Have you ever wondered what are the affects of HIV and AIDS on immune system, or what the early signs of infection are? Understanding HIV, from its initial stages to the potentially serious complications of AIDS, is vital for everyone. How does HIV spread, and what are the symptoms to watch out for? Join us as we delve into these questions and more in this comprehensive guide. Whether you’re seeking knowledge for yourself or someone you care about, this article aims to provide clear insights into HIV and AIDS, empowering you with essential information for better health awareness.

What is HIV?

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Syndrome. It is the virus that attacks our immune system and affect it’s working efficiency. The main function of immune system is to produce immunity against different diseases. It lowers the chances of getting severe infections. When HIV left untreated, it continue to weaken our immune system and make it difficult for body to fight against infections and certain cancers. This situation ultimately lead to severe stage which is known as AIDS (Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome). 

Stages of HIV

Following are the three common stages of HIV:

Acute Infection: Certain individuals get influenza like side effects a little while after they’ve been tainted with HIV. These side effects frequently disappear in the span of seven days to a month.

Chronic Infection: After the intense stage, you can have HIV for a long time without feeling wiped out. Even if you are feeling well, you can still spread HIV to other people.

AIDS: The most serious form of HIV infection is AIDS. In this stage, HIV has severely weakened your immune system, making you much more susceptible to opportunistic infections—ones that a person with a healthy immune system would typically fend off. When HIV progresses to AIDS, these infections take advantage of your compromised immune system. Certain illnesses, known as AIDS-defining illnesses, become more likely. To be diagnosed with AIDS, you must be HIV-positive and have at least one of the following criteria:

• CD4 cell count below 200 cells/mm³.
• An AIDS-defining illness.

What Is AIDS?

AIDS, or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, is the most advanced stage of HIV infection. It occurs when the immune system has been severely damaged by the HIV virus, leaving the body vulnerable to opportunistic infections and certain cancers. AIDS is diagnosed when a person with HIV has a CD4 cell count below 200 cells/mm³ or has developed one or more specific opportunistic infections or cancers known as AIDS-defining illnesses. Without treatment, AIDS can be life-threatening, but with proper medical care, people living with HIV can prevent the progression to AIDS and lead healthy lives.

Difference Between HIV and AIDS

Causes of HIV and AIDS

HIV is communicated when organic liquids containing the infection are divided among individuals, including:

Blood, sperm, pre-seminal fluid, vaginal fluids, rectal fluids, and breast milk do not carry the virus. Saliva does not. An individual can’t contract HIV through surprised kissing, for instance.

HIV can be sent through:

• butt-centric or vaginal intercourse
• sharing needles, for example, for inking or infusing drugs
• pregnancy
• breastfeeding

Transmission normally happens when individuals don’t utilize without precautionary measures during intercourse, like a condom. If people with known risk factors do not take preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP), this could also happen. PrEP is a treatment that expects to avoid HIV transmission.

Blood transfusions may carry HIV in extremely rare instances.

Symptoms of HIV

Here are the early, stage 2, and last stage signs of HIV.

Early Stage Symptoms

• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Sore Throat
• Nausea
• Muscle Aches
• Chills
• Pain 
• Headache
• Diarrhoea
• Fever
• Sweating
• Swollen Lymph Nodes
• Diffuse Rash

Stage 2 HIV Symptoms

During this stage, patients often do not exhibit any signs for years. This stage also known as clinical latency o asymptomatic stage. Although, there is no symptoms but virus continuously to make it copies and gradually it start damaging our immune system and related organs. If it left untreated, this gradual deterioration persist for a long time or may increase with a time. However, taking proper treatment or retroviral therapy can stop it’s accelerating rate and prevent our body from further damage. 

Last Stage HIV

A patient reaches to last stage of HIV if it does not get effective treatment. Virus continue to damage immune system and affects its ability to fight with harmful substances which leads to severe illness. 

• Blurred Vision
• Dry Cough
• Night Sweats
• Dyspnea (Shortness of Breathe)
• Fatigue
• High fever
• Sudden Weight Loss
• Swollen Glands
• White Spots on Body Parts 

This stage leads patient to life threatning illness.

What are the Diseases that Define AIDS?

