Signs and symptoms of HIV/AIDS
Signs and Symptoms of HIV/AIDS
HIV/AIDS (pronounced /ˌeɪtʃaɪˈviː/ /ˈeɪdz/), an acronym for Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, is a spectrum of conditions caused by infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The etymology of the term HIV/AIDS comes from the specific virus (HIV) that causes the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
Signs and Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of HIV/AIDS can be divided into three stages: acute infection, clinical latency, and AIDS.
Acute Infection
The initial period following the contraction of HIV is known as acute HIV, primary HIV or acute retroviral syndrome. Many individuals develop an influenza-like illness or a mononucleosis-like illness 2–4 weeks post exposure while others have no significant symptoms. Symptoms occur in 40–90% of cases and most commonly include fever, large tender lymph nodes, throat inflammation, a rash, headache, and/or sores of the mouth and genitals. The rash, which occurs in 20–50% of cases, presents on the trunk and is maculopapular, classically.
Clinical Latency
The second stage of HIV infection is known as clinical latency, asymptomatic HIV, or chronic HIV. Without treatment, this second stage of the natural history of HIV infection can last from about three years to over 20 years (on average, about eight years). While typically there are few or no symptoms at first, near the end of this stage many people experience fever, weight loss, gastrointestinal problems and muscle pains.
AIDS
The third stage of infection with HIV is AIDS, which can be diagnosed by the presence of certain symptoms, infections, or cancers, or by a low number of CD4+ T cells. Symptoms most commonly seen in AIDS include chills, fever, sweats (particularly at night), swollen lymph glands, weakness, and weight loss.
Related Terms
- Opportunistic infection: Infections that occur more frequently or are more severe in people with weakened immune systems, including people with HIV.
- Antiretroviral therapy (ART): The use of HIV medicines to treat HIV infection.
- CD4+ T cells: A type of immune cell. HIV destroys CD4 cells, making it harder for the body to fight off infections and disease.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Signs and symptoms of HIV/AIDS
- Wikipedia's article - Signs and symptoms of HIV/AIDS
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