HIV / AIDS

What is HIV?

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) attacks the immune system, specifically CD4+ T-lymphocytes, progressively weakening the body's defense. Untreated, HIV leads to AIDS.

Transmission routes

• Sexual contact — unprotected vaginal, anal, oral sex
• Blood — contaminated needles, transfusion (extremely rare today)
• Vertical transmission — mother-to-child during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding

HIV infection symptoms

• Acute phase (2-4 weeks): Fever, rash, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches — flu-like syndrome
• Asymptomatic phase: May last years without symptoms while virus progressively destroys immune cells
• AIDS: CD4+ < 200 cells/μL, opportunistic infections, malignancies

Diagnostics

• ELISA/CMIA (4th generation) — combined HIV antibody and p24 antigen testing
• Rapid test — results in 20 minutes, screening method
• Western blot — confirmatory test
• PCR (viral load) — HIV RNA quantification
• CD4+ count — immunological status assessment

HIV in pregnancy

• Mandatory screening — first trimester testing
• Antiretroviral therapy (ART) — reduces vertical transmission risk to < 1%
• Delivery method — planned cesarean if viral load is detectable
• Breastfeeding — contraindicated where formula is available

Prevention

Consistent condom use, PrEP for high-risk groups, and regular testing are key to HIV prevention.