Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs): Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
The 3 Stages Of HIV And How It Can Develop Into AIDS — And What To Know About Testing And Treatment
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) presents in three stages. It starts with flu-like symptoms and can progress to severely damage your immune system if left untreated.
Here's what you should know about the stages and symptoms of HIV and how to navigate testing and treatment.
Important: HIV is a rare yet serious infection. You may be at an increased risk if you frequently have unprotected sex with multiple partners or share needles.
Stage 1: Acute HIVThe first stage of HIV is the acute infection stage. It is mostly characterized by flu-like symptoms. However, not everyone will experience these symptoms and some HIV tests may even come up negative.
Most people experience these flu-like symptoms about two to six weeks after they have been infected. These symptoms are a sign that your immune system is fighting the virus and usually last about one to two weeks.
Some of the symptoms you may experience are:
"Some of the most common early signs of HIV are a high fever, a rash on your upper body, fatigue, sore throat, severe headache, and muscle weakness," says Peter Gulick, MD, a professor of medicine at Michigan State University (MSU), College of Osteopathic Medicine, and Director of the MSU HIV and Hepatitis Clinic.
Important: Many people in this stage of HIV won't have any symptoms at all. That's why if you suspect you've been exposed to the virus, it's advisable to get tested whether or not you are presenting symptoms.
It's especially important to get tested at this stage of HIV because your viral load is very high, meaning that you are highly infectious and could easily infect someone else with the disease unknowingly.
Stage 2: Asymptomatic infectionThis stage comes after the acute infection stage and is commonly called the clinical latency, chronic, or asymptomatic infection stage. At this stage of HIV, most of the earlier symptoms of the condition fade, and a person might start to feel better.
This stage can last for up to 10 years or even longer. But even though a person might not be showing symptoms at this stage, the virus is still active and spreading.
At this stage of the virus, a blood test will be able to indicate how active the virus is and how much of an effect it's having on your immune system. A person at this stage is also infectious. If the condition goes untreated, it will continue to progress, damaging the immune system.
Stage 3: AIDSAt this stage, the virus develops into Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). When a person has AIDS, their immune system is critically damaged. This is the most severe stage of HIV.
A person with HIV at this stage is also very susceptible to infections and diseases. The body will be unable to defend itself against opportunistic infections, including viral infections like shingles and bacterial infections like tuberculosis and pneumonia.
Medical term: Opportunistic infections are more likely to happen to people who are immunocompromised than people who have healthy immune systems.
People who have AIDS have a very high viral load of the virus and are very infectious. At this stage without treatment, the condition can be fatal and could cause death. Most people with AIDS are likely to only survive for 1 to 3 years if they have no access to proper treatment.
Some common symptoms of AIDS include:
If you are experiencing early signs of HIV or suspect you've been exposed to someone with the condition, getting tested is the next step.
"If you notice any early signs of HIV or have been exposed to a person who has it, get tested immediately. If you test negative but continue to engage in high-risk activities like unprotected sex, then you should get tested every three to six months," says Gulick.
General advice: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it's advisable for everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 to get tested for HIV at least once. If you are sexually active, they advise that you test at least once a year.
You can get an HIV test at any of the following places:
If you test positive for HIV, you should know that with proper management and treatment, the virus can be kept well under control and you can live a long and healthy life. If you are unsure of what test you should be taking, speak to your doctor first for a recommendation.
3 types of HIV testsHIV medication helps to reduce the viral load in your body, or the amount of HIV in your blood. HIV medicines work by blocking or changing the enzymes the virus uses to replicate itself.
Some of the treatment options approved by the FDA for HIV include:
There's currently no cure for HIV, but with the proper treatment and medication, the condition can be well-managed. People who have HIV and get adequate treatment and medication are capable of living long and healthy lives.
Keeping an eye out for the first signs of HIV if you suspect you've been infected, and testing as early as possible, will help you to manage the condition better. It's also important to take your HIV medication regularly to prevent the condition from progressing.
"Taking medication for HIV is a lifelong therapy. Stopping your HIV medication will cause the disease to start to progress again," Gulick says.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Signs And Symptoms In Women
Women may experience unique symptoms of HIV. Early on, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) typically causes flu-like symptoms, which are similar across sexes. HIV symptoms in women may differ after the initial infection and include changes in menstrual cycles and increased vaginal infections.
HIV is an infection that attacks cells in your immune system known as CD4 cells. If untreated, HIV may progress to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), which increases the risk of severe infections.
