The likelihood of HIV infection and the various ways of its transmission. What do you still not know about HIV? Yeysk doctor Kulagin says Can HIV be transmitted through a razor

People died of HIV without recognizing anyone, having forgotten how to speak, swallow, breathe

How to protect yourself and your loved ones - in an interview with the chief physician of the clinical center for the prevention and control of AIDS Valery Kulagin.

“Today 70% of patients are well-off people”

- Valeriy Viktorovich, many people still believe that only drug addicts and people who are sexually promiscuous can become infected with HIV. This is true?

Now, unfortunately, the contingent of HIV-infected people has changed a lot: before they were really, basically, outcasts (drug addicts, prostitutes, homeless people, etc.), and now almost 70% of patients are socially safe, accomplished people aged somewhere then from 25 to 40 years. They have jobs, families, children, a certain position in society. And they got infected by the usual heterosexual sexual route.

- What is the reason for such dynamics?

Because of some stereotypes, people are ashamed to talk about HIV, about methods of protection, it seems to them that “condom” is a word that cannot be spoken in a decent society. Hence illiteracy, which leads to an increase in the number of HIV-infected people aged 50 years and older. Try to get people tested for HIV! They say: “I'd rather not know. Suddenly I am sick and then I will bear criminal responsibility for this. Often people do not even know how the virus is transmitted. By the way, not many young people have access to quality condoms. If you look at the prices at the pharmacy, you don't know what the student will choose: to buy an extra bottle of beer or a condom. People often don't know how to use it properly. Even those who are already old.

“Using one razor, you will definitely get infected”

- So how can a person become infected with HIV?

To become infected with HIV, you have to try very hard. We have patients with families who give birth to children and live without protection for many years. Why? Because the virus needs direct blood-to-blood contact. It is no coincidence that homosexuals were the first to get sick in the 80s (during sexual contact, microtraumas were formed, through which the virus entered directly into the bloodstream). Then the second big risk group was patients with hemophilia, whose blood did not clot. At that time, there were no recommendations to test all donated blood. If a person is transfused with plasma from a single donor, there is little chance of contracting HIV. But patients with hemophilia, in order for their blood to receive all the necessary factors, had to receive material immediately from 10-15 donors. Of course, this increased the chance of contracting HIV infection.

The third risk group was drug addicts who injected intravenously. Because they tested the quality of drugs on their own blood. That is, one person took some blood from himself, added a drug to it and looked at the reaction. If the blood did not clot, then the drug can be administered, and the whole company was injected with the same solution with someone's blood.

And only then HIV infection began to be actively transmitted sexually. But keep in mind that with a prepared sexual intercourse, the chance of contracting HIV is insignificant. If there is damage, even microscopic, or the act is unprepared, especially in the case of rape, infection will occur with a 100% probability. Moreover, many believe that you can get infected only with normal and anal sex. Not true. Oral sex is just as dangerous. There may be microtraumas in the oral cavity, then nothing will prevent the virus from penetrating into the blood. Not to mention that people who share a razor will definitely infect each other.

“To take an HIV test, the patient does not need a passport”

- How can I find out my HIV status?

The patient does not even need a passport to take an HIV test, because by law everyone can be tested anonymously. You can take such a test at any medical institution. We are doing such an analysis, but it is not very convenient for people to travel here from the districts. It would be very good if polyclinics in each district had a separate anonymous room where one could quickly take an HIV test. We have contracts with all polyclinics for free HIV testing. When medical institutions need it, they take samples from their patients and bring them to us. Every morning they come from medical institutions with new tests and take away the old results.

- Is it possible for a person to understand that he is HIV-infected by his well-being?

Primary manifestations occur, as a rule, two to three weeks after a possible infection. A person's condition is similar to influenza: fever, slight chills. Just like the regular flu, these symptoms go away within a week. A person forgets about them and lives happily for three years, not noticing the disease. This is why HIV is dangerous: it is a slow-moving infection with a long incubation period. Three months pass from the moment of infection to the detection of the virus in the analysis. Sometimes in chronic patients or drug addicts it lasts from six months to a year. We have observed a person for a year who found it difficult to make a final diagnosis. It turned out that he had cancer, and against this background, the immune system did not work and could not give an accurate answer.

In general, as a rule, after three months a person has a positive result. But if at that moment he does not go to a medical institution and does not take an HIV test, then for three years he lives in peace, and nothing worries him. Three years later, strange phenomena begin. Herpes appears, and not always on the lip. Genital organs begin to be affected by herpes or even shingles appears. Sometimes there is plaque in the mouth. At the same time, a person goes to a dentist or a gastroenterologist, and these doctors, seeing such raids, suggest a fungal infection, which a person at this age can only have with immunodeficiency. And they give a referral for an HIV test.

If a person is asocial and even this stage goes unnoticed, he ends up in a medical institution either with tuberculosis, or with severe pneumonia that cannot be treated, or with brain damage. Few people know that HIV affects not only human immunity, but also brain cells. People were dying of HIV without recognizing anyone, having forgotten how to speak, swallow and breathe. That's how bad the brain damage was. Every person has their own weak point. It is in this place that HIV will hit in the first place. And the manifestations will be appropriate. This is why HIV is called the monkey of all diseases. It may have the most unexpected manifestations, and a person may not even think that he has HIV.

"Getting married

everyone should know

Who does he plan to live with?

- Can I check anonymously?

Such patients are assigned a number instead of a name. You can call it and get the result.

- Is the HIV test done for a fee or free of charge?

For Russian citizens it is always free. And it should be done in all hospitals. When a Russian is told that he has to pay for an HIV test, it means that someone is simply extorting money. By law, regardless of what such a test is given for, it is done free of charge.

- Is it possible to take the test in a private clinic?

Private clinics can only test their own patients for HIV. That is, for example, a person will have an operation there. A private clinic can examine him, but cannot issue these results. It is no longer possible to go to another hospital with these documents. By law, an official document (and the result of an HIV test is just such an official document) can only be issued by state and municipal institutions. No private clinic or laboratory has the right to issue them.

Will HIV testing ever be mandatory for everyone?

