AIDS, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, is a lifelong and potentially fatal disease brought about by the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV. Considering that there are still lots of misconceptions regarding HIV/AIDS, it’s essential to lose some light on this highly stigmatized and politicized state.
HIV is classified as a sexually transmitted disease (STD); though, sex is only one way it could be transmitted. HIV is mainly transmitted through exposure to infected blood, however it can also be given to a child by a mother during pregnancy, during birth, or via breastfeeding.
When a person contracts that the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), they don’t automatically get AIDS, which is a frequent misunderstanding. Without treatment, it requires the immunity system to be compromised by HIV years to the virus progressing into AIDS’s degree.
While HIV/AIDS remains incurable, we have experienced so many developments with respect to the treatment throughout the previous two decades which now there are drugs which could drastically impede the progress of the virus. These medications are effective that AIDS fatality rate in most developed countries moved down somewhat.
An Summary of HIV Infection
HIV/AIDS has stages of development, so each point is characterized by different symptoms.
Intense HIV
Also called the primary illness stage, in severe HIV, many individuals start to demonstrate symptoms comparable to the flu one or two months following their vulnerability to the virus. The symptoms include muscle pain, a fever, headache, strep throat, and swollen lymph nodes, and rashes, and so they typically persist for 2-3 weeks.
The problem with this particular point is why these symptoms are usually quite mild, so they are hardly noticeable. None the less, the load in bloodstream is high at this point. Consequently, the virus spreads at a faster rate in the primary infection stage in comparison to the point that follows.
Chronic HIV
Also called the clinical late illness point, in chronic HIV, some individuals with the virus experience continuous swollen lymph nodes in this particular phase. But, besides the swelling of the lymph nodes, most patients exhibit symptoms and no noticeable signs as the virus stays in the bloodstream and human body cells.
Unless you’re on anti retroviral therapy, the chronic HIV phase lasts for approximately ten years; though, in spite of anti retroviral therapy, it might endure for decades.
Whilst the virus continues with its process of replication and degradation of these cells, which are the cells responsible for fending bacteria off, you might experience moderate infections or start displaying chronic symptoms such as fever, fatigue, nausea, weight loss, swollen lymph nodes, and maybe shingles.
Advancement to AIDS
Due to complex antifungal treatments, the status of most patients with HIV in the usa does not advance to AIDS. But, HIV usually takes approximately 10 years to advance without proper therapy to AIDS.
When AIDS grows, the immune system becomes endangered to a severe degree, which raises the chance of diseases and diseases that could easily make use of a diminished immune process. A number of the symptoms associated during this period with ailments might be night sweats fever, chronic fatigue, recurrent nausea, weight loss, irregular spots or lesions on the tongue or at the mouth, and rashes.
If you suspect you may have contracted HIV or at a greater chance of transmission, talk to doctor instantly.