In the first days after infection. How long does a viral infection last, which affects the duration of the incubation period and the duration of the disease

Infectious diseases are an urgent problem in medical practice faced by specialists at all levels. Newborns, schoolchildren, adolescents and adults quite often fall ill with infectious diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi and other microbes. Viruses are considered one of the most common infectious agents. Pathogens enter the body in various ways and destroy living cells. How long a viral infection lasts depends to a large extent on the agent that caused the infection.

The disease includes several phases (stages):

• Contact with an infected person, product, air. You can get infected by airborne droplets, through infected food, air. Contact with an infectious agent is called adsorption of the virus into the cell.
• The incubation period (latent, latent phase). The pathogenic agent acts on the body, reducing the general adaptive mechanisms of disease resistance. There are no pronounced symptoms, but with colds during the incubation period, the patient develops a sore throat.
• Prodroma are the first harbingers of the disease. The prodromal stage includes the time interval from the first manifestations of infection to pronounced signs of the clinical picture. It is characterized by general signs of malaise - runny nose, dry or wet cough, weakness of the body.
• The height or development of the disease. At this stage, symptoms characteristic of a particular viral disease appear, with an inflammatory process, the base body temperature rises. With a complicated course, dangerous signs can join - crisis, collapse, coma.
• The stage of the outcome of the disease - depending on the severity of the disease, the timely visit to the doctor and the effectiveness of the selected treatment regimen for the patient, complete recovery, incomplete recovery, relapse, remission, complication or death occurs.

A person can become infected with a viral disease in different ways.

Most viral infections are easy to treat and resolve quickly. For example, ARVI or ARI, which are promptly treated with effective antiviral drugs, last from several hours to three to five days. The duration of a viral infection is counted from contact with the source of infection until complete recovery. It should be borne in mind that some patients stop infecting others, continuing to get sick, or, on the contrary, having completely recovered from the infection, they can infect someone.

Duration of the incubation period

The incubation period of a viral infection is understood as the time interval from the moment of infection with an infectious agent to the manifestation of clinical signs / symptoms of the disease - the prodrome. Since the virus spreads in the body at different rates of cell damage, the incubation period for colds localized in the respiratory tract is three hours. Complex generalized infections are characterized by a long incubation period - the virus takes a long time to reach the target organ after penetration into the body and cause clinical manifestations of the disease.

How long a viral infection lasts at the stage of the incubation period depends on the causative agent of the disease. Table 1 shows the incubation periods, how long a viral infection lasts before the onset of symptoms characteristic of a particular disease.

Table 1. Incubation period of viral infectious diseases

Infection	Incubation period, in days	Patient contagion during illness, in days	Patient contagion after recovery
Chicken pox	10-23	Rash period plus five days	From 28 days
Hepatitis A	7-45	30	Months
Hepatitis E	14-60	30	Months
Dysentery	1-7	The entire period of illness	Months
Diphtheria	1-10	14	28 days - six months
Rubella	11-24	Rash period plus four days	From 28 days
Measles	9-21	Rash period plus four days	From 28 days
Intestinal infection	1-12	5-14	20-30 days
ARI, ARVI, including influenza, parainfluenza, rhinoviruses	1-15	10	21 day
Polio	3-35	21-52	20-30 days
Scarlet fever	1-12	Not contagious	28 days
Salmonellosis	1-3	The entire period of illness	21 day
Tuberculosis	21-84	Always in varying degrees	21 day

With a viral infection, signs can appear in a few hours - influenza, rhinovirus disease, intestinal damage. The short incubation period allows you to quickly identify the infectious agent and start treatment at an early stage. At the same time, such serious diseases as tuberculosis do not manifest themselves for a long time, the virus is in a latent state in the body, and replication begins with a strong decrease in immune defense.

The infectiousness of the patient depends on the type of virus, therefore it is important to limit the patient's contact with people around him. If the incubation period is more than 5 days, we can talk about any viral infection. Since the latent phase is hidden, an accurate diagnosis can be made when characteristic symptoms appear and the area of \u200b\u200blocalization of viruses in the patient's body is determined - the respiratory tract, liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract.

Duration of illness: how long the temperature lasts and how many people are contagious

An increase in body temperature is considered one of the main signs of various diseases. Fever indicates the onset of an inflammatory process in the patient's body, which reacts to foreign cells with an increase in temperature. Depending on the disease, it can stay in the body for several hours or days with a viral infection with periodic drops and an increase in the value on the thermometer. Temperature for the most common diseases of viral origin:

• SARS - three to five days in children, two to three days - an increased value in adults, after which the temperature returns to normal. Colds are characterized by a gradual rise in temperature.
• Infection with adenovirus infection is accompanied by a slight (subfebrile) temperature in the range of 37-37.5 ° C. In children, there is a duration of 7-10 days, in adults 39 ° C and above - several days, a decline.
• Influenza is characterized by a sharp increase in temperature, which is poorly controlled by antipyretic drugs, can exceed 39-39.5 ° C, fever lasts up to seven days in children and adult patients.

Influenza is difficult to tolerate due to a strong increase in temperature

A great danger is a long-term elevated temperature - from five days. In this case, the doctor may prescribe an antibiotic, which is completely useless for any viral infection, but is necessary to eliminate the attached bacterial infection. Therefore, it is very important to timely and accurately diagnose the patient - viral diseases are treated with antiviral drugs, not antibiotics.

The danger is a drop in temperature for several days with a repeated increase in it to high levels. The reason is a complication after an illness, ineffective treatment, incomplete recovery of the patient. In this regard, it should be noted that patients with a viral infection can become carriers of the disease for others. How many people are contagious with a viral infection depends on the pathogen and the disease - the data are shown in Table 1.