Now the Government is trying to introduce mandatory HIV testing for those who apply to the registry office. Although, from my point of view, this is wrong. You can't force a person. As soon as he is forced to do something, he begins to look for ways around. It is necessary that a person has his own conviction that it is necessary to be checked. Not only for HIV, but also for hepatitis C, and syphilis, and sluggish infections. When loving people get married, each of them should know with whom he plans to live his life, give birth to children. You are going to live with a person, but some false modesty does not allow you to ask about his health. Nonsense! In the West, in addition to marriage contracts, they have long required a health certificate from future spouses, as when applying for a job. People, according to tradition, begin to take care of themselves when something has already happened. Prevention is easier than cure, and much cheaper.

“The main thing is not to panic.Any disease is curable!

- I know that the results are false. How many times does a person need to be tested to be sure of their HIV status?

There is a standard according to which you need to check after 3, 6 and 9 months after the alleged moment of infection. In some cases, we use early pregnancy test systems, for example, for pregnant women or in cases of violence.

- What if I get a positive HIV test result?

First of all, don't panic. Any disease is curable. But for this you need to go to a specialist. Unfortunately, it happens that in clinics they simply give the result, and the person does not even understand what it means. In theory, no laboratory examination should take place without pre-test and post-test counseling. A person must be warned that the result can be both positive and negative. If negative, then we will no longer interact with him. But if it turns out to be positive, you must definitely go to a specialist who will explain everything. Especially if it's not in Krasnodar. Residents of the districts should know that there is an HIV center, know its address and working hours, so that they can easily come to us.

In no case should you look for treatment on the Internet or ask other people, even if they themselves are being treated for HIV. Our medicines cannot be purchased at a pharmacy, we get them at the expense of federal subventions. This year, by the way, drugs were bought for 276 million rubles. If a person is not registered with us, he will not be able to receive proper treatment. Medicines are prescribed individually to each, depending on the indications of his immune system, on his viral load. Two partners, for example, will be treated differently.

- It turns out that HIV-infected people are treated for free?

Everything related to HIV-infected people is free. They also receive disability due to somatic diseases, i.e. when one of their secondary diseases, which is accompanied by HIV, falls under the category of disability. Children born with HIV are considered disabled since childhood. Previously, there was free travel to and from the place of HIV treatment, but now this benefit has been canceled. HIV-infected mothers (we forbid them from breastfeeding so as not to infect the child) should receive either formula for feeding or compensation.

On average, previously it was allocated $10,000 per HIV-infected person per year, now it is about $5,000. There are already many Russian drugs, so the cost of treatment is gradually decreasing. Russian Minister of Health Veronika Skvortsova said that by 2020, the treatment of one patient will cost no more than $100.

“In terms of having children, there are definitely no restrictions”

How can an HIV-infected person protect their loved ones?

In addition to conscientiously taking the drugs that we prescribe, in order to reduce the viral load, you need to follow simple hygiene rules. In everyday life, the sources of transmission of the virus will not be the toilet and bathroom, but piercing and cutting objects. In all decent families, everyone has their own razor, like a toothbrush. Only if the whole family uses the same razor or scissors, then there is a chance of getting infected. Also, each sexual intercourse should be prepared with the use of a condom.

- Are there any restrictions in society for HIV-infected people?

In terms of having children, there are definitely no restrictions. We have a patient who has already given birth to five, and all of them are free from HIV. HIV-infected people cannot be donors of: blood, organs, sperm. Unfortunately, there is some ban on work. If this is a nurse, she is transferred to a job not related to body fluids (blood, for example). The same goes for doctors. If this is a surgeon or an obstetrician-gynecologist, that is, an operating doctor, then it is preferable to transfer him to work either in a clinic or work with documents. This is done because by law, if an HIV-positive surgeon continues to work, he is obliged to warn his patients before the operation that he is sick. Sometimes HIV-infected doctors come to work at our HIV center. We have several employees with this disease.

- HIV and AIDS are often confused. What is the difference?

The disease itself is called HIV. As soon as the virus enters the bloodstream, a person becomes HIV-infected. And he is not just a carrier, he is sick. Moreover, at the very initial stage, that is, 2-3 weeks after the moment of infection, an HIV-infected person can easily infect others. One drop of blood is enough for this to happen. And AIDS is the final stage of HIV infection, when acquired immunodeficiency syndrome leads to secondary diseases. We say that an HIV-infected person has developed AIDS. People are more familiar with the name AIDS. Less people know about HIV (HIV). In fact, these are just different stages of the same disease.

Immunodeficiency can be contracted only through direct contact and ingestion of the patient's biological fluid into the blood or mucous membrane of a healthy person. In smaller doses, the virus can be present in saliva, sweat, urine, feces, and tears. Not a single person wonders if it is possible to get HIV through a machine (razor)? Yes, it is possible to become infected with HIV through a razor, but how does this happen?

Can HIV be transmitted through a razor?

The chance of contracting HIV from a razor is approximately 2%, so transmission of the disease occurs in 0.1% of cases. HIV infection through a razor is extremely rare, but it still happens sometimes. The virus can enter a healthy body only through a cut, wound or crack.

AIDS is one of the most terrible viral diseases of mankind. Everyone knows how dangerous this "plague" is and what it is. It happens that a person does not even suspect that the immunodeficiency virus has been present in his body for more than one year. Therefore, it is necessary to periodically take tests for AIDS, and only after receiving the result can it be determined whether a person is a carrier of this dangerous disease.

How can you get HIV (AIDS) through a razor?

Infection with this pathology cannot be obtained through hugs or a handshake, and infection does not occur by airborne droplets. It is almost impossible to shave without allowing microcuts of the skin, as a result, blood remains on the blade. When the machine is shared with an AIDS patient, the retrovirus is transmitted. If there is a cut, the wound should be treated immediately and a band-aid applied. All this must be done strictly with gloves. When asked whether AIDS is transmitted through a razor, one can answer that such a risk exists, but it is minimized.

When should retrovirus infection be suspected? If, after a cut with a machine, the following pathological changes are soon observed:

• increased sweating, especially at night;
• hyperthermia among overall health;
• weight loss;
• long

The question of how HIV infection is transmitted from person to person in everyday life continues to arise in the forums. The number of infected people is constantly growing, and a life-saving vaccine has not yet been created. If AIDS were infected in everyday life, then almost the entire population would be at risk of infection. Household transmission of HIV infection is extremely rare, but still possible.

