Stages of HIV infection

1. Stages of HIV infection Symptoms and Stages of HIV/AIDS HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection is a threat to lives all over the world. It is a sexually transmitted infection, i.e., this virus can spread from an infected person to a healthy person via vaginal fluid, anal fluid, breast milk, and infected needles. Furthermore, this infection affects the immune system of the individual. This makes the body prone to other opportunistic diseases. However, if the condition is diagnosed early, treatment can be initiated. Plus, treatment of HIV infection is more easy and effective at its primary stages. Mainly, there are three stages of this infection as per the following. Acute HIV Infection: 1st Stage Acute HIV infection is the first or primary stage of HIV infection. This stage lasts until antibodies are produced by the immune system. Once an individual contracts HIV, the body starts to make antibodies against it over a period of 2 to 4 weeks. Unlike other viruses, HIV cannot be fought off by the immune system. Thus, the initial stage of this infection gives rise to symptoms like:  Headache  Fatigue  Rash  Fever  Chills  Sore throat  Swollen lymph nodes  Muscle aches

2. Diarrhea Night sweats Loss of appetite Mouth ulcers The symptoms of acute HIV infection are often mistaken as the signs of common diseases like flu or others. However, once detected at an early stage, HIV infection can be managed effectively using proper medications.     Chronic Infection: 2nd Stage During the second or chronic stage of HIV infection, the virus continues to multiple or replicate in the body and starts altering the immune response. Most individuals experience mild symptoms. If the infection is not detected at this stage and antiretroviral therapy is not started, the disease will progress to the advanced stage within a period of 10 years or even less. Further, the common symptoms experienced by individuals at this HIV stage may include:  Diarrhea  Weight loss  Cough  Night sweats  Fever  Headache  Muscle aches  Joint pain  Rash Moreover, some patients may also experience severe and life-threatening signs during the stage of chronic HIV infection. This is because the virus at this stage affects more CD4 cells (white blood cells) and decreases the ability of the immune system. Medications like Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate and Emtricitabine tablets play a vital role in inhibiting the replication of viruses in the body. AIDS: 3rd/Advanced Stage AIDS or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is the final stage of HIV infection that can be hardly managed with medications. By this stage, the virus damages the immune system of an individual completely. The average CD4 cell count of patients with AIDS is 200 cells/mm3. They typically become prone to severe infections like pneumonia, herpes simplex virus infection, and others. Besides the HIV symptoms, the patients start to suffer from the signs of other conditions they develop due to a weak immune response. Moreover, antiretroviral therapies tend to manage AIDS to some extent. But, no full-fledged cure is not established by now.