It should be noted that with almost all common viral diseases, the patient is contagious from five days until he recovers himself, and remains the carrier of the infection after his own recovery. An exception is mumps (mumps), in which the patient cannot infect anyone after recovery.

Important: the data on the duration of the patient's infection given in Table 1 are indicated by the minimum value. In some diseases, the carrier of the pathogen in the body of a recovered patient persists for months. Infection is counted from the beginning of the incubation period, that is, in the absence of pronounced clinical symptoms in the latent phase, the patient can already infect the surrounding people.

ARVI, colds, acute respiratory infections

Acute respiratory viral infection accompanies a person from childhood, actively manifesting itself with the onset of cold weather. The disease does not pose any special threats to health if it is promptly cured. In advanced cases, the duration of ARVI exceeds ten days and can develop into pneumonia with shortness of breath and oxygen starvation. Localization of ARVI - respiratory tract, nose, trachea.

Since ARVI is transmitted by airborne droplets, no one is immune from infection, especially for children with weak immunity. What you need to know about respiratory viral disease:

• There are about 250 agents-pathogens that cause viral infections, so the list of ARVI includes influenza, parainfluenza, rhinovirus, adenovirus and many other diseases, which are commonly called colds.
• Each of the viruses can participate in the infection independently, but sometimes other pathogens join the agents. Against the background of immunity weakened by the disease, a bacterial infection can develop, which significantly increases the duration and complexity of ARVI.
• How long a viral infection with ARVI lasts depends on the severity of the disease, the presence of concomitant diseases, and the effectiveness of treatment. Influenza as a viral infection in children and adults in mild form lasts 7-10 days, in moderate and severe form - at least a month.
• Acute respiratory disease parainfluenza lasts 7-10 days, but the cough is delayed for two weeks, adenovirus infection with a mild course of the disease lasts no more than 10 days, metapneumovirus - 4-12 days, enterovirus - 7-10 days, coronavirus - 3-4 days, reoviral - 5-7 days.

It should be noted that viral diseases in young children and adult patients are approximately the same in duration, but a child may be sick for two to three days longer due to an insufficiently formed immune defense function. Clinical signs in children appear more acutely, the feverish state is rapidly changing. If the child's temperature reaches 39 ° C, persists, does not get confused by antipyretic drugs, you need to immediately call an ambulance.

Rhinovirus infection

The defeat of the nasal mucosa is a manifestation of a rhinovirus infection or, simply, a "contagious rhinitis". Viral agents enter the patient's body through the nose, a local inflammatory reaction of the mucous membrane occurs with possible vasodilation, edema, swelling of the lymph nodes, in children, the disease can attack the respiratory tract, larynx, bronchi. In medical practice, it is most often found in children under the age of five. Features of the course of a cold:

• The duration of the incubation period of a viral infection in adults does not exceed seven days, but on average is 1-3 days.
• The main syndrome is a pronounced runny nose, concomitant symptoms of the prodromal period - slight malaise, nasal congestion.
• The duration of the fever - the temperature is subfebrile, low, lasts 2-3 days, the patient's condition is satisfactory.
• How many days does a viral infection take when infected with a rhinovirus? As a rule, 7 days of clinical manifestations, the duration of the disease - up to 14 days.

Complications with rhinovirus infection usually do not occur, the patient is prescribed symptomatic treatment. It is extremely rare that sinusitis, bronchitis, otitis media join the infection. The disease does not lead to a sharp deterioration in well-being, does not cause serious concern due to the patient's quick recovery.

Adenovirus infection

If the agent-causative agent enters the upper respiratory tract, affects the tonsils, the disease is accompanied by conjunctivitis, it is likely that the patient has an adenovirus infection. This is a ubiquitous disease that is characteristic of the cold season, often occurs in children who attend preschool educational institutions, but adults are not immune from the disease. Key points of the course of the disease and how long this viral infection lasts:

• Duration - from several days to a week, with a relapse it is possible up to two to three weeks.
• The pathogen enters the patient's body through the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract, penetrating the bronchi and small intestine, where it multiplies.
• The incubation period lasts 1 day - 2 weeks, on average - from five to eight days, accompanied by signs of intoxication.
• Subfebrile temperature is observed for 5-7 days, rarely the indicator reaches 38-39 degrees.
• On the second or third day after the illness, the patient experiences pain in the eyes and severe lacrimation.

In some cases, the disease manifests itself as complications in the ear, throat and nose, possibly the development of adenoviral pneumonia. The probable consequences of the disease are purulent sinusitis, typical otitis media, kidney damage and secondary bacterial pneumonia.

Parainfluenza

Acute respiratory viral infection with parainfluenza occurs as a result of infection with four groups of viruses affecting the upper or lower respiratory tract of the patient. Parainfluenza is easily confused with the common cold. The virus is transmitted by airborne droplets, through touching infected surfaces, and then - to the mucous membranes. You can get a parainfluenza viral infection through contact with a sick person. How many days do the disease phases last:

• The patient becomes infectious on the last day of the incubation period.
• The infectiousness of the patient persists for 5-9 days from the onset of the disease.
• The incubation period for infection is 3-4 days.
• A subfebrile temperature of up to 38 degrees remains for several days.
• The total duration of the disease usually does not exceed 7 days.

Infection with parainfluenza viruses is difficult to diagnose; in most cases, adult patients with strong immunity transfer the disease quickly and without medication. For some time after the illness, the recovered patient remains susceptible to microbial pathogenic flora.

