The increasing problem of HIV infection and viral hepatitis continues. However, if you follow your doctor’s advice, the damage caused by these serious diseases can be reduced and reduced. An important role in the prevention of HIV and hepatitis is to spread as much information as possible about the routes of transmission and protection, based on what will help protect a person from infection.
HIV and Hepatitis
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis cause intestinal infections, the main route of which is sexual intercourse (more than 75% of people with HIV infection are sexually transmitted). The transmission of these diseases through the intestines (through blood) is second only to sexual intercourse. The most dangerous of these diseases is HIV. Without treatment, people infected with the virus will develop AIDS or die from AIDS within 10 to 15 years (Figure 1). HIV affects the human immune system cells (T lymphocytes), making the patient’s body unable to fight the disease.
The life expectancy of a patient who is not taking medication when diagnosed with AIDS is usually less than 3 years. Hepatitis A, B, C, D and E, as the name suggests, are viruses that affect the liver. Hepatoviruses enter the bloodstream in various ways and invade liver cells (liver cells). Liver cells affected by the virus begin to produce specific antigens on their surfaces. The immune system recognizes the cell mutation and destroys it. Therefore, the symptoms of liver disease (hepatitis) are: fever, jaundice, nausea, vomiting, fatigue. Hepatitis B and C can develop into chronic diseases that last for years, with damage to the liver tissue that the patient rarely notices. The result is cirrhosis, a condition in which the liver tissue is completely replaced by connective tissue and the organ functions are almost completely lost. Chronic hepatitis can also lead to cancer. That is why, despite treatment, hepatitis C is still considered one of the most serious types of the disease; the disease rarely occurs in the acute phase, and symptoms only appear when the heart is seriously injured.
How did you get it? So, the ways HIV and hepatitis are transmitted are as follows:
Sexual intercourse – Unprotected sexual intercourse (vaginal, oral, anal) with an infected person. This is the main way HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C are transmitted. At the same time, although preventive measures cannot prevent the spread of the virus 100%, they can significantly reduce the risk of transmission.
By blood – Contamination of blood or its components, contamination of donated blood, use of sterile needles and medical equipment. In case of violation of the integrity of the skin and mucosa – when the patient’s blood gets into these areas.
Vertical – from mother (pregnant or lactating) to child.
The main route of transmission of enteric hepatitis caused by hepatitis A and E viruses is enteric infection. Enteric hepatitis A and hepatitis E can be transmitted through household contact.
In addition to hepatitis B and C, hepatitis D also includes hepatitis D. It has the same transmission mechanism, but only people infected with hepatitis B can get this disease. It can be transmitted. Without this, hepatitis D cannot multiply in the body.
How are HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C not transmitted?
HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C are not transmitted through contact: through food, water, or droplets. You can’t spread the virus by sharing eating utensils, phones, computers, toilets, showers, touching doorknobs, or touching insects or animals. But unlike the viruses above, Hepatitis B is “highly contagious.” The risk of contracting the virus during unprotected sex is many times higher than the risk of contracting HIV (the risk of contracting HIV in a soft place is lower).
The risk of infection also increases when you come into contact with infected blood: In fact, even an invisible drop is enough. Therefore, there is a possibility of infection when using shared toothbrushes, manicure tools – it is best to avoid using shared tools that may come into contact with blood.