What is HIV infection and how to diagnose it?

Today the question is: "What is HIV?" Sounds a little strange ... Is there still people left who know nothing about this (the children do not count)? In addition, those who are aware of this, for some reason, the notion of "HIV" is associated with the word "AIDS". This is far from true! Let's put everything in its place:

• Find out what HIV infection is;
• We will understand, in what its difference from AIDS;
• We learn how to diagnose it.

What is what?

The virus of the deficit of the human immune system (the same HIV) is a common concept of infection. AIDS is already a kind of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, which was caused by HIV infection. It will take years before doctors can diagnose the presence of AIDS in humans. In this case, it is said that one or several very serious diseases developed in his body.

How does this happen?

The mechanism of action is the weakening of the human immune system by HIV infection, until opportunistic diseases begin to develop in his body, with which healthy immunity has always been coping.

What is HIV for our body?

This is a slow but sure death ... The virus attacks certain cells in the human body, which by its nature must protect it from various infections. Time passes ... The virus still destroys the cells. As a result, the body is no longer able to protect itself from parasites, bacteria, fungi or cancer.

So, now we know what HIV infection is and what AIDS is. These are completely different phenomena. The first attack is a destroyer of the human immune system, and the second - developing on its background a set of certain diseases. What is HIV testing?

This, strictly speaking, is the diagnosis of this infection. To determine whether a person is infected or not, you can by researching his blood. In Russian, you need to take an HIV test. To do this, blood is withdrawn from the vein, after which she / blood / is sent to a special laboratory for analysis. Keep in mind that any primary positive result will necessarily be more accurately rechecked. After all, in some cases, the results of testing are false:

• A person recently suffered an acute infection;
• For the simple reason that no one test gives 100% results.

The usual period during which you can find out the results of your analysis is three days. By the way, in some countries for the diagnosis of HIV infection came up with a test of saliva. Admittedly, such analyzes are not as reliable as blood sampling. HIV rapid test

This method of diagnosis involves the use of a rapid test, donating blood from the finger (and not from the vein) in the laboratory for the study of venous blood. The result will be known in a few minutes. Paradoxically, this method of testing gives an instant answer to the question: is there an infection or not, but can not immediately determine if a person is infected ... No, do not think that this is not a serious thing! The results of this testing are as accurate as in the traditional venous blood collection. The main difference is that this is the so-called "window period". It means the stage when the virus can not yet be detected in the body.

Important! Rapid testing "sees" only antibodies to HIV infection, but not the virus! Therefore, for the right result it is necessary that from the moment of infection of a person, not less than twelve weeks have passed.