The risk of catching HIV in everyday life is very small, but a viral infection can be transmitted in the following ways:

• direct contact of blood, breast milk, vaginal secretions, sperm of a patient with damaged skin or mucous membranes of a healthy person;
• ingress of the above liquids into an open wound.

According to medical statistics, people are very rarely infected with HIV at home. And yet, living in the same apartment with an infected person, you need to be very careful and be aware of how HIV infection is transmitted.

Infection through the blood

Statistics show that the highest risk of transmission of the immunodeficiency virus is recorded through sexual contact and through blood. And if everything is clear with the first method, then the second raises many questions - is the infection transmitted from an HIV-infected person, or in a fight?

Experts assure that the possibility of infection in such situations is extremely small. Infection requires a large amount of biological material from an infected person to enter an open cut. When the blood just got on a healed scratch, then the probability of infection is reduced to 1 in 1000. HIV infection in the external environment dies after a few minutes. Slightly more likely to be infected through dried blood - HIV can live in it for up to several weeks.

Another topical question: what to do when the blood of an infected person gets into the eye? This often happens with . Experts say that the probability of infection is 0.1%. In this case, immediately rinse the eyes with clean distilled water.

Is HIV transmitted in everyday life through personal hygiene items

Potential sources of infection with the immunodeficiency virus can be personal hygiene items when they are used by several people. Such items include a toothbrush, a razor, manicure accessories.

One of the most frequently asked questions is: is it possible to get HIV through a razor? Yes, there is such an option. The virus can be transmitted through blood when sharing a razor. Shaving often leaves blood droplets on the machine, which are very likely to get into microtraumas of an uninfected person.

The same applies to a toothbrush - when there are fresh wounds in the oral cavity, and droplets of the blood of a patient with HIV infection remain on the villi of the brush, then the risk of infection is very high.

How HIV is not transmitted

The immunodeficiency virus quickly dies in the air, barely leaving the carrier's body, especially when heated and dried. It is almost impossible to become infected with HIV in everyday life. So, you can not "pick up" the virus in the following cases:

• in a public toilet, swimming pool, bath;
• eating from common dishes (there is a small concentration of the virus in saliva, so do not be afraid to eat food from the same plate, you will not get sick);
• smoking one cigarette for two;

• you cannot “catch an infection” from the bite of an animal or a blood-sucking insect - there is not a single recorded case of such infection;

There are no circumstances when people get AIDS! , which develops after a long (sometimes many years) existence of the immunodeficiency virus in the human body. AIDS can be reached if the HIV infection is not treated. But it is impossible to get infected with immunodeficiency syndrome.

Is HIV transmitted by shaking hands or hugging?

Medical workers are convinced that HIV is not transmitted in these ways. However, it is theoretically possible to become infected through a handshake or hug - for example, when both the carrier and a healthy person have fresh bleeding wounds on their palms. However, in this case, the probability of infection is not too high.

Can HIV be transmitted through the air?

Medical practice does not know cases of HIV infection by the above method. Do not be afraid when an infected person coughs and sneezes near you, the probability of transmitting the virus in these cases is zero. In the air, under the influence of oxygen, it dies almost immediately.

Is it possible to become infected with HIV by accidental contact with saliva, sweat, tears or urine of a patient?

In these substances, the concentration of the virus is extremely small - it is not enough for infection. Even if a large amount of urine, blood, tears, sweat of an infected person gets on intact skin, the defeat will also be impossible.

Is there a risk of contracting AIDS in public baths and swimming pools?

It is impossible to become infected with the virus through water, because it does not live for a long time in the liquid. In the sauna and in the bath, the virus quickly dies in conditions of high humidity and temperature.

What is the likelihood of contracting HIV from mosquito and other insect bites?

The fact that mosquitoes carry HIV is nothing more than a terrible, unsubstantiated myth. Multiple studies have proven that mosquitoes cannot be carriers of the immunodeficiency virus.

So, it is almost impossible to become infected with the immune deficiency virus at home. To prevent the rarest cases of infection, certain measures must be observed:

• carefully ensure that the biological material of the carrier of the virus does not get on the injured skin or;
• do not allow anyone to use personal hygiene products;
• monitor the sterility of piercing and cutting objects (scissors, manicure devices, knives).

When using other people's razors, as well as shaving brushes, alum stones, towels, you can become infected with infections that are transmitted through the blood. First of all, we are talking about viral hepatitis B and C. Also, when using someone else's machine, under an unfortunate set of circumstances, you can become infected with HIV and other infections.

Hepatitis B and C viruses are highly resistant in the external environment. They retain the ability to infect a person for days and weeks after contact with contaminated blood on environmental objects, including razors. Hepatitis viruses, especially hepatitis B, are highly contagious. This means that a small amount of infected blood is sufficient for infection.

The hepatitis B virus is 1000 times more contagious than HIV. For infection, a sufficient amount of blood is not visible to the naked eye. Hepatitis B and C are dangerous infectious diseases. The first can proceed at lightning speed and lead to the death of a person. Also, hepatitis B and C can occur in a chronic form, lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Please note that the source of infection can be not only other people's blades and machines, on which blood can remain after shaving. A potential source of infection can be a shaving brush, alum stone or alunite, someone else's towel. If a shaving brush or a towel is quite easy to disinfect, then alunite cannot be disinfected.

Run from barbers who don't sanitize tools, use one alunite stone for all clients, or share a towel

It is a mistake to assume that alunite is not dangerous, since it itself has antimicrobial properties. Alum stone does have a mild antibacterial effect, but it has no effect on hepatitis viruses. Keep this in mind when visiting a barbershop.

How to Disinfect a Metal T-Bar or Straight Razor

If you plan to use a used straight razor or tash at home, sanitize and wash it before use.

Disinfection or decontamination is the treatment of an object, for example, a razor, during which pathogens of infectious diseases are destroyed.