Flu

Influenza of three types is considered a dangerous and widespread viral disease - A, B and C. The duration and complexity of the disease is determined by the causative agent. How many days a viral infection lasts also depends on the source of the disease - the infection is transmitted from a person with clear or erased signs of the disease by airborne droplets. Time duration:

• The incubation period is short - from 12 hours to 3 days. The more viruses enter the body and the lower the immunity, the shorter the incubation period.
• The prodromal stage is characterized by fever, malaise, and joint pain.
• The acute development of the disease lasts 2-4 days, accompanied by a sharp rise in temperature above 39 degrees.
• The total duration of the flu is about 10 days, they get sick with a viral infection, the residual effects last up to several weeks - cough, sore throat.

Influenza is considered a dangerous disease, there are outbreaks of viral infection every two to three years, which worsen the epidemiological indicators. Complications of viral influenza occur in the absence of proper timely treatment - lung abscess, pneumonia, myocarditis, otitis media, sinusitis, meningitis, encephalitis, toxic-allergic shock. Such consequences can be fatal. It is important to know exactly the length of the incubation period in order to promptly start treatment with antiviral drugs.

Intestinal flu

The combination of an acute onset of the disease with severe catarrhal symptoms is a distinctive feature of intestinal flu caused by viral agents. How many days a viral infection lasts depends on the severity of the disease - mild, moderate or severe. To take timely action, you need to determine the main time frame for the development of the disease:

• Mild form - the total duration of the disease is up to one week, with an average form, the duration of the disease is 7-14 days, with a severe form, the patient is placed in a hospital, the duration of the disease is from two weeks.
• The incubation period depends on the immune defense. With strong immunity, the latent phase rarely exceeds 5-6 hours, with a weakened immune response, the incubation period lasts up to five days.
• Intestinal flu (rotavirus) is initially accompanied by a runny nose, sneezing, sore throat. A cough appears every other day, diarrhea lasts 3-5 days, vomiting occurs up to five times a day.
• A feverish state in children with rotavirus lasts three to five days, and the temperature can reach a dangerous mark of 39 degrees. After a week, patients are recovering if intestinal flu is correctly diagnosed and effective drug treatment is chosen.

It is extremely important: as soon as a viral intestinal flu is established on the basis of a disease, the patient should be isolated from the team for at least ten days, since the virus is quite dangerous, infectious and tenacious. For rotavirus to pass quickly, a viral infection should last no more than three to five days with effective treatment of the patient.

Table 2 shows data on the duration of common viral infections.

Table 2. Time frames of phases and duration of different types of ARVI

Viral infection	Incubation period, days	Feverish state, days	The total duration of the disease, days
ARI / ARVI	3-5	3-5	7-10
Rhinovirus	1-3	2-3	7-14
Adenoviral	1-14	5-7	1-14
Parainfluenza	3-4	3-5	3-7
Flu	0,5-3	2-4	7-10
Intestinal flu	0,5-5	3-5	7-14

Any viral infection should be considered a serious illness with dangerous consequences. In a child after ARVI, complications can turn into pneumonia, which is much more difficult to treat than a cold. Complex forms of the disease in adult patients also occur with certain complications. It is strongly discouraged to carry the flu "on your feet", to give up taking antiviral drugs and antipyretics, since influenza complications every year lead to the death of thousands of patients around the world.

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Relevance of the question "How many days is influenza contagious?" is constantly growing. Especially considering the fact that the causative agent of the disease undergoes various mutations, it becomes severe.

To obtain information about how many days flu patients are contagious, French scientists conducted an unusual experiment in which several groups of people took part. They were infected with the virus and for the next 10 days the experts carried out observations, as well as various studies. Particular attention was paid to the intensity of the development of pathology among individual patients.

The results of the experiment helped clarify many points. It turned out that the most contagious patient is the first day after the onset of the initial signs of the disease. Over the next days, his danger to the environment is constantly decreasing.

An infected adult or child must be kept in maximum isolation for the first four days. This is the minimum period, which increases under certain circumstances.

To navigate the question “How many days does a patient with influenza remain infectious?”, You need to have an idea of \u200b\u200bthe incubation period, symptoms, the nature of the course of the disease.

Distribution methods

Influenza belongs to the group of respiratory diseases. It is transmitted by airborne droplets. This happens when you cough, sneeze, or talk through saliva or other secretions that contain the virus. Under environmental conditions, the pathogen retains its viability for 2-3 weeks. When it gets on the mucous membranes, it begins to actively multiply, destroy tissues. After that, the virus, along with the blood, spreads throughout the body.

You can also get infected by sharing personal items (towels, dishes, clothes).

Prodromal period

The patient is considered contagious immediately after the virus enters the body. Usually, the process is accompanied by the absence of obvious symptoms; adults continue to lead their usual way of life. But now there is already a high likelihood of infection by contact and everyday life.

The incubation (prodromal) period lasts from 12 hours to one week. During this period of time, the state of health remains the same, the presence of the pathogen cannot be determined by external signs.

It is almost impossible to determine the exact duration of the prodromal period. The indicator is influenced by many factors, including the strain of the virus, the state of the immune system. When defining it, specialists are based on the typology of the disease.

At the end of this stage, the first symptoms of the disease begin to appear - a feeling of heaviness, body aches, chills, fever, discomfort in the throat, headaches, muscle pains.

Symptoms

When considering the question "How long have people with the flu been contagious?" the symptomatology of the problem must not be overlooked. The presence of signs of pathology directly depends on its form:

1. Lightweight. The patient's body temperature rises to 38 degrees. The rest of the symptoms (cough, runny nose) are completely absent or almost imperceptible.
2. Average. The infected person feels severe headache, aches, weakness. There is a cough, runny nose, ear congestion, and increased sweating. The thermometer reaches 39 degrees.
3. Heavy. The most dangerous form of the disease. It is characterized by the appearance of heat up to 40 degrees. Additionally, hallucinations, nosebleeds, convulsions, and vomiting may occur.

