Understanding AIDS/HIV -- Symptoms

The Symptoms of HIV/AIDS - the First Stage

HIV infection comes in three stages. The first stage is called acute infection or seroconversion, and it typically happens within two to six weeks after exposure or becoming infected. This is when the body's immune system puts up a fight against HIV. The symptoms of acute infection look similar to those of other viral illnesses and are often compared to those of the flu. The symptoms may last a week or two and then completely go away as the virus goes into a non-symptomatic stage.

The initial symptoms of acute HIV infection may include:

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• Headache
• Diarrhea
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fatigue
• Aching muscles
• Sore throat
• Red rash that doesn't itch, usually on the torso.
• Fever

Call Your Doctor About HIV Infection If:

You think you have come in contact with HIV. Doctors can now prevent HIV from taking hold in the body if they act quickly after initial infection. Health care workers, police, and firefighters who are exposed to HIV-infected blood often use a process that involves taking anti-HIV drugs to protect themselves. These drugs must be taken within hours or days of initial exposure.

You may be tested for HIV using highly sensitive tests that detect both HIV antigen, a protein produced by the virus immediately after infection, and HIV antibodies. This test can confirm a diagnosis within days of infection. (Regular HIV tests don't work this soon after infection; they can only detect antibodies.) You may be given anti-HIV drugs to take for a prescribed period of time. There may be unpleasant side effects to these drugs, but they may stop HIV from infecting you.

Most people don't know they've been infected with HIV, but weeks later they may experience the symptoms of seroconversion. These symptoms mean the body is trying to fight HIV.

The Period Without Symptoms of HIV - the Second Stage

After the first seroconversion period, the immune system loses the battle with HIV and symptoms go away. HIV infection goes into its second stage, which can be a long period without symptoms, called the asymptomatic period. This is when people may not know they are infected and can pass HIV on to others. This period can last 10 or more years.

During this period without symptoms, HIV is slowly killing the CD4 T-cells and destroying the immune system. Blood tests during this time can reveal the number of these CD4 T-cells. Normally, a person has a CD4 T-cell count between 450 and 1,400 cells per microliter. This number changes constantly, depending on a person's state of health. For an HIV-infected person, the number of CD4 T-cells steadily drops, making them vulnerable to other infections -- and in danger of developing AIDS.

HIV Infection and AIDS - the Third Stage

AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is the advanced stage of HIV infection. When the CD4 T-cell number drops below 200, people are diagnosed with AIDS.

Someone infected with HIV can also be diagnosed with AIDS if they have an “AIDS defining illness” such as Kaposi’s sarcoma (a form of skin cancer) or pneumocystis pneumonia (a lung disease).

Fortunately, combination medications used to treat HIV -- a ''cocktail'' – can help rebuild the immune system. These drugs can be expensive and pose challenges with side effects, but it is critical to not stop taking them without talking to your doctor. It is also important not to take part of the medications without taking the others. People with low CD4 T-cells may also receive drugs to prevent opportunistic infections. These preventative medications should be taken until the CD4 count has improved. 

Some people don't know they were infected with HIV, and only discover their HIV infection after experiencing some of these HIV-related symptoms:

• Being tired all of the time
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck or groin
• Fever lasting for more than 10 days
• Night sweats
• Unexplained weight loss
• Purplish spots on the skin that don't go away
• Shortness of breath
• Severe, long-lasting diarrhea
• Yeast infections in the mouth, throat, or vagina
• Easy bruising or unexplained bleeding

Call Your Doctor About HIV or AIDS If:

Call your doctor if you experience any of the above symptoms of HIV/AIDS. These are serious signs of disease, which could be HIV-related.

A sexually transmitted disease that is caused by bacteria, Treponema Pallidum, is Syphilis. Genital area, mount, lips or anus of both men and women are certain areas that are infected by the disease. Usually, the disease transmits when a person gets engaged sexually with the infected person. Sometimes, disease also passed on from mother to baby during pregnancy.

As per the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious diseases (NIAID) research report “Although, in the U.S., syphilis rates has been decreased by 90 percent from 1990 to 2000, within the time span of 6 years (2000-2006), number of cases have increased by 3777. In one year 2005-2006, syphilis rate has been increased by 12 percent.” Let’s explore some vital information about the disease.