Introduction

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. If not treated, it can lead to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). This webpage provides comprehensive information about HIV, including its symptoms, stages, treatment options, and prevention strategies.

What is HIV?

HIV is a virus that damages the immune system by targeting CD4 cells (T cells), which are crucial for fighting infections. Over time, HIV can destroy so many of these cells that the body can’t fend off infections and diseases, leading to AIDS (CDC, 2022).

Symptoms

Early Stage (Acute HIV Infection)

• Timeline: 2-4 weeks after exposure
• Symptoms: Fever, chills, rash, night sweats, muscle aches, sore throat, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, mouth ulcers

Chronic HIV Infection

• Symptoms: Asymptomatic or mild symptoms; the virus is still active but reproduces at low levels
• Duration: Can last a decade or longer without treatment

Late Stage (AIDS)

• Symptoms: Rapid weight loss, recurring fever, extreme fatigue, prolonged swelling of lymph glands, diarrhea, sores, pneumonia, red/brown/purple blotches, memory loss, depression, other neurologic disorders (HIV.gov, 2022).

Stages of HIV Infection

Stage 1: Acute HIV Infection

• High viral load
• Highly contagious
• Flu-like symptoms

Stage 2: Chronic HIV Infection

• Virus multiplies at low levels
• Can still transmit HIV

Stage 3: AIDS

• Severely damaged immune system
• Prone to opportunistic infections and certain cancers
• Without treatment, typically survive about three years (NIH, 2022).

Transmission

HIV is transmitted through contact with certain body fluids from a person who has HIV:

• Blood
• Semen (cum) and pre-seminal fluid
• Rectal fluids
• Vaginal fluids
• Breast milk

The virus must enter the bloodstream through a mucous membrane, damaged tissue, or by direct injection (CDC, 2022).