Depending on the general state of health and immunity, signs of the disease can remain for more than two weeks.

In the presence of chronic pathologies of the circulatory system or respiratory organs, the disease can provoke their sudden exacerbation.

For pregnant women, the flu poses a high risk during the first trimester. It greatly increases the likelihood of miscarriage.

For other people, the disease is dangerous with a high risk of complications: pneumonia, bronchitis, rhinitis, meningitis, encephalitis, exacerbation of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, leukopenia, sinusitis, frontal sinusitis, myelitis, myocarditis, myositis.

The need for isolation, treatment

Give an answer to the question "After how many days is the patient not contagious?" not so easy. A person becomes a carrier of the pathogen from the first minutes of the penetration of the virus. This is followed by the incubation period and the acute stage. During the latter, the patient remains infectious for 5 days. After the end of the above period, regardless of the persistence of symptoms, the patient becomes safe for others.

If a significant number of people become infected in an educational institution or other organization, managers decide whether to quarantine. In order to avoid such a situation, patients should immediately visit a doctor, begin the treatment prescribed for them.

It is strictly forbidden to carry the disease "on your feet"! Such actions can slow down the healing process, increase the likelihood of infection for many other people.

Successful treatment involves following simple rules. Their main goal is to provide maximum patient comfort.

The sick person must comply with bed rest. The rule must be followed until the body temperature normalizes, appetite is restored, and general well-being improves. The main therapy is carried out at home, but if its main points are not observed, the doctor prescribes inpatient treatment.

Maximum insulation plays an important role. Visits to crowded places (store, pharmacy, theater, shopping center), travel by public transport, continuation of work is strictly prohibited! The sooner the isolation begins, the less the likelihood of another epidemic outbreak.

From the first day of the onset of fever, the patient must be allocated a separate room. In this way, the duration of his contact with other household members is reduced. To reduce infectiousness, the room must be regularly ventilated, wet cleaning up to 3 times a day, disinfected dishes, household appliances and other common items.

Influenza is accompanied by signs of body intoxication. To eliminate them, it is recommended to consume a lot of liquid.

The quarantine should last more than a week! During this period, the body will be able to overcome the pathogen, recover, and return to full functioning.

For a successful recovery, it is important to follow the treatment prescribed by a specialist. The arbitrary use of medication will only make the situation worse. For example, antibiotics are unable to cope with the pathogen and will worsen the condition. Such drugs kill beneficial bacteria, reduce the protective functions of the body. But correctly selected antiviral agents can speed up the healing process.

Getting rid of the disease may involve the use of special anti-influenza drugs of one or more groups. These include Ingavirin, neuraminidase inhibitors (Oseltamivir, Zanamivir), Amantadine, Rimantadine.

How much flu is a person infectious? To get a rough answer, you need to do some simple math calculations. It is necessary to take the duration of the incubation period, add to them the time of "contagion". It turns out that the patient can remain dangerous to others for about two weeks.

Important! There are exceptions to the rule. Small children remain carriers of the virus for 10 days, and among patients suffering from serious dysfunction of the immune system, the period increases to several weeks or even months from the moment of infection. It is almost impossible to determine the end time of the dangerous period.

Prevention measures

In order to avoid serious complications, you must carefully monitor your own health. A slight malaise during an epidemic becomes a reason to leave all business and open it. This is the basis for preventive measures.

Do not forget about the rules of personal hygiene, frequent use of soap when washing your hands. To blow out snot, instead of the usual handkerchiefs, it is recommended to buy disposable dry or wet wipes.

The human immunodeficiency virus belongs to the group of retroviruses, provoking the development of HIV infection. This disease can proceed in several stages, each of which differs in the clinical picture, the intensity of manifestations.

Stages of HIV

Stages of development of HIV infection:

• incubation period;
• primary manifestations are acute infection, asymptomatic and generalized lymphadenopathy;
• secondary manifestations - damage to internal organs of a persistent nature, damage to the skin and mucous membranes, diseases of the generalized type;
• terminal stage.

According to statistics, HIV infection is most often diagnosed at the stage of secondary manifestations and this is due to the fact that the symptoms of HIV become pronounced and begin to bother the patient precisely during this period of the course of the disease.

At the first stage of the development of HIV infection, certain symptoms may also be present, but they, as a rule, are mild, the clinical picture is blurred, and the patients themselves do not turn to doctors for such "trifles". But there is one more nuance - even if a patient seeks qualified medical care at the first stage of the course of HIV infection, specialists may not diagnose the pathology. Moreover, at this stage of the development of the disease in question, the symptoms will be the same in men and women - this often confuses doctors. And only at the secondary stage it is quite realistic to hear the diagnosis of HIV infection, and the symptoms will be individual for men and women.

How long does it take to manifest HIV

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The first signs of HIV infection go unnoticed, but they are there. And they appear on average in the period from 3 weeks to 3 months after infection. A longer period is also possible.

Signs of secondary manifestations of the disease in question can also appear only many years after infection with HIV, but manifestations can also occur within 4-6 months from the moment of infection.

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After a person has contracted HIV infection, no symptoms and even small hints of the development of any pathology are observed for a long time. It is precisely this period that is called the incubation period, it can last, in accordance with the classification of V.I. Pokrovsky, from 3 weeks to 3 months.

