HIV/AIDS Program
What happens to me when I have HIV?
> Disease progression
HIV is a "spectrum" illness: all who are infected have the same viral disease, but there are many different stages to it. AIDS is the name given only to the late and most serious stage of HIV disease. If left untreated, most of those who are infected generally gradually progress along the spectrum toward AIDS.
- Exposed:
The person actually encounters HIV from sex, a dirty needle, on their mucous membranes, from a contaminated transfusion of blood or infected organ transplant, or a child is born to an infected mother. Except when someone gets an infected unit of blood or organ, most exposures don't result in HIV infection.
- Infection:
Person becomes infected with HIV. Once infected, always infected.
- Primary Infection/Antibody development:
Many Some people have no obvious symptoms immediately following HIV infection. However, within three to six weeks after infection, approximately 50-70% of persons develop acute HIV syndrome. The symptoms of HIV syndrome last for about one a week or two and generally include fever, sore throat, tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Individuals who experience these symptoms may be unaware that they have HIV because these symptoms are commonly associated with influenza (the "flu"). Around this time, the immune system will begin to fight against the virus and the infected person will develop HIV antibodies, and the symptoms, if any, gradually subside.
- Asymptomatic Period:
Most people do not experience many symptoms of HIV infection for up to 8-10 years (even longer with effective treatment). NOTE: Even without symptoms, a person continues to be infected and will still test positive on an HIV antibody test and can still transmit the virus.
- Symptomatic HIV:
Some persons will experience a continuing series of non-life-threatening symptoms (rashes, fungal infections, diarrhea) as the virus gradually weakens their immune system.
- AIDS:
By the time a diagnosis of AIDS is made (an average of 8 to 12 years after HIV infection--longer with treatment), HIV will already have seriously damaged the body's immune system. Often, a person with an AIDS diagnosis will already have had a life-threatening infection or cancer.
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