The easiest and cheapest way to disinfect metal machines and straight razors. To do this, it is enough to boil them in a solution of baking soda 2% for 15 minutes. Proceed like this:

• Dissolve 20 grams of baking soda in 1 liter of tap water. Use a metal bowl with a lid. If there is no kitchen scale at home, add a tablespoon of soda to 1 liter of water.
• Put a disassembled machine or an open razor in a container and place it on a gas or electric stove.
• After boiling the solution, note the time. After 15 minutes from the moment of boiling, remove the container from the stove. If there is no baking soda at home, increase the boil time to 30 minutes.

After cooling, wash the machine or straight razor with soap. Please note: first, the item must be disinfected, that is, boiled, and only then it can be washed. After boiling a metal object in soda, a white coating forms on the surface. It is easily removed by washing the razor in soapy water.

In such containers, the instrument is boiled in medical institutions. At home, you can use any pan with a lid.

Pay attention to an important nuance. To disinfect a straight razor, it is not enough to disassemble it and boil only the blade (blade). Remains of the previous owner's blood may be on and inside the handle. With an unfortunate set of circumstances, this may be enough for infection with viral hepatitis.

The method of disinfection by boiling is regulated by OST 42-21-2-85 “Sterilization and disinfection of medical devices”, table 9.

How to Disinfect a Machine or T-Shape Razor with Plastic or Wood Handles

Often there are dangerous and safety razors, the parts of which are made of heat-labile materials, such as plastic. It is undesirable to boil such objects, since under the influence of high temperature they can be deformed.

In this case, you can disinfect the razor with chemicals or disinfectant solutions. The most famous example of a disinfectant solution is bleach or bleach. Other chlorine-containing preparations are also used.

A solution of bleach and other disinfectants containing chlorine should not be used to disinfect straight razors and classic machines. Substances of this type cause corrosion of metal objects.

To disinfect razors and machines, use disinfectants that do not contain chlorine. Here are some examples:

• Hydrogen peroxide 6%. Exposure time - 1 hour. The machine or razor must be completely immersed in the solution. Please note that with a solution of hydrogen peroxide at a concentration of 6%, you need to work with latex gloves. Peroxide in this concentration causes burns to the skin and mucous membranes. You need to store the solution in locked cabinets, and hide the keys from children. You can buy hydrogen peroxide 6% in the prescription departments of pharmacies.
• Alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium. It is part of various disinfectants, for example, "Katapav", "Barbicide". The exposure time and method of preparing the solution, read the instructions for a specific drug.
• Other drugs with a complex composition. Disinfectants "Lysoformin", "Aniozyme", "Alaminol", "Mistral" and others are used in medical institutions. For exposure time and method of preparation, see the product instructions.

All the proposed means, except for hydrogen peroxide, have a significant drawback. It is advantageous to use them in medical institutions where disinfection is performed daily on the stream. For the sake of disinfecting one razor or machine at home, buying such solutions is not financially feasible.

On the other hand, the treatment of chronic viral hepatitis is much more expensive than disinfectant solution. Therefore, if it is impossible to disinfect the razor by boiling, it is worth buying a disinfectant.

Hydrogen peroxide 6%

Hydrogen peroxide 6% has two important disadvantages. First, it has a limited and very short shelf life. After the expiration date, the solution loses its effectiveness. Secondly, you can not buy hydrogen peroxide of the required concentration in every pharmacy.

Please note that hydrogen peroxide 3%, which is sold everywhere, is not effective in disinfecting razors.

All disinfectants, including hydrogen peroxide 6%, have another drawback. Their safe and effective use requires special training. In medical institutions, the instrument is disinfected by specialists with a secondary medical education.

At home, a person without preparation may incorrectly prepare the solution or disrupt the exposure time. Because of this, the machine or razor will be potentially dangerous in terms of possible infection with viral hepatitis.

Also, the use of disinfectants can worsen the appearance of some accessories. For example, machines with wooden handles without a protective varnish can be stained with a colored solution. Therefore, for wooden machines it is better to use hydrogen peroxide 6%. Remember, your health and safety is in any case more important than the appearance of the machine.

Is it possible to disinfect a razor with alcohol or vodka

In the normative document OST 42-21-2-85 "Sterilization and disinfection of medical devices" in the list of chemical disinfection methods (table 9), ethyl alcohol is absent. That is, in medical institutions for the disinfection of medical devices, alcohol in any concentration is not used.

However, ethyl alcohol has disinfecting properties. It denatures (breaks down) proteins and dissolves lipids. Due to this, alcohol effectively destroys some bacteria and viruses. This substance is ineffective against spore-forming bacteria.

Please note that alcohol destroys SOME bacteria and viruses. That is, some microorganisms are insensitive to the effects of ethyl alcohol.

Alcohol most effectively affects microorganisms when the concentration of the solution is about 70%. At a concentration of 40%, it is ineffective, so vodka and other alcoholic beverages cannot be considered as disinfectants.

Ethyl alcohol is suitable for external use and preparation of dosage forms. Use for disinfection or ingestion is not recommended

Alcohol as a disinfectant has another drawback. This substance quickly evaporates from surfaces. Therefore, wiping the instrument with cotton soaked in alcohol does not make sense. The active substance evaporates before it affects microorganisms.

For the alcohol to work, the tool, such as a razor, must be completely immersed in the solution. That is, to disinfect one razor, you need to spend at least 100 grams of alcohol. This is not financially feasible.

The main question is: can alcohol be expected to effectively disinfect a used razor or t-bar? Answer: Medical regulations do not provide for the use of alcohol to disinfect instruments.

How to disinfect a shaving brush

Shaving brushes need to be disinfected, because during use, blood from microcuts gets on the pile and remains on it. Therefore, masters in barbershops are obliged to disinfect shaving brushes after each use. Usually a barbicide is used for disinfection.

There is no adequate substitute for a barbicide for disinfecting a shaving brush at home. The brush should not be boiled as the heat will most likely damage the handle. Therefore, if you cannot do without the use of a used brush, purchase a barbicide and disinfect the brush according to the instructions for use of the drug.

And if the razor just lie down

There is no way in medical regulations to disinfect instruments with time. However, it is well known that many bacteria and viruses outside the body quickly lose their ability to infect humans and die.

