AIDS and Stages of HIV Infection

HIV infection, including its final stage, AIDS, manifests very differently in different individuals, both in terms of its progression over time and the observed symptoms. After infection, usually within two weeks, the body begins to produce antibodies to fight the virus.

The fact of infection may or may not become apparent. Symptoms, if they occur, can be mild or severe and are often mistaken for flu or other infections. They typically appear within the first few months after the virus enters the body—most commonly after a couple of weeks—and last for about one week.

These are the following symptoms, although they may not all occur at once:

• swelling of lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, and groin,
• loss of appetite and/or weight loss,
• sweating,
• prolonged fever lasting more than a week,
• chronic, or at least prolonged diarrhea,
• dry cough unrelated to smoking, colds, or flu,
• oral thrush with characteristic white coating or sores,
• swelling of the mucous membrane of the mouth, tongue, and vagina,
• rash on the body,
• lymphoma - a cancer of the lymphatic system.

After this early reaction of the body to infection, a symptom-free period comes, known as the stage of latent carrierhood. There is intensive multiplication of the virus in the lymphatic tissue and a gradual decrease in the level of lymphocytes.

The infected person feels normal—looks and feels healthy. Years pass—usually several, less often around ten, exceptionally even several dozen—before the full picture of the disease appears as a result of declining immunity. The final stage of HIV infection, i.e., fully symptomatic AIDS, develops quite rapidly because the immune system is so damaged by the virus that the body remains completely defenseless against attacks from various serious diseases.

Typical diseases accompanying AIDS are: pneumonia, tuberculosis, herpes, shingles, Kaposi's sarcoma (a highly malignant tumor), dementia syndrome, and other viral, bacterial, and fungal infections. The most common symptoms are: shortness of breath, fever, severe diarrhea, nausea, headaches, memory and attention disorders, rapid mood swings, sore throat and difficulty swallowing, blurred vision up to loss of vision, weight loss leading to systemic exhaustion.

So far, there is no effective method of treating AIDS, and no vaccine has been invented to prevent this disease. Drugs (primarily AZT and ZDU), which have recently been used in carriers during the latent carrier stage, seem to slow down the progression of HIV infection towards fully symptomatic AIDS.

Tasks in the scope of AIDS/HIV prevention

What can be done to prevent HIV infection:

• raising awareness of the risk
• undertaking actions aimed at limiting the spread of HIV
• monitoring and evaluating the implementation of tasks. (action, monitoring, evaluation).

Other actions:

• education of children and school youth by introducing HIV prevention programs appropriate for age groups. Explaining to children what viruses are, infectious diseases, how to defend themselves, what is mental hygiene, personal hygiene, and with the concept of HIV, AIDS (older children), upbringing in the family.
• activities for teaching staff through training of teaching staff responsible for educating children, raising awareness of the HIV and AIDS program. Improving teachers' skills in imparting sexual knowledge. Prevention of sexual violence, prevention of sexual violence.

Sexual violence is visible in work with a child, these manifestations, indicators have their own meaning, the teacher sees the first. Children go to a psychologist when a lot of things have already happened. Preventive action, the teacher is responsible for the child until leaving school.

The main tasks are:

Limiting the spread of HIV infections, among others, by ensuring appropriate access to information, education, and services in the field of HIV/AIDS prevention,

• conducting long-term preventive and educational programs for youth
• organizing awareness-raising media campaigns
• expanding the network of points performing tests for the presence of HIV with professional counseling
• international exchange of experiences in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Improving the quality of life and access to healthcare for people living with HIV/AIDS and their families by:

• promoting and supporting the activities of non-governmental organizations and volunteering in HIV prevention - helping those infected with HIV and AIDS patients
• promoting integrative projects with patients.