From HIV infection to the onset of disease, there is a complete natural process, generally speaking, from infection to the onset of disease takes 2 to 10 years. Clinically, this process is divided into four phases: acute infection, latency, pre-AIDS, and typical AIDS.
1, acute infection
Most patients have no symptoms during the acute infection of AIDS. However, some patients have symptoms such as influenza or infectious mononucleosis: fever, chills, joint pain, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, sore throat, etc., a few days to 3 months after infection. A rash and the appearance of HIV antibodies in the blood usually occur 2 to 8 weeks after HIV infection. Symptoms that appear at this stage usually last for 3 to 14 days and then disappear naturally.
2, asymptomatic infection / latent period
There are no clinical symptoms, but there is HIV in the body, so it is also known as AIDS latent period. However, HIV and antibodies to HIV core and envelope proteins can be detected in the serum. This stage is contagious and generally lasts for 2 to 10 years or longer. about 50% of people develop AIDS within 8 years. Rates of 1.5%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 25%, 30%, and 40% have been reported from virus infection to onset of disease within 1 to 7 years, in that order. The incubation period for AIDS in children is short, averaging 12 months. The incubation period of AIDS can be tested by sensitive methods to detect the viral load of HIV-infected patients, which can predict the chance of developing the disease within 5 years.
3, pre-AIDS
After the asymptomatic infection period, the human body appears obvious signs and symptoms related to AIDS, known as AIDS-related syndrome, also known as persistent generalized lymph node swelling syndrome. The main manifestation is persistent lymph gland enlargement, beginning in the neck, followed by axillary and inguinal lymph nodes. There are usually at least two or more enlarged lymph nodes. Characterized by enlarged lymph nodes with a diameter of 1cm or more, tender texture, no pressure or pain, no adhesions, able to move freely, and usually persistently enlarged for more than 3 months. There may also be: weight loss of more than 10%, periodic fever (around 38 degrees Celsius) lasting for several months, night sweats, and the occurrence of various infections such as herpes simplex virus and Candida albicans (which is a fungus).
4. Typical AIDS stage
Because the immune system is severely damaged, a variety of fatal opportunistic infections and tumors are very likely to occur. Lesions can surface in the lungs, mouth, digestive system, nervous system, endocrine system, heart, kidneys, eyes, joints, skin and so on. The average survival period for those who have developed opportunistic infections is 9 months.
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One of the Symptoms of AIDS: Early Symptoms of AIDS
After the human body is infected with HIV, it first enters the Clinically, the so-called acute infection period. The so-called "window period" is also in this stage. It is important to note that only a small number of people experience some of the early symptoms of HIV during this phase.
These early symptoms of HIV are caused by the stimulation of the body by the virus. The common early symptoms of AIDS are:
1. General Symptoms
Continuous fever, night sweats, weakness, swelling of superficial lymph nodes all over the body, weight loss of up to 10% or more within three months, up to 40%, the patient wasting is particularly obvious.
2. Gastrointestinal symptoms
Loss of appetite, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and in severe cases, blood in the stool. Medications usually used to treat gastrointestinal infections are ineffective in treating this type of diarrhea.
3. Neurological Symptoms
Dizziness, headache, unresponsiveness, mental retardation, mental abnormality, tics, hemiparesis, dementia, etc.
4. Skin and mucous membrane damage
Diffuse papules, herpes zoster, inflammation and ulceration of the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat.
The final blood test in the acute infection phase of AIDS is usually normal for the total number of white blood cells, or a decrease in lymphocytes and an increase in monocytes.
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AIDS Symptoms No. 2: Symptoms of HIV Incubation Period
After the acute infection period, it enters the Asymptomatic infection period, this stage does not have any clinical symptoms, for asymptomatic healthy people, but the body already has HIV, so it is also known as the AIDS latent period.
Once again, it is emphasized that a person infected with HIV may not have any clinical symptoms in this stage. However, the HIV incubation period is not a resting period, let alone a safe period, and the virus continues to multiply with intense destructive effects.
The precise definition of "HIV incubation period" refers to the time from the beginning of HIV infection to the appearance of clinical signs and symptoms of the disease. The average incubation period for HIV is now thought to be 2-10 years. The existence of the incubation period makes early detection of patients and prevention very difficult.
After entering the incubation period of AIDS, 50% of people will develop AIDS within 8 years. There are reports of 1.5%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 25%, 30% and 40% of people going from virus infection to onset of the disease within 1 to 7 years in that order. The incubation period for AIDS in children is shorter, averaging 12 months.
During the incubation period, it is still recommended that infected people use some sensitive methods to test the viral load of HIV-infected people, as this predicts the chances of developing the disease within 5 years.