As noted above, hepatitis B and C viruses in the external environment retain the ability to infect for days and weeks. Does this mean that a used razor can be used without disinfection if it has been lying on the shelf for six months or a year? This is not a medical issue.

What is HIV infection and AIDS: what is the difference?

By nature, each person has a special protective mechanism - immunity. Through this mechanism, immune cells produce antibodies that resist foreign microorganisms. After antigens or viruses enter the body, lymphocytes begin to function actively. These cells recognize the "enemy" and destroy it. This is how immunity works.

However, when the HIV virus enters the body, the protective barrier of the immune system is destroyed, as a result of which a person can even die some time after infection occurs. Those. with HIV infection, a person lives with virtually no immunity to viruses and diseases.

Now there are such cases when people with HIV were able to live for about 30 years, because the infection itself, in fact, is considered a “slow” virus. Its symptoms can manifest themselves after 10 years or more. Consequently, a person may not even be aware of what is happening to his body and health.

After the virus enters the body, its cells attach to blood cells and spread through them throughout the body, while infecting the lymphatic system, since it is in the lymph nodes that immune cells are located in large numbers.

The immune system cannot adequately respond to foreign body attacks because it does not recognize the virus. Because of this, HIV gradually kills the immune system and its cells.

And after their number of immune cells becomes significantly smaller, the virus develops into AIDS.

HIV cells in the blood

How is HIV different from AIDS? Let's try to understand this in more detail.

Many people do not even know how HIV infection differs from AIDS. There are those who claim that this is one disease, but they are wrong. These two diseases are very different from each other. If the HIV virus is treated in time, AIDS can, of course, be avoided.

To begin with, you must know how these abbreviations are deciphered. So:

• HIV infection is deciphered as follows - human immunodeficiency virus
• AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

HIV and AIDS

HIV infection, like many viral diseases, tends to proceed in several stages:

• Initial stage. Infection in its own symptoms is very similar to the common flu
• Second stage. Symptoms and manifestations disappear. At this stage, you can find out whether the virus is present in the body or not, you can find out only after donating blood.
• Third stage. Decreased immunity. This stage, as a rule, occurs several years after the penetration of the virus into the human blood.
• Fourth stage. HIV develops into AIDS. During this state, the human immune system is completely destroyed.

What is the essence of the destructive effect of HIV on the human body?

During the period of the disease, when the virus is fully introduced into the patient's body, a person feels unwell, resembling the flu. In the subsequent stages, unless, of course, preventive measures are taken, inflammation of the lymph nodes occurs.

The destructive effect of HIV

Since HIV has a negative impact on the body, there is a gradual decrease in the performance of each organism.

• Inflamed lungs, the entire respiratory system
• The efficiency of digestion and all organs of this system is disturbed
• Decreased protective functions of the skin and mucous membranes
• Weakens the musculoskeletal system

HIV also has a negative effect on the nervous system. From the very beginning, inflammation of neurons and dendrites occurs. Because of what pains can amplify. In the final stages, pathogens affect the cells of the brain - a person becomes demented, his coordination is disturbed, his vision is reduced.

How to get infected with HIV - what you can do: ways of infection

Let's reassure you right away - the infected dose of HIV is very high. What does this mean? You can only get infected if there is a huge amount of the infection agent.

Only some fluids are capable of becoming a transmitter of this disease. In order for the virus to be transmitted, the fluid must come into direct contact with injured tissue and mucosa, or penetrate directly into the blood. The mucosa, which is most susceptible to infection, is located in the intestines, vagina, and also in the oral cavity.

Typically, HIV is transmitted in the following ways:

• Through sexual intercourse
• Through a blood transfusion
• Through injections that were administered intravenously
• From pregnant woman to fetus or child born
• Through an accidental injection with an infected syringe

Ways of getting HIV

There are some factors that greatly increase the risk of contracting HIV. These include:

• The presence of a disease that is transmitted through an intimate relationship
• HIV virus titer
• The presence of small cracks, sores, erosion on the cervix
• Sexual intercourse through the anal passage for the recipient
• Females have a significantly higher risk

Is it possible to get HIV through saliva with a kiss, yelling, at the dentist, with a manicure, a scratch, a wound, a mosquito bite, a razor?

Let's see how likely it is to contract a dangerous disease through various contacts and in different situations:

Oral connection:

• With such sexual intercourse, the likelihood of infection is very small. For example, blowjobs have a 0.03% chance of getting infected.
• But this is only if there are open wounds in the woman's oral cavity.
• With cunnilingus, the risk of infection is lowest if there are no wounds in the man's mouth, since saliva cannot contain virus cells

• Doctors say that during a kiss it is impossible to contract HIV infection. Saliva, as we wrote a little higher, cannot contain virus cells. During a kiss, the risk of infection is almost zero.
• But you should know that the disease tends to be transmitted through the blood. Therefore, if both partners have damage on the lips or in the mouth, the chance increases significantly

Mosquito bite:

At the dentist:

• Such cases have never been recorded. We all know how HIV can be transmitted. In the blood, the cells of the virus live perfectly, but outside the human body they die very quickly.
• Disinfection of each instrument, their sterilization in a special cabinet, plus dentist's gloves provide a full guarantee that live pests are completely absent and there is no possibility of transmitting a deadly disease.

With proper sterilization, HIV infection is excluded

For manicure:

• Do not be afraid that you can become infected with the HIV virus during a manicure. Molecules of this disease quickly die in the open air, and instruments are sterilized in front of each client.
• In all the practice of manicure, there has never been a case of a virus being transmitted precisely during this process.

Through a razor, wounds, scratches

Infection with HIV through a razor is minimal. But through wounds, scratches and cracks, the cells of the virus, of course, can enter the body.

Is it possible to get HIV if there was unprotected contact 1 time?

You have had sexual intercourse with an infected person, then the consequences can be terrible. The likelihood of contracting this disease in this case is quite high. But most often, infection with the virus occurs during a blood transfusion or through breast milk.

