The San Francisco AIDS Foundation states that whereas most illnesses are straightforward, HIV behaves with great subtlety. The University of California, San Francisco explains that from the moment it infects a person, HIV begins to neutralize his immune system by attacking the cells responsible for the body’s defense. By the time he develops symptoms, the virus has most likely compromised the immune system.
Initial HIV Infection
According to Avert, an international AIDS charity, the initial HIV infection stage usually lasts for some weeks. During this period, an infected person usually has symptoms very similar to influenza. Avert says an estimated 20 percent of HIV patients will develop severe symptoms. They might even seek medical advice. However, if their immune system has not yet started producing antibodies to counter the virus, tests may not reveal their HIV infection.
Nonsymptomatic Stage
Avert says that when the infection enters the nonsymptomatic stage, the infected person does not usually manifest symptoms. However, Avert warns that such individuals are nevertheless very infectious. Furthermore, they may have enlarged lymph nodes where the virus is highly active. This stage can be a decade long.
Symptomatic HIV Infection
Avert asserts that when HIV progresses to the symptomatic infection stage, the immune system has become compromised. As such, symptoms begin appearing. This is the time opportunistic infections manifest. They get their name because they are taking advantage of the weakened immune system, explains Avert. The San Francisco AIDS Foundation says that although many of the symptoms that appear during this phase may be unrelated to HIV, it is still best to get tested. At this point, medication may be necessary to stem further disease progression. It is important to note that the symptoms that start appearing during this stage may remain mild at first.
Advanced HIV and AIDS
Once the disease has reached the advanced stage, Avert says the immune system has become extremely compromised. Opportunistic infections have become more rampant. The San Francisco AIDS Foundation says an AIDS diagnosis can come when the patient has a CD4+ lymphocyte count below 200mm3. According to the University of California, San Francisco, CD4+ lymphocytes are the cells directly responsible for the body’s defense. HIV targets these cells specifically throughout the duration of infection. As such, by the time a person is diagnosed with AIDS, she does not have a sufficient amount of these cells to fight off other infections that might infect a now defenseless body.
About this Author
Joseph Pritchard graduated from Our Lady of Fatima Medical School with a medical degree. He has spent almost a decade studying humanity. Dr. Pritchard writes for the Examiner.com as the SF biology examiner and thoroughly enjoys sharing the knowledge he has accumulated.
