HIV AIDS SYMPTOMS | Dr.Choudhary

HIV / AIDS SYMPTOMS

There's no cure for HIV/AIDS. But medicines can control the infection and keep the disease from getting worse. Antiviral treatments for HIV have reduced AIDS deaths around the world.

Clinical Latent Infection (Chronic HIV)

In this stage, HIV remains active in the body, hiding inside immune system cells (white blood cells). However, many people don't have any symptoms or infections caused by the virus during this time.

For individuals not receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART), this stage can last for several years. In some cases, the disease progresses more quickly, leading to severe symptoms sooner.

Symptomatic HIV Infection:-

As the virus multiplies and damages immune cells, the body becomes weaker and more prone to infections. This can lead to mild infections or persistent symptoms such as:

Fever
Fatigue
Swollen lymph nodes (often one of the first signs of HIV)
Diarrhea
Weight loss
Oral yeast infection (thrush)
Shingles (herpes zoster)
Pneumonia

These symptoms indicate that HIV is actively affecting the immune system and requires medical attention to manage and slow its progression.

Overview

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a long-term condition caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). HIV weakens the immune system, making it harder for the body to fight off infections and diseases. If left untreated, HIV can take years to damage the immune system enough to lead to AIDS. However, with proper treatment, most people can live with HIV without ever developing AIDS.

HIV spreads mainly through unprotected sex (without a condom) and is considered a sexually transmitted infection (STI). It can also spread through blood, such as when people share needles or syringes. Additionally, a person with untreated HIV can pass the virus to their baby during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.

There is no cure for HIV or AIDS, but medicines can help manage the virus and prevent it from worsening. These antiviral treatments have significantly reduced AIDS-related deaths worldwide. Efforts are ongoing to make these treatments more accessible, especially in countries with fewer resources.

Symptoms

The symptoms of HIV and AIDS can be different for everyone and depend on the stage of infection.

Early Stage: Primary Infection (Acute HIV)

Within 2 to 4 weeks after being infected with HIV, some people experience flu-like symptoms. This stage can last for a few days or even weeks. However, some people may not have any symptoms at all.

Common symptoms during this stage include:

Fever
Headache
Muscle and joint pain
Rash
Sore throat and painful mouth sores
Swollen lymph nodes (especially in the neck)
Diarrhea
Weight loss
Cough
Night sweats

These symptoms may be very mild, making them easy to overlook. During this time, the virus multiplies quickly in the bloodstream, leading to a high "viral load." Because of this, HIV is more likely to spread to others during this early stage than in later stages.

Progression to AIDS

Advances in antiviral treatments have significantly reduced the number of deaths caused by AIDS worldwide. Thanks to these treatments, most people living with HIV in countries like the U.S. do not progress to AIDS. Without treatment, however, HIV typically progresses to AIDS within 8 to 10 years.

AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) occurs when HIV severely damages the immune system. At this stage, the body becomes vulnerable to illnesses and infections that a healthy immune system would normally fight off. These are known as opportunistic infections or cancers. In some cases, people may experience opportunistic infections even during the earlier stages of HIV.

Symptoms of Opportunistic Infections

People with AIDS may experience:

Sweats
Chills
Recurring fever
Persistent diarrhea
Swollen lymph nodes
White spots or sores in the mouth or on the tongue
Extreme fatigue
Weakness
Rapid and unexplained weight loss
Skin rashes or bumps

These symptoms indicate a severely weakened immune system and require immediate medical care. With proper treatment, the progression of HIV to AIDS can often be prevented, allowing people to live longer, healthier lives.

Understanding HIV and AIDS

What Causes HIV?
HIV is caused by a virus that weakens the immune system. It spreads through:

Sexual contact: Having unprotected sex with an infected person.
Sharing needles: Using shared needles for injecting drugs.
Contact with infected blood: Though rare, HIV can spread through unscreened blood transfusions.
Parent-to-child transmission: During pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding if the parent is untreated.

HIV targets and destroys CD4 T cells, which are white blood cells that help fight infections. As the number of these cells decreases, the immune system weakens.

How Does HIV Become AIDS?
If untreated, HIV can progress to AIDS in about 8 to 10 years. AIDS is diagnosed when:

CD4 T cell count falls below 200.
Opportunistic infections or certain cancers develop.

How HIV Spreads?
You can get HIV through:

Unprotected sex: Virus enters through small tears or sores during vaginal or anal sex. Oral sex carries a lower risk.
Sharing needles: Using infected needles or syringes.
Blood transfusions: Rare in countries where blood is tested for HIV.
Mother-to-child transmission: Without treatment, HIV can pass to a baby during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.

How HIV Doesn’t Spread?
You cannot get HIV through:

Casual contact (hugging, kissing, dancing, or shaking hands).
Air, water, or insect bites.
Donating blood.

Who is at Risk?
Anyone can get HIV, but your risk is higher if you:

Have unprotected sex.
Share needles.
Have an untreated sexually transmitted infection (STI), as STIs can cause sores that allow HIV to enter the body.

Complications of HIV/AIDS
Common Infections
HIV weakens the immune system, making you more vulnerable to infections, such as:

Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP): A fungal infection that can cause severe pneumonia.
Candidiasis (Thrush): Causes white patches in the mouth, esophagus, or vagina.
Tuberculosis (TB): A major cause of death in people with AIDS globally.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV): A herpes virus that can damage the eyes and organs if the immune system is weak.
Cryptococcal meningitis: A fungal infection affecting the brain and spinal cord.
Toxoplasmosis: A parasitic infection, often spread by cats, that can cause serious brain and heart problems.

Common Cancers

Lymphoma: Starts in white blood cells and causes swollen lymph nodes.
Kaposi Sarcoma: Tumors on the skin, mouth, or internal organs.
HPV-Related Cancers: Includes cervical, anal, and oral cancers.

Other Complications

Wasting syndrome: Severe weight loss and weakness.
Neurological issues: Memory loss, confusion, depression, or dementia.
Kidney disease: Inflammation of the kidneys, especially in Black and Hispanic individuals.
Liver disease: More common in people with hepatitis B or C.

Prevention Tips
Medicines for Prevention

PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis): A daily pill or shot that reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by 99% and from drug use by 74%.
PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis): Emergency medicine taken within 72 hours of HIV exposure to prevent infection
.

Lifestyle Measures

Use condoms: For vaginal and anal sex, and dental dams for oral sex.
Don’t share needles: Use sterile needles or join needle-exchange programs.
Get tested: Both partners should be tested regularly.
Treatment during pregnancy: Reduces the risk of passing HIV to the baby.
Male circumcision: Lowers the risk of getting HIV.

If You Have HIV

Take your medication: Proper treatment can reduce the virus to undetectable levels, meaning you can’t pass it to others.
Inform your partners: Let current and past partners know so they can get tested.

By following these steps, you can reduce the risk of HIV transmission and live a healthier life.

If you think you may have been infected with HIV or are at risk of contracting the virus, see a healthcare professional as soon as you can.

When to see a Doctor?