The human immunodeficiency virus is a retrovirus that infects cells of the immune system.. It attacks T-helpers (a type of lymphocyte) containing the CD4 protein, which play a key role in the formation of the immune response.. If no treatment is given, HIV reproduces itself very quickly (at a rate of 10 to 100 billion new viruses per day), continuing to lead to cell death and reduce the body's resistance, according to Pannochka, an online publication for girls and women aged 14 to 35.. net For several years, the destruction of cells goes unnoticed by a person. But when the level of CD4+ lymphocytes in the blood falls below 200 units per cubic millimeter, this leads to a severe course of opportunistic infections (infections that the immune system usually copes with effectively). A condition that develops against the background of HIV infection and is characterized, among other things, by multiple opportunistic infections, is called acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

It is worth noting that not every infection with the human immunodeficiency virus ends in the development of AIDS.. At the same time, all people diagnosed with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome are infected with HIV..

However, not everyone agrees with the latter.. Several initially unrelated individuals, unrecognized by the scientific community, believe that the relationship between HIV infection and AIDS is doubtful. The denial movement lacks a single theory: some activists are unsure of the existence of the virus itself, others consider it harmless, and still others regard AIDS as a non-communicable disease.. Such ideas are criticized as baseless, speculative and anti-social.. At the same time, their harm to society is obvious.. Suffice it to mention that the policy pursued by the ninth President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, who actively denied the viral nature of AIDS, resulted in at least 365,000 victims who were unable to receive the necessary therapy due to government actions.. Those who believed the activists of the movement and arbitrarily refused therapy may be no less.

Fact #2 About life expectancy with HIV Although the human immunodeficiency virus can lead to the development of AIDS and, as a result, death, the average life expectancy of people with HIV infection is almost the same as that of healthy people. One study (the results were published in The British Medical Journal) showed that an infected person who is currently 25 can expect to live up to 60 years with adequate treatment.. According to another study, the average life expectancy of those infected with HIV will be from 71 to 75 years..

Such comforting forecasts for residents of developed countries are not surprising, but the situation is similar in Africa. The average Ugandan living with HIV but taking antiretroviral drugs is projected to live to age 55.

However, it is not necessary to look into the future: even now a dangerous virus does not lead to an early death.. The Washington Post tells the story of a man who has been living with HIV since 1978 and has no major problems, while The Sydney Morning Herald tells the story of a man who has been successfully fighting the disease for almost 30 years.. These are far from the only cases of “longevity”, which is possible, however, only with competent and timely therapy..

Fact #3 About HIV and Vaccines There is currently no effective HIV vaccine, but efforts are constantly being made to develop one. The main problem scientists face: it is not clear what exactly should be stimulated in the body to fight the virus in case of infection..

In the 2000s, under the auspices of the Thai Ministry of Health, clinical trials were conducted on a vaccine consisting of two substances that had previously been studied separately and did not show positive results.. The combination was claimed to be able to reduce the risk of contracting HIV by almost a third (31%), but the final product was deemed not ready for use: as the final analysis of the data revealed, the probability of an accidental result was 29%.

Clinical trials of the Merck vaccine, which involved 3,000 volunteers, were also a failure: it turned out that the use of the drug not only does not reduce the risk of contracting HIV, but also increases it.. The same fate befell another long-term American study.

However, failures do not stop scientists. Now the scientific community is discussing the possibility of creating medicines based on technologies that cured primates with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), similar to HIV.. Scientists conducted several experiments by combining the genes of the SIV and the genes of the cytomegalovirus. “Mutant virus” allowed animal organisms to start producing antibodies that affect not only itself, but also SIV. Unfortunately, the method helped only 9 out of 16 macaques studied, however, the study of technology will continue.. Other researchers have been able to achieve similar success by mixing VIO with large amounts of Lactobacillus plantarum, a non-pathogenic bacterium to which the body is normally tolerant..

The possibility of creating a vaccine that affects the envelope protein of the virus, the atomic structure of which has become clear quite recently, is also being discussed..

Fact #4 About cases of " However, there were no exceptions.

Timothy Ray Brown, also known as the " This happened in 2007-2008. It is believed that cells with a gene mutation populated Timothy's immune system and allowed him to stop taking medication.. However, the fact that the “Berlin patient” lives without antiretroviral therapy and does not experience health problems does not mean that HIV infection has been completely defeated.. It is possible that the virus hid and only significantly reduced its activity..

