Jakarta –
The characteristics of HIV or Human Immunodeficiency Virus are important to know. The reason is that the characteristics or symptoms of HIV in the early stages are rarely recognized because they are similar to the symptoms of other diseases, even like the common cold.
HIV itself is a virus that damages the immune system by infecting and destroying CD4 cells. The more CD4 cells are destroyed by the virus, the weaker the body’s immune system will make it susceptible to various diseases.
If you don’t receive medical treatment, HIV can develop into Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which is a syndrome or collection of symptoms caused by a weakness in the body’s immune system. Infections that should be mild for healthy individuals can be fatal for people with AIDS.
HIV transmission occurs through contact with the sufferer’s body fluids, such as blood, sperm, vaginal fluids, anal fluids, and breast milk (ASI).
Characteristics of HIV
Before knowing the characteristics of HIV-AIDS, it is important to understand that untreated HIV can develop into three stages. Among them
Acute infectionAsymptomatic period (clinical latency)Later infection (AIDS)
Stage 1 Acute Infection
HIV can be considered the initial stage or stage a person is in when they first contract the virus. Usually it will last until the body makes antibodies against the virus.
Between 66 and 80 percent of sufferers in stage 1 will generally experience flu-like symptoms within 2 to 4 weeks after infection.
According to doctoral nurse practitioner Emily Rymland, an AAHIVS certified HIV specialist and clinical development manager at Nurx, these flu-like symptoms can include:
Fever Swollen glands Fatigue Body rash Sore throat Joint pain Diarrhea Headache
As for other symptoms, such as:
Thrush in the mouth
Genital sores Muscle pain Nausea Vomiting Night sweats
“The reason HIV causes joint and muscle pain is because the infection causes inflammation in the body,” says Rymland.
HIV symptoms generally can last from several days to several weeks. However, there are also those who do not experience symptoms.
“It is common for someone not to experience symptoms that would make them question whether they have been exposed to HIV or not,” explains Rymland.
Asymptomatic Stage (Clinical Latency)
This stage is also known as the clinical latency stage or lack of symptoms. During this stage, the HIV virus will multiply in the body and begin to weaken the immune system.
A person infected with HIV at this stage may feel healthy and look fine. Likewise, they can easily transmit the virus to other people.
AIDS symptoms
The more advanced stage of HIV is AIDS. Symptoms, such as:
Diarrhea that lasts more than 1 weekNausea and vomitingCold sweats at nightFeverDry coughSkin and mouth problems, such as fungal infectionsRecurrent and frequent infectionsVulnerability to serious illnessWeakness and excessive fatigueWeight lossSwollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or groin that last a long timeCanker sores in the mouth, anus, or genital area Lung infections (pneumonia) Memory disorders or other neurological disorders Depression, confusion, and personality changes Appearance of spots on the mouth, nose, or eyelids of various colors, such as reddish, pink, purple, or brown
“When a person’s CD4 count falls below 200, that’s when a person becomes susceptible to opportunistic infections such as pneumocystis pneumonia,” Rymland said.
So, to find out the characteristics of HIV-AIDS, generally an examination must be carried out first. This aims to detect the stage at which the virus develops in the body.
Watch the video “Reduction in New HIV Infection Cases in Indonesia 2010-2022 Reaches 54 Percent”
(suc/kna)
2023-12-01 04:42:37
#Characteristics #HIVAIDS #initially #similar #common #cold