With one unprotected sexual contact, there is a risk of infection, but it is minimal

Scientists say that the risk of contracting the disease after a single unprotected intercourse is still minimal. But never risk it. If you do not have factors that can increase the chance of infection, then the probability is only 1%. But in the presence of abrasions, inflammatory processes of the mucous membrane, as well as during menstruation, the risk increases significantly.

How long does the HIV virus live outside the body, in the air, at what temperature does it die?

The cells of the virus are unstable and live outside the human body for a short time. Most scientists are arguing about how long the virus lives in normal living conditions. Some say that disease cells can survive for hours. And there are those who prove that HIV in the open air is active only for a few minutes.

Another thing is when HIV is found together with DNA (in human blood, in semen). In this case, several factors influence the life expectancy. For example, the number of DNA or the temperature regime of the external environment. Under ideal conditions and a stable temperature, virus cells can live up to 2 days. Consequently, non-sterile instruments of a surgeon, dentist and manicurist, on which there are remnants of infected blood, can infect a healthy person within a few days.

Now let's figure out at what temperature the virus can die. HIV does not resist elevated temperatures. Disease cells die if they are heated for 30 minutes. at temperatures of 56°C or more. But this indicator is not considered critical, because the most stable particles will live and begin to revive again.

If we take the virus as it is present in the blood, then the destruction of the virus takes a longer period of time. The disease has a protein coat, and therefore can die completely only at 60 ° C. If you hold the virus cells at this temperature for about 40 minutes, they will finally die.

How long do people and children with HIV live with and without treatment?

HIV is a very serious and dangerous disease. But it is impossible to know exactly how long an HIV-infected person can live. There isn't even any sample data. Since each human body is considered individual. Some patients die after the disease after 5 years, and there are those who live for more than 10 years.

The life of an HIV-infected

The life expectancy of the patient cannot be precisely named for many reasons:

• First, many of the first infected people live to this day. That is approximately 30 years. But this period is not the limit. How long the patient can live, only time can show.
• Secondly, our medicine, as well as science, come up with all kinds of methods and medicines every year. Previously, effective drugs have been invented that can stop the growth of HIV cells. With the right medication, you can significantly extend the life of an infected person.
• Thirdly, the period of life expectancy of the patient may depend on his rhythm and lifestyle. It is necessary to regularly check the number of T-leukocytes, introduce a healthy lifestyle, give up bad habits. With a decrease in the immune system, it is imperative to undergo appropriate therapy. Even with a slight indisposition, you need to be treated.

Can HIV be treated in the early stages?

The question of whether the virus can be cured at an early stage worries many people who have already become infected. All people, without exception, must know that infection with this disease can, of course, be prevented in a short time. For any type of contact with a liquid that has been infected, urgent prevention is needed.

That is, a person must drink special antiviral drugs for a certain time to prevent infection. Treatment is carried out in a specialized medical facility, but a maximum of 24 hours should pass from the moment when HIV enters the bloodstream.

If we talk about the therapy of this disease, then it is aimed only at reducing the reproduction of the disease and prolonging the life of the patient. A person can live normally, like everyone else, thanks to special medications that prevent the virus from developing.

Do they take to the army, do they give disability with HIV infection?

During the passage of the medical commission at the military registration and enlistment office, each conscript is given referrals for testing. The main one is a blood test to detect HIV infection. The result of this analysis is examined in the military registration and enlistment office itself. Therefore, according to him, a conclusion is made - to take the guy to the service or not.

IMPORTANT: A patient with HIV infection belongs to category D. That is, he is generally excluded from the list of possible recruits for the rest of his life.

As for disability, it is issued to the patient only if his state of health deteriorates greatly. This mainly applies to those patients who have an acute stage with the presence of a secondary disease.

What should be done to reduce the risk of HIV infection?

If you want to avoid contracting this disease, you should follow some precautions:

• Always use protection during intercourse. This is especially true if you still do not know your partner well and are not sure about him.
• Never use drugs with a needle. And in general, give up this bad habit. Thus, you generally eliminate the risk of infection, since drugs, moreover, poison the human body.

• Do not drink alcohol, as it is under the influence of alcohol that a person can do all kinds of stupid things, for example, enter into an intimate relationship with a stranger.
• Go in for sports, eat only healthy foods. This way you can strengthen your own immune system. And if your immunity is strong, then the chance of contracting the disease will be minimal.

Criminal liability for infecting a person with HIV infection

Infection with HIV is dangerous and can threaten other people. Many infected people understand this, therefore, they reduce their own contacts to the smallest, so as not to become a peddler of a focus of a new infection.

• Knowingly putting a second person at risk of infection is punishable as follows - a person is deprived of liberty for a period of up to 3 years, or he is arrested for a period of 3 to 6 months, or a person is deprived of liberty for a period of up to 1 year.
• Infection of a second person by a person who knew about his illness is punished as follows - a person is imprisoned for up to 5 years.
• An act that was committed by 2 or more persons, or was committed in relation to a minor, is punished as follows - people are deprived of their liberty for up to 8 years.
• Infection of a second person due to improper performance by a person of his own professional duties is punishable as follows - a person is deprived of liberty for up to 5 years. He also loses the right to hold a particular position, as well as to hold a specific position for 3 years.

A person who infected another person who did not know about his illness is not criminally punished. Criminal liability is assigned only when such an act was intentional.

How long can HIV live outside the body

How long does the HIV virus live in the external environment? Research is being carried out by scientists using virus concentrations 100,000 times higher than those found in nature. With their use, HIV remains alive for 1-3 days from the moment of drying of the biological fluid (sperm, blood, vaginal secretions).

The resistance of the virus in natural concentration is much less - it is not able to live up to 3 days outside the human body. The period of his "life" is reduced" to just a few minutes. If it were more stable in natural concentrations, then in practice there would be situations of domestic infection.

The inability of HIV to live outside the human body prevents infection by:

• clothing,
• towels
• furniture,
• food,
• personal hygiene products.

Survival Factors

How long HIV lives outside the body is determined by the temperature regime of the environment and the volume of the virus in the biological fluid (viral load). Studies conducted in laboratories have shown that the virus in the highest concentration (100,000 times higher than natural) remains viable for 3 days, provided that the temperature is stable and the humidity is optimal. However, they cannot be reproduced in the natural environment without special instruments and equipment!

open environment

Studies have shown that HIV in artificial concentration dies in the open air in the amount of 90-99% in a few hours. In theory, the transmission of the virus in its natural state outside the human body is not only slow, it reaches zero.

