What are the stages of HIV infection? How does HIV progress in the body? Explore the incubation, acute, subclinical, secondary disease, and terminal stages of HIV/AIDS. Get informed about the symptoms, transmission, and key facts about this infectious disease.

The Stages of HIV Infection

HIV infection is a complex disease that progresses through several distinct stages. Understanding these stages is crucial for early detection, effective treatment, and preventing the progression to AIDS. Here’s a breakdown of the five main stages of HIV infection:

1. Incubation Stage

The incubation stage begins immediately after the human immunodeficiency virus enters the body. This stage can last anywhere from 3 weeks to 3 months, and in some cases, up to a year. During this time, the virus actively multiplies within the body, but it is impossible to detect HIV through testing, as the immune system has not yet started producing antibodies.

2. Acute HIV Infection

The acute stage follows the incubation period and can manifest in different ways. Some individuals may experience no symptoms at all, while others may develop an acute HIV infection. The acute stage is characterized by flu-like symptoms such as fever, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes. If secondary infections occur due to a weakened immune system, they are generally treated quickly. The acute stage is a crucial period for HIV testing, as the body has started producing antibodies that can be detected.

3. Subclinical Stage

The subclinical stage, also known as the asymptomatic stage, can last up to 20 years, but typically lasts 6-7 years. During this stage, the only visible symptom is often enlarged lymph nodes, and the individual may not experience any other noticeable symptoms. However, the virus continues to replicate and gradually weakens the immune system.

4. Secondary Diseases Stage

As the virus weakens the immune system, the body becomes vulnerable to opportunistic infections and diseases. This stage is characterized by a low level of lymphocytes (white blood cells) in the blood, which allows these secondary infections to take hold. This stage is a clear indication that the HIV infection has progressed to a more advanced stage.

5. Terminal Stage (AIDS)

The final stage of HIV infection is the terminal stage, also known as AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). At this stage, the immune system is severely compromised, and the body is unable to fight off even the most common infections and diseases. Without proper treatment, individuals with AIDS often succumb to these opportunistic infections and complications.

Importance of the Acute Stage

The acute stage of HIV infection is particularly significant, as it is the stage where symptoms may first appear and serve as a “wake-up call” for individuals to get tested. While the symptoms, such as fever, body aches, and rash, are often mistaken for a common illness, it is crucial to pay attention to them, especially if there has been a recent risk of infection. Seeking medical attention and getting tested at this stage can lead to early diagnosis and timely treatment, which can significantly improve the individual’s prognosis and quality of life.

Factors Affecting HIV Transmission and Survival

Several factors can influence the transmission and survival of the HIV virus outside the human body. The virus is known to be unstable and sensitive to environmental conditions:

• Sunlight exposure can kill the virus.
• Acidic and alkaline environments are also detrimental to the virus.
• High temperatures above 56°C can quickly inactivate the virus, with temperatures above 60°C killing it within 1-2 minutes.
• Disinfectants such as chlorine, 6% hydrogen peroxide, and 70% ethyl alcohol are effective in destroying the HIV virus.
• The virus can remain active in dried blood for up to 2-3 days, and in other bodily fluids on surfaces for a similar duration, with lower temperatures prolonging its survival.

Understanding these environmental factors is crucial for preventing the spread of HIV through proper hygiene, disinfection, and safe handling of potentially contaminated materials.

Conclusion

The stages of HIV infection, from the initial incubation period to the terminal stage of AIDS, highlight the importance of early detection and ongoing monitoring. By being aware of the symptoms, especially during the acute stage, individuals can seek timely testing and treatment, which can significantly improve their prognosis and quality of life. Additionally, understanding the environmental factors that affect the virus’s survival can help in implementing effective prevention and control measures against the spread of HIV.

5 stages of HIV infection – AIDS center

HIV infection is a very specific disease that can be learned about many years after infection. For more than one year, the disease can pass in a latent stage, flowing almost asymptomatically. However, at the beginning of HIV infection, the so-called acute stage begins, the symptoms of which can become “bells” in order to be tested for HIV, especially if there has recently been a risk of infection.

