Antidepressants Blog

HIV VIRUS: WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

Most people who are infected with HIV have no symptoms: they feel fine, they look fine, and they would not know they were infected unless they were tested. However, between 30 and 70 percent of newly infected people develop a flu-like illness within two to six weeks of becoming infected. Symptoms usually last one or two weeks and include a sore throat, fever, night sweats, lymph node swelling throughout the body, muscle aches, and a diffuse flat, red rash over the entire body. The symptoms resolve on their own.

It is during this time that most people develop antibodies to the infection, a process called seroconversion. Antibodies are proteins that the immune system makes in response to infections. It is also at this time that people have a large amount of the virus circulating in their systems, and there can also be a temporary drop in the number of circulating CD4 cells (the specific type of cell of the immune system that the virus infects), owing to direct damage by the virus. Because these symptoms are so vague, those experiencing them may seek no medical care at this time. If they do seek medical care, they may be diagnosed with HIV infection or misdiagnosed with one of the many other viral infections that can cause similar symptoms. Again, not everyone has these symptoms, and, certainly, not every cold or flu signals HIV infection. Soon after initial infection the body begins to succeed in keeping the virus in check, and a person remains symptom free, on average, for ten years. During this time, it is not uncommon for infected people to notice lymph node enlargement throughout the body. Lymph nodes, which are found in many locations in the body, may swell as a result of infections and malignancies, both of which stimulate the immune system. Because HIV infection involves constant stimulation of the immune system, the nodes are often swollen, even early in an infection. Indeed this may be the only symptom of HIV infection at this time.

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