No examinations and laboratory studies of biomaterials (serological, immunological, hematological tests) will help identify HIV infection, and the infected person himself does not look sick at all. But it is the incubation period, without any manifestations, that poses a particular danger - a person serves as a source of infection.

Some time after infection, the patient begins the acute phase of the disease - the clinical picture during this period may become a reason for the diagnosis of HIV infection "in doubt."

The first manifestations of HIV infection in the acute phase of the course strongly resemble the symptoms of mononucleosis. They appear on average in the period from 3 weeks to 3 months from the moment of infection. These include:

When examining a patient, a doctor can determine a slight increase in the size of the spleen and liver - the patient, by the way, may also complain of recurrent pain in the right hypochondrium. The patient's skin may be covered with a small rash - pale pink spots that do not have clear boundaries. Often there are complaints from infected people and about prolonged stool disturbance - they are tormented by diarrhea, which is not relieved even by specific medications and changes in the diet.

Please note: with this course of the acute phase of HIV infection, lymphocytes / leukocytes in an increased amount and mononuclear cells of an atypical type will be detected in the blood.

The above signs of the acute phase of the disease in question can be observed in 30% of patients. Another 30-40% of patients live an acute phase in the development of serous meningitis or encephalitis - the symptoms will be radically different from those already described: nausea, vomiting, an increase in body temperature to critical indicators, a powerful headache.

Often, the first symptom of HIV infection is esophagitis, an inflammatory process in the esophagus characterized by swallowing problems and chest pain.

In whatever form the acute phase of HIV infection proceeds, after 30-60 days all symptoms disappear - often the patient thinks that he is completely cured, especially if this period of pathology was almost asymptomatic or their intensity was low (and this can also be ).

During the course of this stage of the disease in question, there are no symptoms - the patient feels great, does not consider it necessary to appear in a medical institution for a preventive examination. But it is at the stage of asymptomatic course that antibodies to HIV can be detected in the blood! This makes it possible to diagnose pathology at one of the early stages of development and begin adequate, effective treatment.

The asymptomatic stage of HIV infection can last for several years, but only if the patient's immune system has not been significantly affected. The statistics are quite contradictory - only in 30% of patients within 5 years after the asymptomatic course of HIV infection, symptoms of the following stages begin to appear, but in some infected people the asymptomatic stage of the course proceeds rapidly, lasts no more than 30 days.

This stage is characterized by an increase in almost all groups of lymph nodes, this process does not affect only the inguinal lymph nodes. It is noteworthy that it is generalized lymphadenopathy that can become the main symptom of HIV infection if all the previous stages of the development of the disease in question proceeded without any manifestations.

The lymphosules increase by 1-5 cm, remain mobile and painless, and the surface of the skin above them has absolutely no signs of a pathological process. But with such a pronounced symptom as an increase in lymph node groups, the standard causes of this phenomenon are excluded. And here, too, the danger lurks - some doctors classify lymphadenopathy as difficult to explain.

The stage of generalized lymphadenopathy lasts 3 months, about 2 months after the onset of the stage, the patient begins to lose weight.

Secondary manifestations

It often happens that it is the secondary manifestations of HIV infection that serve as the basis for a high-quality diagnosis. Secondary manifestations include:

The patient notes a sudden increase in body temperature, he has a dry, obsessive cough, which eventually turns into a wet one. The patient develops intense shortness of breath with minimal physical exertion, and the patient's general condition is rapidly deteriorating. Therapy carried out using antibacterial drugs (antibiotics) does not give a positive effect.

Generalized infection

These include herpes, tuberculosis, cytomegalovirus infection, candidiasis. Most often, women are ill with these infections, and against the background of the human immunodeficiency virus, they are extremely difficult.

Kaposi's sarcoma

It is a neoplasm / tumor that develops from the lymphatic vessels. More often diagnosed in men, it has the appearance of multiple tumors of a characteristic cherry color, located on the head, trunk and in the mouth.

Damage to the central nervous system

At first, this is manifested only by small memory problems, a decrease in concentration. But in the course of the development of pathology, the patient develops dementia.

Features of the first signs of HIV infection in women

If infection with the human immunodeficiency virus occurs in a woman, then secondary symptoms will most likely manifest themselves in the form of development, progression of generalized infections - herpes, candidiasis, cytomegalovirus infection, tuberculosis.

Often, secondary manifestations of HIV infection begin with a banal menstrual irregularity, inflammatory processes in the pelvic organs, for example, salpingitis, can develop. Often diagnosed and oncological diseases of the cervix - carcinoma or dysplasia.

Features of HIV infection in children

Children who were infected with the human immunodeficiency virus during pregnancy (in utero from the mother) have some peculiarities during the course of the disease. First, the disease begins to develop at 4-6 months of age. Secondly, the earliest and main symptom of HIV infection during intrauterine infection is considered a disorder of the central nervous system - the baby lags behind his peers in physical and mental development. Thirdly, children with the human immunodeficiency virus are susceptible to the progression of disorders of the digestive system and the appearance of purulent diseases.

The human immunodeficiency virus is still an unexplored disease - too many questions arise in both diagnosis and treatment. But doctors say that only patients themselves can detect HIV infection at an early stage - they must carefully monitor their health and periodically undergo preventive examinations. Even if the symptoms of HIV infection are hidden, the disease develops - only a timely test analysis will help save the patient's life for several years.

Answers to popular questions about HIV

Due to the large number of requests from our readers, we decided to group the most common questions and answers to them in one section.

Signs of HIV infection appear approximately 3 weeks to 3 months after exposure. Fever, sore throat and swollen lymph nodes in the first days after infection can indicate any pathology, except for the human immunodeficiency virus. During this period (doctors call it incubation), not only are there no symptoms of HIV, but deep laboratory blood tests will not give a positive result.