In modern Russian medicine, there are 5 main stages of HIV infection, which, in turn, are also divided into several types. The first stage is incubation. It starts from the moment the human immunodeficiency virus enters the body and can last from 3 weeks to 3 months, however, there have been cases when the incubation stage lasted a whole year. During this period, the virus actively multiplies in the body. It is impossible to determine HIV at this stage, since the disease is completely asymptomatic, and the immune system has not yet begun to produce antibodies to the virus, so HIV tests in the body cannot yet be determined. The next stage is the stage of primary manifestations. It can take place in different ways: without symptoms (in this case, the only response to HIV is the production of antibodies), or acute HIV infection occurs, which can pass without secondary diseases or with them. If the acute stage passes without secondary diseases, then, as a rule, it proceeds like a common cold – a slight fever, pharyngitis, swollen lymph nodes. If there are still secondary diseases, then they are treated quickly enough, and arise as a result of low immunity. It is the acute stage that should be the first “bell”, after which a person must be tested for HIV. At this stage, antibodies to HIV have already begun to be produced by the body, so tests should already detect the presence of the virus in the body.

The acute stage is followed by the subclinical stage, which can last up to twenty years, but usually lasts 6-7 years. It is asymptomatic and only enlarged lymph nodes are a manifestation of the disease. The next stage is the stage of secondary diseases. With it, the level of lymphocytes in the blood is very low, so opportunistic diseases practically attack the body. The last stage is the so-called terminal stage, i.e. AIDS.

But it is the acute stage that is very important in determining HIV, because it is at this stage that you can pay attention to the symptoms. Of course, these symptoms are rather mediocre, and, in most cases, no one pays attention to them. However, if a person had a risk of infection with a virus, then it is simply necessary to monitor your well-being, and if body aches, fever, rash on the body and mucous membranes, diarrhea, vomiting, inflammation of the lymph nodes appear, then you need to go to the hospital and take the test. In any case, you must inform your doctor about your guesses and assumptions so that he can give precise instructions and recommend testing.
It is very important to monitor your health, listen to the reactions of the body, they are never random. If any processes occur in the body, you need to pay attention to them and go to the doctor.

Symptoms, signs and treatment of HIV infection in women and men – Medunion

HIV is an infectious disease that affects the human immune system. The pathology is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus, which destroys immune cells. As a result, the body’s ability to resist infectious diseases and oncological processes is reduced.

Virus in the environment

HIV is an unstable virus, it dies outside the environment of the human body when liquids containing it dry out and dies almost instantly at temperatures above 56ºС.

Virus dies:

• When exposed to sunlight.

• in alkaline and acidic environments. Women who have a healthy microflora of the genital organs with high acidity are less likely to become infected.

• From high temperatures. On the surface of objects at moderate temperatures, HIV can live up to 2 hours. However, when heated above 60 degrees, it dies in 1-2 minutes. When boiling – instantly. When disinfecting.

• From the action of chlorine. The same action causes 6% hydrogen peroxide, kills the pathogen and 70% ethyl alcohol.

The longest HIV remains in human blood. A dried drop of blood contains an active virus for 2-3 days under normal environmental conditions. Other fluids on objects can keep the infection for 2-3 days. The lower the ambient temperature, the longer the microorganism lives.

Ways of HIV infection

HIV or AIDS is sexually transmitted during unprotected intercourse. In order to multiply in the human body, the human immunodeficiency virus, like any other virus, needs to “embed” its genetic information into a living cell. After this happens, the infected person becomes a carrier of the virus, but for a long time no signs of infection may be detected.

• Unprotected penetrative sexual contact – anal or vaginal.

• Sharing non-sterile injection equipment.

• Sharing non-sterile tattoo and piercing equipment.

• From an HIV-infected mother to her child (possible infection during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding).

The disease is not transmitted by household means, since the virus is not able to move in the environment and quickly dies. It is also impossible to get infected through a handshake or a hug. The risk of transmitting the virus through saliva is negligible; for this, two partners with wounds on the oral mucosa must kiss for quite a long time. In this case, the carrier must have a large amount of virus in the blood.

Disease classification

HIV is not one type of pathogen, but several different ones. They are all lentiviruses, which is Latin for “slow”. They got this name because of the long development of the infection.

There are 2 main types of pathogen HIV-1 and HIV-2. Both lead to a gradual decrease in immunity, but HIV-2 is less pathogenic. It has fewer viral particles per microliter of blood, so it is transmitted less frequently and does not lead to AIDS as often.