No carrier of the immunodeficiency virus has been infected through contact with any surface, ingestion of food or water. "Fragile" HIV instantly dies when exposed to hot (even warm!) Water, soap and disinfectants, alcohol (alcohol solution).

HIV dies after a few minutes if it enters the water along with the biological fluid, even under conditions of high viral load, which makes it impossible to infect the virus through water or air.

HIV survives

The immunodeficiency virus lives and multiplies exclusively in certain human biological fluids - blood, vaginal secretions, breast milk, semen. Outside the body, it is quickly deactivated, BUT in the blood prepared for transfusion, it is able to live for several years, and in the serum subjected to slow freezing, up to 10 years.

The viability of HIV contained inside a syringe or hollow needle is significantly higher. Its stability is determined by the following factors:

• the amount of blood in the needle
• humidity
• the volume of the virus
• temperature regime.

Attention! The volume of blood in the syringe depends on the parameters of the needle and the presence (lack) of its ability to draw the biological fluid inside.

Studies have shown that HIV can be contained in some needles for up to 2 days at a constant temperature. Viability of the virus decreases with time - after 2-10 days it was isolated from only 26% of the needles used during the study.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says that for preventive purposes, to prevent injection infection, it must be assumed that the used syringe can contain HIV for 3-4 days (provided that it has not been sterilized!).

HIV is dying

The low contagiousness of the virus is due to its inability to exist outside the human body or without nutrient media.

HIV dies under the following conditions:

Attention! At what temperature does AIDS die? HIV contained in human blood (subject to maximum viral load) dies at a temperature of + 60 ° C and above.

The viability of the virus outside organic fluids is low, which is why among experts it is called "sissy".

The body's resistance to HIV

A whole "set" of genes in the body of living beings predetermines their resistance to various viral infections. Conducted laboratory studies on mice, rats, guinea pigs and other animals have shown that their body is resistant to HIV and infection is impossible.

Monitoring of the incidence among the US population has shown that Americans of European origin are more resistant to the virus, while Africans and Asians are susceptible to infection (their resistance indicators are almost zero).

In 1995, several American researchers discovered a substance produced in the cells of the immune system and having CD8 molecules. It has been shown to stop the reproduction and spread of HIV in the body. The protective substance is hormone-like molecules called "chemokines".

They take the form of smaller proteins that attach to receptor molecules located on immune system cells as they move towards the site of infection. Currently, research is ongoing, experts are trying to find the "gate" through which the virus enters the immune cells. This will allow us to understand which receptors chemokines interact with.

The main "culprits" of infection of the body are the CD4 and CCR5 receptor molecules. In 1996, researchers reported that the normal CCR5 receptor gene was found in 1/5 of patients. It turned out that in 3% of people who did not become infected with HIV (subject to their contact with positive patients), this receptor is altered - mutagenic.

Further examination of 2 homosexuals showed that, despite sexual contacts with infected partners, the mutagenic receptor CCR5 is formed in their cells. He is not able to interact with the virus, so infection is impossible.

However, some patients' resistance to HIV is temporary. This is observed in people who have inherited the "rescue" mutation from their parents. Some time after infection (3-4 years), the level of immune cells in these patients decreases by 5 times, which leads to the development of complications.

The highest indicator of resistance to the virus, which arose in connection with the mutation of the cells of the immune system, can be traced in representatives of the Finno-Ugric group, namely:

• Finns
• Hungarians
• mordvin,
• Estonians.

Attention! They have mutagenicity in one of the 2 paired genes reaches 16-18%, while among Africans the figure is only 1-2%.

Consequently, insects, birds, animals and other creatures (with the exception of some species of monkeys) and people in whose bodies two mutagenic genes are present at the same time remain immune to HIV. Among the residents of Moscow, about 0.6% are resistant to HIV (according to data for 012).

HIV terrorism - is it worth it to be afraid?

In recent years, citizens' appeals related to "AIDS terrorism" have become more frequent, when an unknown person pricks them with syringes with infected blood in public transport, a nightclub or just on a city street and leaves a note with the phrase "Now you are the same" or "Now you one of us".

According to experts, infection in this way is excluded. Outside the human body, the virus quickly loses its viability, so a simple prick or even a scratch will not be enough to infect.

Almost every man starts his day with a stubble shave to look flawless and well-groomed. And situations when you cut yourself with a razor are also known to many. In the event that a man uses a sharp razor, the cuts are invisible and thin, but deep enough and bleeding heavily. An open wound is always a path for pathogenic flora to enter the body.

About what to do during shaving cuts, many men do not fully know. Many people know a life hack from the past, when a newspaper is applied to a cut. In fact, this is a rather unhygienic method that all doctors would dispute. Banal cuts after shaving require first aid and disinfection, since even incurable infections, such as HIV, can enter the human body through blood.

Many men are concerned about the question of why a cut when shaving is a fairly common occurrence, even if a man handles the machine carefully. The fact is that a high-quality bristle shaving machine should cleanly shave hairs from the skin, but at the same time protective cells are removed from the skin, as well as the first stratum corneum. Further, the skin, which is not yet ready for external factors of influence, begins to dry, tighten and become irritated.

On irritated skin with an uneven inflamed structure, the chances of cutting yourself increase significantly. Especially if a man is in a hurry to shave off the hairs or hold the machine against the hairline. A sharp blade along with hairs will cut the skin, which will accordingly lead to cuts and abrasions. According to statistics, every man at least once seriously injured his facial skin while shaving.

For reference! Before each shaving procedure, it is necessary to warm the skin with warm water so that it becomes softer and more pliable for shaving the stubble.

How to avoid cuts?

Refusing to shave is impractical, since not every man can afford a beard and mustache for one reason or another. Due to the risks of skin injury, it is also not worth reducing the frequency of shaving, you just need to know and follow preventive measures.