Yes, unfortunately, this is rare, but it happens (in about 30% of cases): a person does not notice any characteristic symptoms during the acute phase, and then the disease goes into a latent phase (this is, in fact, an asymptomatic course for about 8-10 years ).

Most modern screening tests are based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) - this is the "gold standard" of diagnosis, while an accurate result can be expected no earlier than 3 to 6 months after infection. Therefore, the analysis must be taken twice: 3 months after a possible infection and then another 3 months later.

First, you need to take into account the period that has passed after a potentially dangerous contact - if less than 3 weeks have passed, then these symptoms may indicate a banal cold.

Secondly, if more than 3 weeks have passed after a possible infection, then you should not make yourself nervous - it is enough to wait and, 3 months after a dangerous contact, undergo a specific examination.

Third, fever and swollen lymph nodes are not “classic” signs of HIV infection! Often, the first manifestations of the disease are expressed by pain in the chest and a burning sensation in the esophagus, a violation of the stool (a person is worried about frequent diarrhea), a pale pink rash on the skin.

The risk of contracting HIV through oral sex is minimized. The fact is that the virus does not survive in the environment, therefore, for oral infection, it is necessary that two conditions come together: there are wounds / abrasions on the partner's penis and wounds / abrasions in the partner's oral cavity. But even these circumstances do not at all lead to HIV infection in every case. For your own peace of mind, you need to pass a specific HIV test 3 months after a dangerous contact and pass a "control" examination after another 3 months.

There are a number of medications that are used for HIV postexposure prophylaxis. Unfortunately, they are not available for sale, so you have to go to an appointment with a therapist and explain the situation. There is no guarantee that such measures will 100% prevent the development of HIV infection, but experts say that taking such medications is quite advisable - the risk of developing the human immunodeficiency virus is reduced by 70-75%.

If there is no opportunity (or courage) to see a doctor with such a problem, then there is only one thing to do - to wait. You will need to wait 3 months, then undergo an HIV test, and even if the result is negative, it is worth taking a control test after another 3 months.

No you can not! The human immunodeficiency virus does not survive in the environment, therefore, with people who are HIV-positive, you can do not hesitate to share utensils, bed linen, visit the pool and sauna.

There are risks of infection, but they are quite small. So, with a single vaginal intercourse without a condom, the risk is 0.01 - 0.15%. With oral sex, the risks are from 0.005 to 0.01%, with anal sex - from 0.065 to 0.5%. Such statistics are provided in the clinical protocols for the WHO European Region on HIV / AIDS treatment and care (p. 523).

In medicine, cases are described when married couples where one of the spouses was HIV-infected, had sex without using condoms for several years, and the second spouse remained healthy.

If during intercourse a condom was used, it was used according to the instructions and remained intact, then the risk of HIV infection is minimized. If, after 3 or more months after a dubious contact, symptoms resembling HIV infection appear, then you just need to contact a therapist. An increase in temperature, an increase in lymph nodes may indicate the development of ARVI and other diseases. For your own reassurance, it is worth taking an HIV test.

To answer this question, you need to know at what time and how many times such an analysis was submitted:

• a negative result in the first 3 months after a dangerous contact cannot be accurate, doctors talk about a false negative result;
• negative response to HIV testing after 3 months from the moment of dangerous contact - most likely the subject is not infected, but it is imperative to do another test 3 months after the first for control;
• negative response to HIV analysis 6 months or more after dangerous contact - the subject is not infected.

The risks in this case are extremely small - the virus quickly dies in the environment, therefore, even if the blood of an infected person remains on the needle, it is almost impossible to become infected with HIV by wounding with such a needle. There can be no virus in the dried biological fluid (blood). However, after 3 months, and then again - after another 3 months - it is still worth getting tested for HIV.

Tsygankova Yana Alexandrovna, medical commentator, therapist of the highest qualification category.

In the autumn-winter period, when epidemics of respiratory viral infections are most frequent, in order to protect themselves from possible infection, the population wants to know how much a patient is contagious with ARVI.

The problem is that it is not always easy to detect carriers of the virus: during the incubation period of influenza and other respiratory diseases, a person, although he does not experience any manifestations of the disease, is still infectious to others.

Consider in what periods it is advisable to avoid contact with the carrier.

The cause of this group of diseases is the penetration of viruses into the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract, initiating the inflammatory process. The most common infectious agents are:

• a group of rhinoviruses - it includes up to hundreds of species, and in this case, the respiratory tract disease is contagious for up to 2 weeks;
• infection with adenoviruses is also possible. Their features are a long incubation period and the ability to survive up to a crescent on household items.

How can you get infected

Consider how ARVI infection occurs. It is possible in several ways:

• most often, the pathogen passes from one carrier to another by airborne droplets - with the smallest particles of moisture secreted by a person who is a distributor of viruses during an infectious period. Viruses have the ability to move at a very high speed and enter the internal environment of the victim's body when she talks with the carrier of the infection or is simply nearby. Those who often travel by public transport, as well as people working in the service sector, are at particular risk due to the need to regularly contact a large number of people;
• the contact method involves touching the body of the carrier of the infection or to household items that the sick person touched. Some of the pathogens can live longer in the air outside the host's body, and, therefore, the likelihood of contracting them in this way is higher. Such pathogens love a humid environment, so you should avoid using wet towels that the patient or carrier of the infection has used before you.

It should be noted that the development of ARVI does not always follow the penetration of an infectious agent into the body. This happens when the number of viruses that have penetrated is so great that the immune system is unable to cope with them.

