list of acute HIV, chronic HIV, and AIDs symptoms Share on Pinterest
HIV has multiple stages of infection. In the early stage after an exposure, symptoms may include flu or common cold symptoms. This can resolve spontaneously while HIV is still active in the trunk. It will then progress to a chronic infection, where the symptoms tin can vary profoundly only include weight loss, fatigue, and unexplained fevers. The chronic phase tin happen at any time after the astute stage, simply it may not exist immediately later. If untreated, HIV can progress to AIDS, which is diagnosed based on the number of a white blood prison cell type that is circulating in the claret.

HIV is a virus that compromises the immune arrangement. At that place is currently no cure for HIV, just since the late 1980s, treatment in the form of antiretroviral drugs has been available to help reduce the impact of whatsoever symptoms.

In the majority of cases, in one case a person contracts HIV, the virus stays in the trunk for life. Even so, HIV symptoms are unlike the symptoms of other viral infections in that they come in stages.

If left untreated, the disease caused by the infection has three phases. Each has unlike potential symptoms and complications.

But regular antiretroviral handling tin reduce HIV to undetectable levels in the blood. This means the virus won't progress to the afterwards stages of HIV infection or be transmitted to a partner during sex activity.

ARS is common once a person develops HIV. But this isn't the case for everyone as, according to HIV.gov, symptoms may not appear for a decade or longer.

Although the virus replicates quickly in the weeks afterwards contracting information technology, symptoms in early HIV just tend to show up if the rate of cell destruction is high.

This doesn't mean that cases of HIV without symptoms are less serious or that an asymptomatic person tin can't transmit the virus to others.

Subsequently initial exposure and possible chief infection, HIV may transition to the clinically latent infection stage. Due to a lack of symptoms in some people, this is as well referred to as asymptomatic HIV infection.

According to HIV.gov, latency in HIV infection tin can last up to 10 or 15 years. This ways that the virus is replicating much slower than before. Just it doesn't mean that HIV is gone, nor does it mean that the virus can't be transmitted to others.

Although many people are asymptomatic during this stage, some may still have symptoms later the acute infection.

Symptoms of chronic HIV can vary, ranging from minimal to more severe. People may feel episodes of the following, peculiarly in advanced stages:

  • cough or breathing difficulties
  • unintentional weight loss of more than 10 pct of torso weight
  • diarrhea
  • fatigue
  • high fever

Clinically latent infection may progress to the 3rd and final stage of HIV, known as AIDS. The take a chance of progression is college if a person with HIV isn't receiving or adhering to treatment, such equally antiretroviral therapy.

CD4 levels below 200 cells per cubic millimeter (mm3) of blood is ane indication that HIV has progressed to its final phase. A normal range is 500 to 1,600 cells/mm3.

Sometimes, AIDS is determined simply by a person'south overall health — information technology develops when HIV has significantly weakened the immune organization and can atomic number 82 to AIDS-defining atmospheric condition, such every bit sure infections and cancers, that are rare in people who don't have HIV.

Symptoms of AIDS include:

  • persistent high fevers of over 100°F (37.viii°C)
  • diarrhea that lasts for longer than a week
  • severe chills and night sweats
  • white spots in the oral fissure
  • genital or anal sores
  • astringent fatigue
  • rashes that tin can be dark-brown, reddish, majestic, or pink in color
  • regular coughing and breathing issues
  • significant weight loss
  • persistent headaches
  • memory issues and other neurological issues
  • opportunistic infections, such as pneumonia, lymphoma, or tuberculosis

The CDC recommends that anyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested at to the lowest degree in one case for HIV.

Individuals who might contract HIV more than frequently are brash to exam at to the lowest degree once every year. This may include people:

  • assigned male at birth (AMAB) who have sex with other AMAB people
  • who've had anal or vaginal sex with someone who is HIV-positive or whose status is unknown
  • who share needles or syringes
  • who've recently been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection (STI)
  • who've had a new sexual partner since their concluding HIV test

You can discover a local testing site here.

There are a few different types of tests, and each has a different window period— the time between potential exposure to HIV and when a test volition be able to detect the virus. If you could take been exposed to HIV in the past 72 hours, taking postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) can help prevent transmission.

Nucleic acid tests are usually able to notice an HIV infection between 10 and 33 days after exposure.

Antigen/antibody tests using blood from a vein have a typical window flow of 18 to 45 days, while finger prick antigen/antibody tests tin be used 23 to xc days after potential exposure.

A negative upshot should be double-checked with a second exam later the window period.

A positive effect will besides be checked with a follow-up test (aka "confirmatory testing"). If the 2nd test comes dorsum positive, yous will be diagnosed with HIV.

Finding out that y'all're HIV-positive tin can be hard for some. But there are healthcare professionals out there who can help — both physically and emotionally.

Your usual clinician may be able to assist directly or refer you to a one experienced with HIV. Alternatively, yous can observe a local clinician experienced with HIV here.

It's of import to commencement handling as soon as HIV is diagnosed. Consult a medico or other healthcare professional person if you experience whatsoever new or worsening symptoms.

The infection can be managed with antiretroviral drugs. These will need to be taken during all stages of HIV — even if there aren't any noticeable symptoms.

They reduce the amount of virus within the trunk past stopping it from replicating, and can lower levels and then significantly that the virus becomes undetectable.

Medications therefore help to foreclose progression of the disease, maintain quality of life, and can finish the virus from being transmitted to others via sex.

You may be given a combination of drugs to stop the virus from becoming resistant. The bulk of people accept an undetectable viral load within 6 months.

If this isn't achievable, any sexual partners can be protected by taking a medicine chosen preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Condoms should also be used to aid forbid transmission during sex.

Your clinician will go on to monitor the amount of HIV in your blood with viral load tests and bank check the number of CD4 cells in your blood — these help combat infections.

If HIV progresses to AIDS, other medical interventions are usually necessary to treat AIDS-related illnesses or complications that can be fatal.

Without handling, the CDC estimates the average survival rate to be three years once AIDS is diagnosed.

HIV has 3 stages — each with its ain set of symptoms.

The first symptoms often appear within a few weeks of exposure. However, some people feel no symptoms until years later.

Regular testing is crucial if you have a higher gamble of contracting HIV. With swift and proper handling, the infection and its symptoms tin can be managed, helping you and whatsoever sexual partners to stay equally healthy as possible.

Lauren Sharkey is a U.K.-based journalist and author specializing in women'southward issues. When she isn't trying to find a fashion to blackball migraines, she tin exist found uncovering the answers to your lurking health questions. She has besides written a book profiling immature female person activists across the globe and is currently edifice a community of such resisters. Take hold of her on Twitter.