Several HIV-related health changes during chronic HIV infection are specific to people assigned female at birth. It's possible not to experience any complications for quite some time. Still, they can eventually develop. Bone Loss People with HIV, especially women with HIV, experience faster bone loss than those without HIV. Generally, women tend to lose bone faster than men because of the hormonal changes that occur after menopause. Having HIV can affect women's bone loss more so than usual. Early Menopause Menopause happens when you do not have a menstrual period for at least 12 months. In the United States, the average age for menopause is 52. People with HIV tend to enter menopause earlier than that. You may notice various changes, including the onset of hot flashes, during the time leading up to menopause. A hot flash causes sudden heat in the upper part or all of your body. The sensation can last anywhere from 30 seconds to 10 minutes and can happen at varying frequencies. Typically, people with HIV have more severe hot flashes than those without the virus. Menstrual Cycle Changes You may notice changes to your menstrual cycle if you have HIV. For example, people with HIV might miss their periods. They might also experience lighter or heavier bleeding than before having HIV. People with HIV are more likely to have severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms than others, such as: Backache Bloating or a gassy feeling Changes in appetite Constipation Cramps Diarrhea Headache Irritability Sleeping too little or too much Swollen or tender breasts In the United States, about 2% of transgender people make up new HIV diagnoses. Social and medical factors may affect symptoms in transgender women with HIV. Transgender women may face several obstacles in receiving proper healthcare compared to people with different gender identities. For example, transgender women may experience discrimination in healthcare settings, such as being called by the incorrect name or pronouns. Some evidence suggests that transgender women with HIV may have concerns over interactions between HIV medicines and gender-affirming treatments. Research has found that transgender women may develop more severe bone loss and have a higher risk of heart disease than others with HIV. As a result, transgender women with HIV are less likely to take HIV medicine than others. Recognizing those obstacles and taking steps to reduce them may help improve outcomes among transgender women with HIV. For example, experts advise healthcare providers to consider gender-affirming healthcare history (e.G., past hormone use or surgery) and adjust HIV medicines accordingly. Generally, people with HIV do not have symptoms right away. It may take 10 years or longer for people with HIV to notice symptoms or complications. HIV symptoms progress in stages: acute and chronic HIV. Chronic HIV may progress into AIDS if untreated. Acute HIV symptoms develop within two to four weeks after HIV exposure. During this stage, HIV quickly multiplies and spreads throughout the body. Within two to four weeks after exposure, about two-thirds of people with HIV have flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, and fatigue. Those symptoms are your body's natural response to infection. Other acute HIV symptoms include: Mouth ulcers Muscle aches Night sweats Rash Sore throat Swollen lymph nodes Chronic HIV is also known as asymptomatic HIV infection. It's possible for people not to have any symptoms or feel sick. Severe HIV complications, such as a weak immune system, take years to develop. With chronic HIV, HIV continues to multiply but at lower levels. If untreated, chronic HIV can last about 10 years before progressing to AIDS. People with HIV develop AIDS if their CD4 counts fall below a certain level. AIDS increases the risk of opportunistic infections, those that happen more often or severely in people with weak immune systems than others. In addition to opportunistic infections, AIDS symptoms include: Anal, genital, or mouth sores Blotches on the skin Depression Diarrhea Memory loss or other neurological problems Pneumonia Rapid unintentional weight loss Reoccurring fevers Swollen lymph nodes On average, people with AIDS survive for three years without treatment. However, people with AIDS who receive antiretroviral therapy (HAART) can live for more than 10 years after onset. HIV attacks and weakens the immune system. As a result, people assigned female at birth with HIV have a higher risk than others of developing health conditions, such as: Cervical cancer: This cancer begins in the cervix. Certain strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) are among the most common causes of cervical cancer. Women with HIV are more likely to have HPV than others. People with low CD4 counts are more likely to have abnormal cells in their cervix that may develop into cancer. Flu: People with low CD4 counts or those not taking HIV medicine are more likely to have complications from the flu than others. One of the most common flu complications is pneumonia. Heart disease: Heart disease occurs when fatty substances build up in your arteries that carry blood to your heart. Certain HIV medicines may increase heart disease risk. Eating a healthy diet, regularly exercising, and not smoking help prevent heart disease. Hepatitis: This is an infection of the liver. Experts advise people with HIV to receive vaccines that prevent hepatitis A and B and regular tests for hepatitis B and C. Kidney disease: HIV may infect your kidney cells. As a result, HIV—as well as some HIV medicines—may damage the filters, or nephrons, in your kidneys that produce urine and remove waste. Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP): Normally, your body keeps a balance of "bad" and "good" germs in your body. One of those "bad" germs is Pneumocystis jirovecii, a fungus. That fungus may grow out of control in people with weak immune systems, like those with HIV. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs): These infections spread through sexual contact. Some people with HIV are at risk for certain STIs, like herpes and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). STIs may cause more severe symptoms and be harder to treat in people with HIV than in others. Vaginal yeast infections: These infections happen when a fungus, Candida albicans, overgrows in the vagina. Candida overgrowth may occur if you have an illness that weakens your immune system, such as HIV. Vaginal yeast infections that happen at least four times a year are most common among people with chronic HIV. Pregnant or breastfeeding people and those taking HIV medication may be at higher risk for potential complications. Transmission to Children HIV can pass from a pregnant person to their child during pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding. Still, people with HIV can have healthy pregnancies. The risk of passing HIV to an infant is less than 1% if you take precautions. A healthcare provider will likely advise the following precautions: Getting tested for HIV if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant: A healthcare provider may advise testing again during your third trimester if you are HIV-negative but at risk of contracting the virus. Taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP): This medicine can help prevent HIV if you test negative for the virus but are at risk of contracting it. Using HIV medicine: This helps keep HIV at undetectable levels in your body. You may be able to deliver vaginally if your HIV levels are low. HIV medicine also prevents the virus from spreading through breast milk. Pregnant people with HIV—and their children once they are born—need to take HIV medicine to reduce the risk of transmission. HIV Medicine Complications People with HIV can take antiretroviral therapy (ART) to bring and keep HIV at undetectable levels. ART allows people to live with few complications and minimal risk of passing HIV to others. Generally, women taking ART may have different—sometimes more severe—side effects from HIV medicines. Certain HIV medicines may cause nausea, rashes, and vomiting at higher rates in women than in others. Some HIV medicines can interact with hormonal birth control and increase the risk of unintended pregnancy. You can use any form of birth control if you have HIV. Still, you might need a secondary form of protection if you typically use hormonal methods like shots, implants, or pills. Talk with a healthcare provider about the best birth control option if you take ART. Consult a healthcare provider or go to a clinic to receive a blood test if you suspect that you have had exposure to HIV, especially if you have flu-like symptoms. Any number of illnesses may cause those early symptoms and do not necessarily mean you have HIV. Still, the only way to know for sure is a blood test. Some people with HIV never develop early symptoms. A blood test is essential if you think you have had exposure to HIV, even if you do not have flu-like symptoms. Early diagnosis is vital for HIV. The sooner you receive a blood test and diagnosis, the sooner you can start treatment to bring and keep HIV at undetectable levels. Staying in close contact with healthcare providers is essential. HIV puts you at an increased risk of complications from infections. Talk to a healthcare provider about what to do if there is a change in your health, such as if you get the flu or another infection. Practicing safer sex, sometimes also called "safe sex," can help avoid the spread of STIs. The only way to completely prevent the spread of HIV is to abstain from all forms of sex. However, ways to have safer sex include: Getting regular STI testing Using a barrier, such as condoms, internal condoms, dental dams, and/or latex or nitrile gloves when you have any form of sex, including when using sex toys Washing sex toys with soap and water before and after use. You can also use condoms on sex toys Washing your hands before and after touching your or your partner's genitals Using alcohol or other substances responsibly—drinking or getting high can lower your decision-making ability and could lead to forgetting to use barriers, using condoms incorrectly, or not practicing good hygiene Women with HIV may notice early menopause, menstrual cycle changes, and more frequent vaginal infections than average. HIV may also impact bone loss and cervical cancer risk. Consult a healthcare provider if you think you have had exposure to HIV. A blood test is the only way to know if you have HIV. The sooner you know if you have HIV, the sooner you can begin treatment to bring and keep HIV at undetectable levels.Thanks for your feedback!
What Are The Symptoms Of Seroconversion?
Key pointsOnce infected with HIV, the virus takes hold in your body by multiplying rapidly. Your immune system responds by producing antibodies in response to the virus. This period is known as seroconversion. Antibodies appear within one to two weeks and will continue to increase in the months after infection. Seroconversion takes place within three weeks in the majority of infected individuals.
Seroconversion is often, but not always, accompanied by a flu-like illness. This happens in at least half of the people infected with HIV, but may happen in as many as 80-90% of all infections. Symptoms typically appear within a month of infection and tend to go away within two to three weeks.
Symptoms may include:
The most commonly experienced symptoms are fever, swollen glands, muscle aches and tiredness.
These symptoms are not a reliable way to identify seroconversion, to diagnose HIV infection or to rule it out. There are many other illnesses that can cause symptoms such as these. Some people do not notice any symptoms after infection.
An HIV test needs to be done in order to confirm HIV infection. This is the only reliable way of knowing whether you have HIV or not.
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