- The first stage of HIV is called acute HIV and causes flu-like symptoms, such as fever, chills and fatigue.
- During stage two of HIV, the symptoms subside and you may even begin to feel better.
- In the last stage of HIV, called AIDS, the immune system is severely damaged and the body has problems defending itself against infections.
- Visit the Insider Health Reference Library for more advice.
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) presents itself in three stages. It starts with flu-like symptoms and can progress and cause serious damage to the immune system if left untreated.
Here’s what you should know about the stages and symptoms of HIV and how to deal with testing and treatment.
Stage 1: Acute HIV
The first stage of HIV is the acute infection stage. It is mainly characterized by flu-like symptoms. However, not everyone will experience these symptoms and some HIV tests may even be negative.
Most people experience these flu-like symptoms about two to six weeks after infection. These symptoms are a sign that your immune system is fighting the virus and usually last for about one to two weeks.
Some of the symptoms you may experience are:
“Some of the most common early signs of HIV are high fever, rash on the upper body, fatigue, sore throat, severe headache and muscle weakness,” said Peter Gulick, MD, professor of medicine at Michigan State University ( MSU), College of Osteopathic Medicine and Director of the MSU HIV and Hepatitis Clinic.
It is especially important to get tested at this stage of HIV because your viral load is very high, which means that you are highly infectious and can easily infect another person with the disease without knowing it.
Stage 2: asymptomatic infection
This stage occurs after the acute infection stage and is commonly called the clinical latency stage, chronic or asymptomatic infection stage. At this stage of HIV, most of the first symptoms of the disease go away and the person may start to feel better.
This internship can last up to 10 years or more. But even if a person may not be showing symptoms at this stage, the virus is still active and spreading.
At this stage of the virus, a blood test will be able to indicate how active the virus is and how much effect it is having on your immune system. A person at this stage is also infectious. If the condition is not treated, it will continue to progress, damaging the immune system.
Stage 3: AIDS
At this stage, the virus evolves into the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). When a person has AIDS, their immune system is severely damaged. This is the most serious stage of HIV.
A person with HIV at this stage is also very susceptible to infections and diseases. The body will not be able to defend itself against opportunistic infections, including viral infections like herpes zoster and bacterial infections like tuberculosis and pneumonia.
People with AIDS have a very high viral load of the virus and are very infectious. At this stage, without treatment, the condition can be fatal and cause death. Most people with AIDS are likely to survive for 1 to 3 years only if they do not have access to adequate treatment.
Some common symptoms of AIDS include:
- Fever
- Recurrent cough
- Weight loss
- Canker sores
- Chronic diarrhea
- Extreme fatigue
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Pneumonia
Testing and next steps
If you are experiencing early signs of HIV or suspect that you have been exposed to someone with the disease, getting tested is the next step.
“If you notice any early sign of HIV or have been exposed to a person who has it, get tested immediately. If the test is negative, but continues to engage in high-risk activities, such as unprotected sex, then you should do the test. test every three to six months, “says Gulick.
You can get an HIV test at any of the following locations:
- Private clinics
- Sexual health clinics
- Charity clinics
- Family planning clinics
- Community health centers
If your test is positive for HIV, you should know that, with proper management and treatment, the virus can be kept under control and you can live a long and healthy life. If you are not sure which test to do, talk to your doctor first for a recommendation.
Treatment
HIV medication helps to reduce the viral load in your body or the amount of HIV in your blood. HIV drugs work by blocking or changing the enzymes that the virus uses to replicate itself.
Some of the FDA-approved treatment options for HIV include:
- Protease inhibitors: Block the protease enzyme, which the virus can use to copy itself. Some examples include Lexiva, Norvir and Reyataz.
- Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs): These alter the reverse transcriptase enzyme, which HIV needs to replicate. Some examples include Edurant, Sustiva and Viramune.
- Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs): These block – instead of altering – the enzyme reverse transcriptase. Some examples include Epivir, Retrovir and Ziagen.
- Fusion inhibitors: Fusion inhibitors work by blocking the virus from entering cells. The most commonly available type is Fuzeon.
- Integrase inhibitors: Block the integrase enzyme, which prevents the virus from replicating.
- Fixation inhibitors: Binding inhibitors work by binding to the protein on the surface of HIV. This prevents HIV from entering cells.
Insider Takeaway
There is currently no cure for HIV, but with proper treatment and medication, the condition can be well controlled. People who have HIV and receive adequate treatment and medication are able to live long and healthy lives.
Watching for the first signs of HIV, if you suspect you have been infected, and getting tested as soon as possible will help you to better control the disease. It is also important to take your HIV medication regularly to prevent the disease from progressing.
“Taking HIV medication is a lifelong therapy. Stopping taking HIV medication will make the disease start to progress again, ”says Gulick.