Also, there are high chances of getting sick in people with weakened or not completely formed immunity (small children, diabetics, people with blood diseases, etc.).

Viruses first settle on the surface of the mucous membrane, then invade the cells and destroy their structure, which causes the nasopharynx and throat to become inflamed.

The incubation period and the first manifestations of ARVI

From the moment of possible infection until the first external signs of a viral disease appear, at least a day passes. During this time period, the person or his environment will not be able to determine in any way that they are sick.

The way the first stage of infection takes place is to a certain extent related to which pathogen caused the disease. For example, in inflammation caused by adenovirus, one of the features of the incubation period is its high, compared to other acute respiratory viral infections, duration - up to 5 days.

However, these viruses infect the respiratory tract quite rarely (about 5% of all SARS). In general, the duration of incubation is variable within some limits and is determined by the characteristics of the patient's immunity.

After the end of this period, the disease makes itself felt with vivid clinical symptoms. With influenza, which is transmitted in similar ways, the patient is considered contagious for two days, until the first symptoms of the disease (runny nose, high temperature) appear.
In general, ARVI reveals themselves with the following symptoms:

• the appearance of a runny nose;
• wet cough;
• watery eyes and sneezing;
• hyperthermia (temperature rise);
• headaches;
• enlargement of lymph nodes in size (hyperplasia);
• stuffy nose;
• weakness, decreased performance;
• muscle pain.

How many days is a patient with ARVI contagious

Consider how many days a patient with ARVI is contagious to others. The incubation period can vary quite a lot in duration, but it is definitely known that a day before the first symptoms are detected, a person can infect another. That is, if the incubation lasted three days, the patient becomes infectious two days after the introduction of the virus. Such a patient can spread the virus without knowing what is the carrier.

If a little more than a day passed from the penetration of the virus to the onset of symptoms, the patient became dangerous a couple of hours after he caught the virus. Such a person is advised to wear a surgical mask.

When does a patient stop being contagious with ARVI? In the absence of complications, such as pneumonia or concomitant bacterial infection, contagiousness persists for about three days after the patient recovers and the symptoms disappear.

In order not to infect others, the patient needs to write out a sick leave for this period. Normally, ARVI treatment lasts about a week, including symptomatic therapy (cough, rhinitis, hyperthermia, sore throat) and the creation of suitable conditions for the body to fight the pathogen as effectively as possible (bed and drinking).

Related diseases

For patients with influenza, if there are no complications, the timing will be approximately the same: a day or two before the manifestation of symptoms, the entire period of the illness and two to three days after. Unfortunately, there are situations when ARVI is complicated by a serious illness (such as bronchitis or pneumonia) that lasts for several weeks. In this case, the patient remains infectious for the entire period of the illness.

Disease of the ENT organs caused by rhinoviruses is contagious, as a rule, for ten to fifteen days, of which one to two days refers to the period preceding the detection of the first symptoms (watery eyes, mucus from the nose, cough, etc.), and up to three days - to the period after recovery. They initiate about half of ARVI cases. This is facilitated by their size, which is several times inferior to that of the causative agent of influenza and ensures ease of rooting in the thickness of the tissues of the nasopharynx and oropharynx.

For adenoviruses, the duration of the "infectious period" will be longer - from two weeks to a month. Therefore, in this case, special attention should be paid to cleaning the patient's room, hygienic measures, and thoroughly washing the dishes with hot water after each meal. In schoolchildren, infection with this pathogen is often complicated by conjunctivitis. The following phenomena accompanying the course of the disease indicate that ARVI develops with complications and it is necessary to call a doctor:

• sore throat, rhinitis does not end by the fifth day of illness or becomes worse;
• hyperthermia lasts more than four days;
• the patient has an increase in the cervical or submandibular lymph nodes;
• the patient has difficulty breathing;
• a rash on the skin may appear;
• severe loss of strength - so much that it becomes difficult to perform simple daily work (lasts several days).

How to protect yourself from infection

In cold seasons, even a healthy person often wonders how not to get infected with dangerous viruses and what measures he should take to prevent colds.

These people need to remember the following:

• the main places where you can get infected are public transport and crowded places. During the season of epidemics, you should not visit them without great need, and also, if possible, minimize travel by metro, especially during rush hour. If this is not possible, it is recommended to cover the airway with a medical bandage and open your mouth as little as possible when in the designated areas. When among colleagues there is a patient or just had ARVI, it is necessary to give up close communication for a few days;
• if there are no contraindications, it is recommended to get a flu shot (often this is done in city polyclinics);
• great attention should be paid to washing hands with hot water and soap and not touching the face with unwashed hands;
• you should not be unnecessarily in dusty rooms: viruses often settle on dust particles;
• be careful and not use objects with which the patient came into contact during the infectious period;
• you should not spend money on drugs and dietary supplements that supposedly increase immunity: you need to understand that its increase is achieved only in the process of how immunity fights against microorganisms coming from outside;
• it is worth organizing yourself a nutritious diet with enough citrus fruits and green vegetables. During epidemics, it is desirable to eat as little mucus-forming (starchy, dairy) products as possible and avoid overeating;
• make sure not to overcool: this can weaken the body's defenses, and then the likelihood of getting sick increases upon contact with viruses.

Thus, the period of infectiousness of a patient with viral respiratory tract infections is quite long and is not limited to the first days after the onset of symptoms, as people often think.

Knowing this and observing the rules for preventing ARVI, you can minimize the likelihood of encountering these diseases.