A patient from the city of Trenton (USA, New Jersey) was also able to stop taking medication, but for this he did not have to undergo a complex and risky operation (mortality in bone marrow transplantation is 30%). Instead, scientists worked with his own genes: the patient's white blood cells were affected by a special technology, thanks to which they began to produce a protein that destroys the CCR5 gene (mutation of this gene makes people immune to HIV). The experiment was successful, and the infected person was able to do without therapy.. But not everything is clear. A similar manipulation with the genes of five more people did not lead to the expected result.. Perhaps, experts suggest, every second CCR5 gene of the patient from Trenton could have an inherited mutation, which simplified the task..

There are other cases: scientists were able to rid a baby of HIV by starting aggressive antiretroviral therapy the day after his birth. The girl's treatment lasted 18 months, but was discontinued. Now, when the child is almost 3.5 years old, there are no traces of the active virus in her blood.. At the same time, not all researchers agree that complete and irreversible healing took place.. Some scientists refer to the low effectiveness of HIV tests in people younger than 18 months (it is not clear whether the child was ill), others are sure that the virus is still present in the girl’s body, and call the event “long remission” or “functional cure”.

Their doubts are understandable.. Not so long ago it became known that another experiment, allegedly leading to the cure of two patients, failed.. Two patients from Boston, like Timothy Brown, underwent a bone marrow transplant (albeit from donors who did not have resistance to HIV). For some time they could do without taking antiretroviral drugs, however, according to the latest data, the disease still manifested.

Fact #5 About self-diagnosis of HIV The traditional method of determining the presence of HIV infection is a blood test in the laboratory, but in the near future it will be possible to test yourself: using special kits for testing saliva for the presence of antibodies.

France and the UK officially allowed the sale of rapid HIV tests since 2014. In the United States, analysis without the involvement of laboratories was approved back in 2012..

It is worth noting separately that FDA permission and laws are only valid for instant tests from OraQuick - it was the technology used by the manufacturer that was recognized as effective and trustworthy.

It is believed that the availability of the novelty will contribute to earlier diagnosis of the infection, as well as help people who are embarrassed to do an analysis in a medical institution and seek anonymity.. At the same time, the scientific community warns of the possible inaccuracy of express diagnostics.. In addition, due to the widespread introduction of so-called self-tests, it will be more difficult to control the real number of infected people..

Fact #6 About HIV and Laws HIV infection is not only a medical concept, but also a legal one, since the human immunodeficiency virus is mentioned in many regulations. In addition to the fact that intentional and even unintentional transmission of HIV is a crime in most countries, there are or have been other laws that deal with HIV/AIDS in one way or another..

In particular, from 1987 until recently, persons with HIV infection were prohibited from immigrating to the United States, and those foreigners who already lived in the country were asked to return home.. Similar bans have been introduced in several other countries.. Somewhere it is still preserved. For example, if a foreigner in Russia is found to be HIV-positive, he will be deported.

For a long time, British doctors who were HIV-positive could not work as dentists, surgeons or midwives due to legal restrictions. However, local authorities decided to lift this ban. Starting from 2014, HIV-positive doctors will be able to hold the above positions, provided they receive antiretroviral therapy and regularly visit the attending physician.

The United States was also marked by another important legislative amendment: President Obama authorized research on the safety of organ transplants from donors with HIV (the ban has been in effect since the 1980s). It is assumed that after a series of studies it will become clear how effective the transplantation of organs from one HIV-infected person to another is..

Other discriminatory laws under review. But not everywhere. This fall, a bill was submitted to the Chinese authorities to ban HIV-positive people from using public baths.. Despite the active protests of scientists and international organizations, the people of China, oddly enough, support this bill..

Fact #7 About HIV and Prejudice Despite the mass of reliable information in the media about HIV infection and AIDS, many people are not aware of the real state of affairs, and some ridiculous prejudices still exist.

A study conducted by The National AIDS Trust in 2013 found that 46% of 12,000 Britons surveyed believe they can “catch” HIV by accidentally stepping on a needle thrown in a park or getting spit from a stranger. What is not true is that infection is possible only through vaginal, anal and oral sex, when infected blood enters the bloodstream of a healthy person (for example, during the use of injection drugs) and from mother to child (during childbirth and breastfeeding). The transmission of the virus through an accidental injection is extremely rare: the risk of contracting HIV infection if a sick person used the needle is 0.3%. In addition, HIV will not “stretch” for long in the environment, and a needle that has lain for some time on the street is usually not dangerous..

Another survey conducted among two thousand higher education students in Turkey in 2012 showed:

16% of respondents believe that HIV infection and AIDS are God's punishment for sins, 8% of respondents believe that proper nutrition and sports will save them.

However, there is nothing surprising in the fact that the inhabitants are subject to prejudice - many incorrect judgments were planted from outside. For example, according to documents published by American intelligence, the leadership of the USSR for a long time called HIV a biological weapon created by the enemy side, and purposefully sowed such views among the masses..

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