistent loss of appetite, this is cause for concern. If symptoms persist or spread for several weeks or months, a check-up visit to a doctor is recommended. A gradual process of increasing complaints is a warning. If there are digestive disorders, unpleasant gas or diarrhea, a doctor's visit is necessary.
A doctor should be consulted if the listlessness, tiredness or fatigue persists despite good sleep hygiene. If you have a fungal attack in the mouth or throat, breathing problems or joint pain, you should consult a doctor. Breathing disorders or pauses in breathing must be examined and treated immediately. Life-threatening situations or secondary diseases can arise. A visit to the doctor is recommended in the event of a vague feeling of illness, malaise or general weakness.
Doctors & therapists in your area
Treatment & Therapy
Is there any suspicion of dealing with the HI virus If you have infected, it is advisable to have a test done immediately. All health authorities offer free and anonymous tests. Such a test determines antibodies against the virus - if no antibodies are detectable, the test is negative, i.e. there is no infection. In the opposite case, the test shows a positive result. Since in the past the test has often shown a false positive result, a positive test is always repeated.
If an HIV infection is detected early, it is easily treatable. The infection itself cannot be treated - the patient will remain "HIV-positive" for the rest of his life - but the outbreak of the immune deficiency disease AIDS can be delayed for a long time. There are various drugs to choose from, which aim to inhibit certain processes in the cells.
So-called entry inhibitors, which prevent the HI virus from penetrating the human cell and multiplying, achieve good results. Protease inhibitors prevent proteins from forming, which in turn create new HI viruses.
In addition to the health restrictions, people infected with HIV are still exposed to the dangers of social exclusion. Although infection with the virus is only possible through unprotected sex, sharing infected and uncleaned syringes, or through a blood transfusion, many people avoid dealing with HIV-infected people. HIV-positive people can find help in self-help groups or with psychological support.
Aftercare
With the immunodeficiency virus, in most cases there are very few or no follow-up measures available to those affected. The person concerned should make sure to consult a doctor at the first symptoms and signs of the disease so that there are no further complications or complaints.
The disease itself cannot be completely cured, so there are usually no special follow-up measures. The primary goal is to prevent infection or transmission of this disease. Therefore, a condom should always be used during sexual intercourse. The immunodeficiency virus can in many cases be alleviated if it is gladly recognized.
Those affected are mostly dependent on taking medication, whereby it is important to ensure that they are taken regularly and that the dosage is correct. It is not uncommon for the affected patients to need psychological support, which can be provided by their own family or by parents and friends. In general, it cannot be predicted whether the disease will lead to a reduced life expectancy.
Outlook & forecast
According to the current state of science, there is no possibility of a complete cure, the infection with the human immunodeficiency virus persists for a lifetime. However, the prognosis has improved significantly in recent years. Before the development of modern treatment methods, HIV-infected people in industrialized countries could expect a further life expectancy of 8 to 15 years after infection; today this is significantly higher.
Thanks to antiretroviral therapy, those affected usually do not have to accept any significant losses in their quality of life for years if treatment is started early. The prognosis is worse if the disease is only discovered at an advanced stage. An already massively weakened immune system responds more poorly to the therapy, the prospect of long-term freedom from symptoms is much lower in this case. In addition, the success of the treatment is strongly influenced by the cooperation of the patient. The medication prescribed by the doctor must be taken regularly, continuously and exactly as directed in order to achieve positive results.
With consistent therapy, the life expectancy of young HIV-infected people without any other underlying diseases is almost the same as that of healthy people. Patients who only become infected with the virus at an advanced age or who suffer from other chronic illnesses must expect a shorter life expectancy in comparison.
You can do that yourself
The self-help measures in the event of an infection with the human immunodeficiency virus are especially useful in connection with drug therapy. They are primarily concerned with how the person concerned deals with their infection and with possible psychological support, which is relevant shortly after the diagnosis.
In many places there are self-help groups and counseling offers for those affected. Intensive education around the subject of "Living with HIV" is carried out here. In addition, knowledge about the infection itself can be deepened here. The mere fact that an infection with HIV no longer means a death sentence is a relief for many. Dealing with it self-confidently, which ideally extends to informing relatives and sexual partners, makes life easier for those affected. However, depending on the environment, resistance in the form of discrimination and ignorance can arise. A trustworthy social environment is all the more important. Knowing and communicating the fact that an HIV-positive person poses no risk to other people with appropriate therapy and behavior is all the more important.
Furthermore, there are many opportunities for those affected to improve their quality of life in terms of their health. A healthy diet and exercise protect against other diseases. Maintaining work and social contact enables an ordinary life without restrictions.
The person affected can communicate any resulting psychological stress with friends and relatives. Discovering new perspectives (hobbies, changing jobs, etc.) also enables you to rediscover lost joie de vivre.
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