Symptoms of HIV
People talk about HIV but often do not know a lot about it. They know the symptoms of HIV are the same as other viruses. If a person has a cold, flu, or any other common disease, then it is assumed that he has been infected with HIV.
But there's a big difference. It's a virus that progressively destroys the body's ability to fight infection and disease. It attacks and destroys particular types of white blood cells (CD4 cells) in the body that play a significant role in immunity to disease and infection.
Today we will discuss the symptoms of HIV in detail, so you can't confuse it with other viruses.
What is HIV?
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It's a virus that attacks the immune system, making it hard for your body to fight off other infections and illnesses.
The first known case of HIV dates back to 1959 when a Norwegian sailor was diagnosed with lymphadenopathy (a disorder of the lymph nodes). During the next few years, more people were diagnosed with similar symptoms and died from what they thought was cancer or tuberculosis. Doctors later realized that they had all been infected with HIV.
The first cases in the US were reported in 1981 in homosexual men who had sex without condoms. The disease spread quickly through gay communities in large cities like New York City and San Francisco. By 1983, there were over 2,000 cases reported in America alone; today, there are still over 1 million new cases reported each year worldwide!
Symptoms of HIV:
HIV is a virus that can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in which the body's immune system becomes too weak to fight off infections and disease. There are many symptoms of HIV, but they can vary from person to person.
Some people have no symptoms when they're first infected with HIV. Others may have symptoms, such as:
Fever
Sore throat
Swollen glands
Rash
Muscle aches
These symptoms can appear within three weeks after exposure to HIV.
Other people develop flu-like symptoms about three months after exposure to HIV. These symptoms include:
Fever (100°F or higher)
Chills
Sweats at night
Tiredness
Headaches
Muscle aches
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Stomach pain
These symptoms can last for up to six months before they disappear completely or become less severe.
In some cases, people infected with HIV do not experience any symptoms for many years after initial infection—even though the virus is multiplying in their bodies and damaging their immune systems during this time (called "asymptomatic HIV infection"). When these individuals eventually develop AIDS-related illnesses.
How does HIV Spread?
HIV can spread from one person to another in several ways.
Sexual Contact:
One way is through sexual contact with an infected person. Sexual contact includes vaginal, anal, and oral sex and other activities that may involve the exchange of body fluids.
Blood Transfusion:
Blood transfusions provided before 1985 also contributed significantly to the spread of HIV in the early years of the epidemic. Today, blood banks screen all donated blood for HIV antibodies and do not use blood for transfusion unless it tests negative for HIV antibodies.
Injections:
Injection drug use is another way HIV can be transmitted from one person to another. Sharing needles or other equipment used by injecting drug users (IDUs) and non-IDUs results in transmission between these groups.
Transmission:
Mother-to-child transmission also accounts for a significant proportion of new infections among children in many developing countries with limited access to antiretroviral drugs during pregnancy and delivery.
Tattoos:
The risk of getting HIV from a tattoo with unsterilized equipment is extremely low - at least one out of 1 million. However, it's best to ask your tattoo artist if they use sterile equipment and follow safe practices while working on you.
Conclusion:
When someone has HIV, they are able to spread the virus to others even if they don't look sick or feel sick. HIV is a dangerous disease that can have severe consequences if left untreated. Although some people may take comfort in the fact that HIV is not as life-threatening as it once was, it's still important to know the symptoms of HIV so you can get treated as soon as possible.
The sooner you get tested, the better your chances are of staying healthy and preventing HIV from progressing into AIDS. If you have HIV, early treatment can help prevent serious complications like brain damage or heart problems.
Also, read the methods for treatment of AIDS: AIDS treatment and Prevention.