1 / 11

Phases of HIV/AIDS

Phases of HIV/AIDS. 1. Infection 2. Window period 3. Seroconversion 4. Asymptomatic period 5. HIV/AIDS - related illness 6. AIDS. CD4 counts. Number of CD4 cells in blood provides a measure of immune system damage CD4 count reflects phase of disease CD4 count:

alegria
Download Presentation

Phases of HIV/AIDS

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Phases of HIV/AIDS 1. Infection 2. Window period 3. Seroconversion 4. Asymptomatic period 5. HIV/AIDS - related illness 6. AIDS

  2. CD4 counts • Number of CD4 cells in blood provides a measure of immune system damage • CD4 count reflects phase of disease • CD4 count: 500 – 1200: Normal 200 – 500: Beginning of HIV illness < 200: AIDS

  3. Window period • Time between infection & enough antibodies for a positive HIV test • Duration: approximately 3 months • No symptoms or signs of illness • HIV test is negative • Virus is multiplying rapidly - viral load is high • Person is very infectious

  4. Seroconversion • Point at which HIV test becomes positive • Body starts making antibodies to HIV a few weeks after infection • HIV test becomes positive when antibody levels are high enough to be measured • Happens about 3 months after infection • Person may have a mild flu-like illness, lasting a week or two • Afterwards, the person is well again

  5. Asymptomatic period • Time period between seroconversion and onset of HIV/AIDS-related illness • Duration variable: < 1 year to > 15 years • Most people remain healthy (asymptomatic) for about three years • Duration may depend on socio-economic factors • The CD4 count is above 500 cells/ml

  6. HIV/AIDS-related illness • Time period between onset of illness & diagnosis of AIDS • Duration is variable: average about 5 years • Illnesses initially mild, with gradual increase in frequency and severity • CD4 count is between 500 & 200 cells/ml

  7. AIDS • Final phase of HIV/AIDS • Duration: without antiretroviral drugs, less than 2 years with antiretrovirals, potentially many years • CD4 count is below 200 cells/ml • Viral loads are high & the person is very infectious • HIV test may become negative

  8. Phases of HIV/AIDS 1. Infection: The moment the virus gets into the body 2. Window period: The time between infection & enough antibodies for a positive HIV test 3. Seroconversion: The body starts to make antibodies to HIV

  9. Phases of HIV/AIDS 4. Asymptomatic period: No illness 5. HIV/AIDS-related illness: Less serious illnesses 6. AIDS: Serious illnesses

  10. Important facts • Duration of different phases of HIV/AIDS will vary in different people • It is not possible to predict the course of the disease in any one person • Factors affecting the course of HIV/AIDS include nutrition, emotional stress, and access to health care • People infected with HIV can infect others at any phase of the disease

  11. Re-infection • Different strains of HIV exist within the same HIV type • It is possible to be re-infected with a different strain • When re-infection occurs, the immune system is weakened more rapidly • NB Re-infection can hasten the progression of the disease

More Related