Opportunistic infections, certain cancers usually caused by viruses, and some neurological conditions are the diseases that define AIDS. They consist of:

• Lymphoma Burkitt.
• Bronchial, esophageal, tracheal, or lung canidiasis.
• Cystoisosporiasis, or chronic intestinal isosporiasis, that lasts for more than a month.
• Disseminated or extrapulmonary coccidioidomycosis, which spreads outside of your lungs.
• Cryptosporidiosis of the intestinal tract that persists for more than a month.
• Disease caused by cytomegalovirus that does not involve the liver, spleen, or lymph nodes and begins at a younger age.
• Retinitis caused by the cytomegalovirus (with vision loss).
• HIV-related encephalopathy is the cause.
• Cryptococcus extrapulmonaryis.
• Ulcers caused by herpes simplex virus that persist for more than a month.
• Esophagitis, bronchitis, or pneumonitis caused by herpes simplex virus (onset at a younger age than one month).
• Disseminated or extrapulmonary, histoplasmosis spread outside the lungs.
• Syndrome of HIV wasting
• Cervical cancer that spreads.
• Lymphoma with immunoblasts.
• Sarcoma of Kaposi.
• bacterial infections that are repeated or multiple.
• Disseminated/extrapulmonary spread of the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC).
• Mycobacterium kansasii, disseminated or extrapulmonary, spread outside the lungs.
• Any location of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
• Disseminated or extrapulmonary spread (mycobacterium, other species, or unidentified species) outside the lungs.
• Pneumonia caused by P. jirovecii
• cerebral primary lymphoma.
• Multifocal leukoencephalopathy that progresses.
• Pneumonia that comes back.
• Nontyphoid recurrent Salmonella septicemia
• Brain toxoplasmosis (onset at a younger age than one month)

Diagnosis and Tests

HIV can be diagnosed through several types of tests:

• Antigen/Antibody Tests: These tests look for HIV markers (p24 antigen) and antibodies your body produces against HIV. They can detect HIV within 18 to 45 days after exposure. Rapid tests provide results quickly, typically within minutes to hours.
• Antibody Tests: These tests detect antibodies to HIV in blood or saliva. They can show positive results 23 to 90 days after exposure. Blood tests detect HIV sooner than saliva or finger-prick tests.
• Nucleic Acid Tests (NATs): NATs directly detect HIV RNA in the blood and are used in high-risk exposures. They can detect HIV as early as 10 to 33 days after exposure.

At-home HIV tests are available, providing results within minutes to days, depending on the type. Positive results from any test should be confirmed with follow-up testing by a healthcare provider.

Treatment of HIV and AIDS

HIV is treated primarily with antiretroviral therapy (ART), which involves taking a combination of medications daily. Here’s an overview:

1. Antiretroviral Therapy (ART): This consists of several types of medications that work together to suppress the HIV virus, preventing it from replicating and lowering the viral load in your blood to undetectable levels.

Types of ART Medications:

• Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs)
• Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs)
• Protease inhibitors (PIs)
• Integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs)
• Fusion inhibitors, CCR5 antagonists, Attachment inhibitors, Post-attachment inhibitors, and Pharmacokinetic enhancers are among the other ART drug categories.

2. Combination Therapy: Often, multiple medications are combined into a single pill or taken as separate pills to enhance effectiveness and reduce the chances of HIV developing resistance.

3. Treatment Adherence: It’s crucial to take medications exactly as prescribed and attend all medical appointments. Missing doses can lead to HIV developing resistance to the medications, making them less effective.

4. Self-Care: Beyond medication, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important. This includes regular exercise, a balanced diet, avoiding alcohol and smoking, and managing stress.

5. Regular Monitoring: Your healthcare provider will monitor your viral load and CD4 count regularly to assess how well the treatment is working and adjust medications if needed.

Overall, adherence to ART and a healthy lifestyle are key to effectively managing HIV and maintaining overall health.

Read More: Hepatitis C: Symptoms, Transmission, and Prevention

Bottom Line

Understanding HIV and AIDS is essential for everyone, whether personally affected or seeking knowledge for others. From the initial stages of HIV infection to the complex challenges of AIDS, this comprehensive guide has explored the virus’s impact on the immune system, its transmission, symptoms, and diagnostic methods. By emphasizing the importance of early detection, adherence to treatment, and holistic self-care, this article aims to empower individuals with the information needed to promote health awareness and manage HIV effectively. Together, we can strive towards better understanding, support, and care for those living with HIV/AIDS.