Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is one kind of most tedious virus that undermines the body’s immune system completely. The early signs of an HIV infection are highly contagious and not every individual going through this disease notice the symptoms. If diagnosed early, the growth of an HIV infection into AIDS can be reduce to a great extent with the help of modification in lifestyle, medication therapy and self-care measures.
The possibilities are high that the risk of HIV infection into AIDS develops rapidly, if proper treatment is not given. However, the growth is considerably slow or may not take place, in a few people going through this disease. Such people are said to be nonprogressors.
The Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is very complex phase of an infection occurs because of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). This virus remain stuck to the dendritic cells that brings it from the place of infection to the lymph nodes, in which a viral surface protein named gp120 remain stuck strongly to the CD4 molecules. Other viral protein, p24 develops a casing near HIV’s genetic material. HIV onsets the CD4 immune cells which are considered to be the crucial cells that, combat pathogens and disease inducing agents. Remember, being HIV positive does not indicates that you have affected with AIDS.
There are such cases that most of people do not exhibit any symptoms for years after being affected. But, some people demonstrate symptoms just within 10 days after being infected with virus. A person is considered as affected with AIDS, when his/ her reports denote HIV positive and his/her CD4 count is fewer than 200. Among healthy person CD4 immune cells in range between 500-1500 cells per cubic millimeter of blood is necessary. The significant fall in the CD4 count enables one majorly prone to certain cancer and infections induced by opportunistic pathogens. These conditions are said to be AIDS-defining illnesses.
In some cases, people being exposed to the virus may not exhibit any signs. But there are others who confront certain signs after 2-4 weeks or up to 3 months after exposure to the virus. This stage of severe disease is said to be the primary HIV infection or acute retroviral syndrome (ARS). This is nothing but the body’s reaction to the prompt HIV replication. During this stage, the infected person goes through the highly contagious symptoms. Unlikely, the person with this disease think that the illness is just like flu. During this stage, the number of virus spreading in the blood is elevated, which enhances the chances of conduction of the virus significantly than next stage of the infection.
There are higher possibilities of transmission of the virus, if the affected person engages in unprotected sex during this stage. Studies indicate that one in five infected persons is not aware about his/her condition. This is because people who are at higher risk are frequently suggested to go for HIV screening test. The signs linked with acute retroviral syndrome consist of inflamed lymph nodes, sore throat, rash, mouth ulcers, night sweats, fatigue, chills, fever, muscle aches, headache and so on. No need to worry about the symptoms of ARS as they easily get dissolve within a few weeks only. After the ARS stage, the asymptomatic or latency stage takes place, in which people with this disease don’t confront the symptoms for several years. There is no such condition that every individual exposed to virus gets infected by ARS or the primary HIV infection. In some people, there are no particular symptoms. These people experience a clinical latent infection that may stay for a period of 8-10 years or longer. However, some people in this stage might develop swollen lymph nodes as well. In simple words, during this asymptomatic phase, HIV progresses rapidly. This in turn results in destruction of the immune cells.
EARLY SIGNS OF HIV INFECTION
Infected people begin to confront symptoms, once immune system undermines. Virus is responsible for destructing the immune cells, due to which the affected people begins to build up minor infection, and undergo symptoms like diarrhea, fatigue, sudden weight loss, swollen lymph nodes, fever, cough and breathing while difficulty and growth of the HIV infection to AIDS.
If treatment is not provided or delayed, the disease may result in AIDS in a few years. Once the AIDS takes place, immune system gets damaged badly. As a result, the chances of developing opportunistic infection or disease increase. The signs and symptoms associated with these infections consist of acute fever that stay for more than 10 days, cough and breathing difficulty, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, continuous extreme fatigue, genital sores, oral thrush, joint pain, skin rashes, easy brushing, weight loss, shaking chills, soaking night sweats, mouth or tongue infection, headaches, vision associated problems and so on.
Sexual contact, indulging in unprotected sex with multiple sex partners, sharing a drug- injecting syringe, close contact with the infected blood in condition of blood transfusion are some of main reasons behind development of this life threatening condition. During pregnancy also an infected woman can transmit the virus to her fetus. The possibilities of the virus from mother to her fetus can be reduced, if the mother is following anti-HIV medication called zidovudine during pregnancy. The risk can be lowered if the delivery is done by way of Cesarean section. Even breastfeeding mothers can also develop this medical condition.
There is no treatment for HIV because the CD4 count continues to fall and the immune system undermines. Due to all these reasons the affected people continue to go through the aforesaid symptoms and build up new ones as well. However, following the recommendation suggested by a doctor may assist to improve the health to a great extent. In addition measures must also be followed to keep this fatal disease at bay.