1. HIV infection, AIDS - what is it? HIV infection is a chronic infectious disease, caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which damages the cells of the body's immune system.

AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) – the last stage of HIV infection, which develops on average through 10-12 years after infection and is accompanied by the destruction of the immune system and the occurrence of

opportunistic diseases.

2. What happens when you become infected with HIV? Do you have symptoms of HIV?- infections?

Immediately after contracting HIV, most people do not feel anything unusual.. The virus hidden in the body begins to multiply and slowly, silently destroy the human immune system, but 20% people can occur in the form of acute retroviral syndrome (Further – ARVS). ARWS may be manifested by increased body temperature, muscle pain and headaches, rash, swollen lymph nodes. This condition usually lasts a couple of weeks, after which it passes. Usually, a person associates these symptoms with ARVI or influenza, and not with HIV infection.

After contracting HIV, a person can look and feel completely healthy for a long time and still transmit the virus to other people.. The virus can remain in the body for several years, before symptoms appear.

Should be understood, that during this initial period even HIV testing can give incorrect results, because the body has not yet developed antibodies to the virus. Antibodies to the virus appear on average within 3 months after infection. To get a reliable result, it is best to get tested for HIV through 3-6 months after the risky situation.

Symptoms of HIV infection necessarily appear during the AIDS stage: against the background of immunodeficiency, secondary diseases develop in humans, such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, tumors and other diseases.

3. How is HIV transmitted??

• through blood - most often through shared or reused syringes and needles when using drugs, when piercing and tattooing in unsuitable conditions, when using other people's shaving and manicure accessories;

• during unprotected sexual intercourse;
• from an HIV-positive mother to a child – during pregnancy, during childbirth or breastfeeding.

4. How is HIV not transmitted??

• with generally accepted forms of greetings (handshakes, friendly kisses, hugs);

• when using household items, toys, bed linen, toilet, bathroom, shower, by the pool, cutlery and dishes, drinking fountains, sports equipment (saliva, sweat, tears, urine is not dangerous for infection);

• for insect bites;
• by airborne droplets (for coughing and sneezing).

5. How to protect yourself from HIV infection?

• be faithful to one sexual partner, which the, in turn must be faithful to you;
• take an HIV test before sexual intercourse and invite your sexual partner to do the same;
• always use a condom during sexual intercourse, if your partner's HIV status is unknown to you;
• give up casual sex;
• use only individual personal hygiene items (razors, manicure accessories, toothbrushes, etc.);
• no tattoos or piercings, Do not pierce your ears outside specialized institutions;
• do not use drugs.

RISK GROUP FOR HIV INFECTION – TOPIC,

WHICH CONCERNES EVERYONE

As of 01.07.2022 lives in Minsk 5597 person with HIV. For January-July 2022 year revealed 279 new cases of HIV infection. The structure of morbidity by gender was dominated by men – 65,9% cases. In the structure of the main transmission routes, the sexual route was 69,9% (heterosexual – 56,6%, homosexual – 13,3%). The parenteral non-medical route of transmission during injection of narcotic substances was 28%. The rest of the cases are associated with unidentified and vertical transmission routes. The average age of newly diagnosed HIV-positive individuals is 38,5 years. The largest number of cases of HIV infection was registered in age groups 30-39 years - 43,7%, 40-49 years - 30,5%. For 6 months 2022 r. more than half of HIV cases were detected among the working population (57,7%). Among students of universities and colleges – 7 cases of HIV infection, including 3 for foreign students. A significant proportion was occupied by persons without a specific activity - 33,3%. The fact that cases of HIV infection have been identified among the population is noteworthy, arrived from abroad, as for labor migration, and for tourism purposes (Thailand, Armenia, the Russian Federation, Ukraine, etc.), as well as among drivers, carrying out international transportation. Moreover, cases of registration of HIV infection among foreign citizens have become more frequent, living in the territory of Minsk (citizens of the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Cuba, Nigeria, etc.).

In Minsk it is possible to do a rapid HIV test using saliva yourself, which can be purchased in city pharmacies. At the same time, saliva self-test, being a preliminary stage, alone cannot provide a diagnosis of HIV infection – this requires confirmatory testing. You can get tested for HIV anonymously and free of charge at any state-owned healthcare organization, where is the treatment room. You can also contact the state institution “Republican Center for Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health” at: Minsk, ul. K. Tsetkin, 4 (Treatment room contact phone number 258-22-68)