In order not to provoke a cut from a razor, a man needs to know the basic rules for performing the procedure, as well as follow the recommendations of specialists. Namely:

1. Use a quality razor to shave the bristles. If uneven blades are visible on the machine, it must be replaced with a new machine.
2. You should not perform shaving procedures without fully waking up, since this process must be performed vigilantly with the utmost degree of concentration.
3. You should not use one machine if abrasions and cuts constantly appear after its use. In extreme cases, you can use a mechanical or electric razor.
4. If a cut occurs, immediately rinse the wound with hot water so that the blood vessels narrow under the thermal effect. You can do the same technique, but with cold water, which acts in the same way.

If skin and wounds appear after each shaving, you need to contact a dermatologist, and also choose suitable cosmetic products for the skin to moisturize, nourish, restore and relieve the inflammatory process.

What to do if you cut yourself with a razor?

Every man should know the basic rules of what to do if he cuts himself while shaving, since no one is immune from such risks. In this case, there will be no time to think and look for advice on what to do. Therefore, it is worth inquiring about first aid for a facial skin injury in advance in order to be prepared for similar situations in the future.

For minor wounds

First you need to open the first aid kit, get a piece of gauze or cotton from there, and then immediately attach it to the cut. It is not necessary to blot, rub or press down the wound, it will be enough to hold the cotton on the wound for about 10 minutes. By this, the man will not interfere with the normal process of blood clotting. Next, the wound must be treated with an antiseptic or antibiotic, for example, hydrogen peroxide and ointment.

Also, for first aid for cuts during shaving, experts advise using alum stones from cuts, namely the mineral alunite with an extensive list of useful properties, for example:

• antiseptic;
• hemostatic;
• bacteriostatic;
• astringent action.

Stones can be found in any specialized store or ordered through an online resource. It is also impractical to use such minerals constantly, since only point and periodic use can be effective. In most cases, standard first aid procedures will suffice.

For a deep cut

It is necessary to use the razor for its intended purpose smoothly and without haste, since a sharp blade can leave rather deep cuts. You can even determine a deep cut visually, the skin diverges on two sides and causes severe and rapid bleeding. For deep cuts, follow these steps:

• wash the damaged area with hot or cold water to cause constriction of blood vessels;
• if possible, apply a tourniquet to the injury site;
• an antiseptic, for example, brilliant green or peroxide, should be applied to the cut site;
• if even with a bandage the bleeding does not stop, you need to see a doctor.

A compression bandage must slow down the flow of blood to local vessels, thereby stopping the bleeding. As soon as the bandage gets wet, you need to replace it with a dry one and apply a tourniquet slightly above the cut. In the future, it is important to treat the cut site with healing and antibacterial ointments or solutions.

First aid if the bleeding does not stop

Equally important is the question of how to stop the bleeding after shaving, especially if a deep cut provoked profuse bleeding. Severe bleeding is the result of injury to a large vessel, therefore, in this case, a man is often sewn up with a cut in a medical facility.

As mentioned earlier, the first task is to restore the normal process of blood clotting. To do this, put cotton wool, gauze or cloth on the cut and press it lightly.

Keep the cut in this state for at least 10 minutes. If the bandage gets wet, and blood with the same abundance is released from the cut, you need to see a doctor. Additionally, you can do the following:

• Apply ointment "Traumeel" with herbal ingredients that promote healing and tissue regeneration.
• You can mix beeswax and olive oil, thanks to which you can moisturize the skin.
• You can speed up the healing process with ointments with calendula in the composition.

Also, washing with cold or hot water leads to narrowing of blood vessels, which can reduce the rate of bleeding. You can also apply ice to the cut. With heavy bleeding, a bandage is applied to prevent blood loss in every possible way.

What is strictly prohibited?

There are a number of contraindications and warnings from specialists for men who regularly experience skin cuts when shaving their stubble. Namely:

• wounds after shaving should not be sprinkled with improvised means from unverified advisers, for example, sugar or starch;
• it is forbidden to independently remove stuck fragments of the blade from cuts;
• disinfect cuts with perfume or cologne, as this will cause severe skin pigmentation.

To disinfect a wound, you can only use medications - hydrogen peroxide, iodine or brilliant green, in extreme cases, a solution of calendula. There are also many antibacterial ointments and creams for topical treatment of injuries.

Advice! When bleeding from a cut, it is forbidden to blot the blood, as well as apply non-sterile materials to stop the bleeding. If bleeding increases, it is important to call a doctor or visit a hospital.

When should you see a doctor?

Any shaving cut can develop into blood loss, severe stress for the body and unpleasant consequences. At the same time, many men do not dare to seek help from a doctor, but prefer to solve problems on their own.

There are a number of symptoms and episodes that urgently require medical attention, namely:

• when a fragment of a blade or other third-party object got into the wound;
• if swelling and redness form around the cut;
• with the formation of edema and soreness of the place around the cut;
• if bleeding increases, and there is no possibility of applying a tourniquet;
• with the appearance of itching and changes in the shape of the cut, its shade and size.

It must be understood that swelling, redness, itching and pain may indicate the development of an inflammatory process against the background of an infection entering the wound. In this case, in addition to the cut, the resulting diseases will develop, requiring medical treatment.

Can you get HIV through a razor?

Few men think and know for sure whether it is possible to get HIV through a razor. The immunodeficiency virus is transmitted to a healthy person through contact of the patient's biological fluid with mucous membranes or blood. A cut on the skin of the face is an open and bleeding wound through which this virus most easily penetrates. Therefore, theoretically, HIV infection through a razor is quite possible.

Statistics say that the risks of HIV infection through a razor are about 2%, such cases are quite rare in medical practice, but they do exist. The virus enters through open wounds, so facial cuts can also lead to infection. To do this, it is enough to use the machine of another person who suffers from such a disease.

Conclusion

Cuts of the skin of the face with a razor are not uncommon for a modern man who is used to a fussy and hasty rhythm of life. Protecting your face from the risks of injury is simple, for this you need to always inspect the blade of the machine so that it is smooth and even. Blades need to be changed every 3-4 days, as long as the stubble is shaved daily. You need to remove hairs perpendicular to the location of the blades along the hairline. Well, a 100% measure of protection against cuts will be the use of an electric razor.