Understanding HIV and Its Stages

HIV is a virus that attacks the human immune system and certain organs like the brain, heart, and kidneys. It primarily targets the CD4+ lymphocytes which play a crucial role in immune function.

 

 

As HIV destroys these cells, the immune system becomes weak, leading to opportunistic infections and cancers.

 

It is important to understand the different stages that a person goes through after being diagnosed with HIV. After the initial infection, which can go unnoticed, a person can experience a range of symptoms.

 

Within 2-4 weeks of infection, the person may experience mild flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle aches, and sore throat.

 

These symptoms can last for a few days to a few weeks and may be easily overlooked as they are similar to those of other common illnesses.

 

A person is highly infectious during this stage. At this point, a person may not exhibit any significant symptoms beyond some generalized lymphadenopathy. Importantly, the patient is stable and not experiencing any discomfort during this stage.

 

This stage can last for several years and the patient will be healthy looking.

 

Clinical Stage 2

In this stage patient will start having some symptoms like

• recurrent respiratory tract infections
• <10% weight loss
• Herpes Zoster
• Recurrent oral ulceration
• Angular Cheilitis
• Papular pruritic eruptions
• Fungal nail infections
• Seborrheic dermatitis

Clinical stage 3

It’s important to note that this stage can be more severe for individuals with HIV, but there are many resources and treatments available to help manage the condition.

• Unexplained severe weight loss (>10% of presumed or measured body weight)
• Unexplained chronic diarrhea for longer than 1 month
• Unexplained persistent fever (intermittent or constant for longer than 1 month)
• Persistent oral candidiasis
• Oral hairy leukoplakia
• Pulmonary tuberculosis
• Severe bacterial infections
• Acute necrotizing ulcerative stomatitis, gingivitis or periodontitis
• Unexplained anaemia

Stage 4

The end stage of HIV, also known as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), is a critical phase in which the virus has severely damaged the immune system of the patient.

 

Without proper medical treatment, the patient’s body becomes highly vulnerable to infections, cancers, and other life-threatening diseases.

 

HIV positive individuals must seek medical attention and adhere to antiretroviral therapy to prevent the progression of the disease to its end stage.

 

The symptoms of AIDS can vary from person to person.

 

Signs and symptoms of stage 4 disease

• HIV wasting syndrome
• Pneumocystis (jirovecii) pneumonia
• Recurrent severe bacterial pneumonia
• Chronic herpes simplex infection (orolabial, genital or anorectal of more than one month in duration or visceral at any site)
• Oesophageal candidiasis (or candidiasis of the trachea, bronchi, or lungs)
• Extrapulmonary tuberculosis
• Kaposi sarcoma
• Cytomegalovirus infection (retinitis or infection of other organs)
• Central nervous system toxoplasmosis
• HIV encephalopathy
• Extrapulmonary cryptococcosis, including meningitis
• Disseminated nontuberculous mycobacterial infection
• Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy
• Chronic cryptosporidiosis
• Chronic isosporiasis
• Disseminated mycosis (extrapulmonary histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis)
• Lymphoma (cerebral or B-cell non-Hodgkin)
• Symptomatic HIV-associated nephropathy or cardiomyopathy
• Recurrent septicemia (including nontyphoidal Salmonella)
• Iinvasive cervical carcinoma
• Atypical disseminated leishmaniasis

 

In the past, HIV claimed the lives of many individuals causing widespread fear and concern. Fortunately, advances in medical science have enabled us to develop treatments that can help those living with HIV to manage their condition and lead healthy, fulfilling lives.

 

If you are experiencing symptoms that might suggest you have contracted HIV, it is important to seek out testing as soon as possible. While there is currently no cure for HIV, early detection and treatment can greatly improve your chances of living a normal, successful life.

 

Remember, getting tested is a crucial step in protecting your health and that of your loved ones.