Acute respiratory viral infection is the most common illness on the planet. Every person has met ARVI at least once in his life, and knows its manifestations well. In another way, this disease can be called ARI or cold... The causes of the disease have long been known, and treatment is carried out with many drugs, which are produced and improved annually. Such a simple and well-known disease should not cause alarm, but there are reasons for excitement. Complications of ARVI are very different, relate to the respiratory, digestive, and nervous systems.

Lack of treatment can lead to serious consequences, including pneumonia, bronchitis, sinusitis, otitis media and others.

ARVI is treated on an outpatient basis, you should consult a doctor when symptoms of infection appear, when it can still be stopped, avoiding consequences for the body. Children are more likely to encounter colds, which is associated with behavior patterns, ignorance of prevention and the danger of various viral diseases.

Infection occurs very quickly by airborne droplets... The incubation period lasts up to 3 days.

Let us analyze how many days a patient with ARVI is contagious, whether it is possible to become infected with ARVI on the street, and what are the features of the course of this disease.

Causes of ARVI

More than 250 pathogens of acute respiratory infections are known. These are rhinoviruses, adenoviruses, parainfluenza, reoviruses and others. These viruses are very easily spread by airborne droplets, by shaking hands, body contact, while talking. They are stable in the external environment and are especially dangerous for infection in winter, during the period of slush.

Anyone can get sick with ARVI on the street, being at a close distance from the patient in transport, various institutions.

The susceptibility to infection is highest and spreads to all people. Only infants born to mothers in whom antibodies to ARVI circulate are immune to the disease, but this does not fully protect newborns. After the transfer of the disease, immunity is formed, and repeated ARVI comes from another virus of this group.

The source of infection is an infected person, it is dangerous from the end of the incubation period to full recovery, that is, the end of the fever. It follows from this that the most dangerous period of ARVI is fever.

Is it possible to get ARVI on the street without coming into contact with a sick person? This is possible, but rarely happens. The reason may be contact with an object, especially the dishes of a sick person. Humans are the main source of infection.

How does infection occur

The entire group of viral respiratory diseases is transmitted by airborne droplets. Not many can resist the disease after infection, therefore, a pronounced clinical picture begins already on day 2-3.

The virus is transmitted by inhaling air, an aerosol that forms when you sneeze or cough. The infection is also easily spread by contact with the hands, with which the virus is then carried to the oral mucosa.

Children often fall ill with SARS when they come into contact with the toys of a sick child, in kindergartens, rooms where there are many people and which are not ventilated. Since it is known how much a person is contagious with ARVI, namely 2 weeks, the patient should avoid contact with people during this time, use a respiratory mask and take the prescribed drugs. How long the clinical symptoms will last is unknown, because the disease reacts differently to medications.

Clinical symptoms

The main symptoms of a cold are:

• local manifestations in the nasopharynx;
• sneezing and coughing;
• sore throat and irritation;
• body aches, excessive sweating;
• moderate increase in body temperature;
• the cough persists for up to two weeks.

Symptoms with ARVI last no more than 7 days, but coughing can still disturb for some time. A particularly pronounced symptom with a cold is a runny nose with yellow or greenish discharge. This symptom indicates that the body is actively fighting the infection.

The patient has an unpleasant sensation in the area of \u200b\u200bthe nasopharynx during the entire period of the disease, therefore treatment begins with the elimination of local symptoms.

Is it possible to get SARS in the warm summer time? This is quite likely if conditions are created that are unfavorable for the body's defense. Changes in temperature, bathing in cold water, and ice drinks in hot weather - all this leads to hypothermia, and the virus can be activated.

How many people are contagious

A sick person with acute respiratory infections can infect people for up to two weeks, a particularly high infectiousness is noted for 2-3 days. The sick person suffers the acute process hard, the viral illness affects the general well-being, and it is not so difficult to see the sick person in the crowd. A person is contagious with ARVI for up to two weeks from the end of the incubation period until complete recovery.

Complications

Complications include the following diseases:

• acute or chronic rhinitis, sinusitis, sinusitis;
• pneumonia, bronchitis;
• neuritis of the facial or trigeminal nerve;
• tonsillitis, meningitis, radiculoneuritis.

With an infection, it begins to multiply in the area of \u200b\u200bthe entrance gate - this nasopharynx... This is manifested by a sore throat, dry cough. Then the virus enters the circulatory system, causing symptoms of general intoxication. This is already manifested by body aches, fever, headache. The disease ends with the production of antibodies and the clearance of the respiratory tract from infection with sputum. If the disease proceeds with a prolonged stage of intoxication, various complications begin.

Differential diagnosis

SARS symptoms are similar to other viral diseases. Colds should be distinguished from measles, scarlet fever, mononucleosis, hepatitis, tonsillitis, pneumonia and many other diseases.

ARI, accompanied by dyspepsia, must be differentiated from rotavirus infection. With severe fever, measles and scarlet fever should be excluded. When a cold lasts more than two weeks, the symptoms do not subside, and previously there was a risk of contracting exotic diseases, you need to be tested for HIV, hepatitis.

How to treat ARVI

Treatment of acute respiratory infections begins with the elimination of local symptoms and strengthening the immune system. The patient should rest more often and drink plenty of fluids. In an acute period, you should avoid cold air, cigarette smoke, alcoholic beverages.

Drug treatment includes pain relievers, anti-inflammatory drugs, and less commonly antibiotics. Antiviral agents for ARVI are not prescribed, since there are no effective drugs. From painkillers you can drink Ibuprofen, Paracetamol, Aspirin.

The body itself copes with ARVI, neither antibiotics, nor antiviral pills have any effect on the disease, and all drugs are needed only for symptomatic therapy and help the immune system.