Main stages of the disease

• Incubation – infection and subsequent multiplication of the virus in the blood occurs. It lasts up to six weeks, sometimes less. Even if infected, at this stage, the person will not see obvious signs, and a blood test will not show that there are antibodies in the blood.

• Primary – the first signs of infection may appear. The second stage lasts for 3 weeks – at this time antibodies appear, the virus is determined in the laboratory.

• Subclinical. The first sign of the disease appears – enlarged lymph nodes. The patient feels completely healthy, he does not complain about his well-being. Secondary diseases may appear: from frequent colds to candidiasis and pneumonia.

• Terminal – involves rapid and progressive exhaustion, as well as the subsequent death of the patient.

Symptoms of the development of HIV infection in the body

HIV infection flows slowly and is almost asymptomatic. For many years (from 5 to 15 years) it may not disturb a person in any way. It also happens that the first signs may appear at an early stage, and then disappear and no longer bother the carrier of the infection for a long time.

Also, the first symptoms of HIV are easily confused with signs of other diseases, which can be misleading.

At the first stage:

• sore throat, fever

• soreness of the skin, joints, bones

• chills, fever

• simultaneously enlarged cervical lymph nodes

• skin rashes may appear

New signs of HIV return after a few years of a calm and healthy life. These include:

• severe fatigue, fatigue

• an increase in lymph nodes – not only cervical, but already several groups

• weight loss. Usually it looks causeless, the person does not understand what is wrong

• fever, chills, sweating (mostly nocturnal)

• problems with the gastrointestinal tract – usually manifested by loose stools for no apparent reason

Why is pathology dangerous?

The disease is dangerous, first of all, for the infected. Once in the blood, the pathogen gradually destroys the cells of the immune system. This process can be slowed down with antiretroviral therapy, but cannot be completely stopped. As a result, the body cannot resist infections from the outside.

Most often, patients develop thrush, stomatitis, prolonged diarrhea, frequent acute respiratory viral infections, etc. The fewer immune cells in the human body, the more dangerous diseases appear later, including tuberculosis, oncology, lesions of the peripheral nervous system, Kaposi’s sarcoma and others .

The infection can manifest itself in absolutely all organs and systems, often diseases are combined. With proper treatment, these diseases can be cured and the patient’s standard of living can be maintained.

The main danger is AIDS, the last stage of the HIV disease. The average life expectancy at this stage is up to 9 months. Although with a positive psychological state and proper therapy, the patient can live up to 3 years.

Pathology diagnostic methods

Today, special high-precision tests are used that are able to detect both viruses and antibodies to them, including in a latent course.

The presence of HIV in the human body is determined by the presence of antibodies in the blood. To do this, the patient takes blood for HIV from a vein. This analysis allows you to solve 3 problems:

• determine the presence of the virus in the blood and start treatment at an early stage

• identify the stage of the disease and predict its course

• control the effectiveness of therapy

You can detect the disease using:

1. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a highly accurate method of molecular genetic diagnostics, which allows to identify infectious and hereditary diseases in humans.

Diagnosis by this method allows you to find the pathogen directly in the gene contained in the studied materials. This is the most accurate analysis for sexual infections, latent infections, various sexually transmitted diseases.

The method is excellent in that it has a high sensitivity. It is possible to identify the causative agent of the disease even in the presence of several molecules of its DNA, that is, at very early stages. That allows you to cure the disease in time.

2. ELISA (enzymatic immunoassay), which detects antibodies to both types of the virus (HIV 1 and 2). The reliability of the method is up to 98%. If the result is positive, the analysis is repeated or an additional analysis is carried out by the immunoblot method.

False positive results are possible with pregnancy, autoimmune diseases, hepatitis, or even the flu.

How is HIV treated?

It is necessary to start antiretroviral therapy (abbreviated ART or ART) as soon as possible after detecting traces of the virus in the body.

Antiretroviral therapy is a combination of 3-4 drugs that block the reproduction of HIV at different stages. As a result of its use, the human immunodeficiency virus ceases to multiply.

While ART is not able to completely cure HIV infection, however, it can not only prolong the life of an HIV-infected person, but also improve its quality.

No less important is the patient’s lifestyle, he is shown emotional peace, proper nutrition, and prevention of infectious diseases. Also, for high-quality treatment, it is important to undergo an examination and take tests on time.

What preventive measures should be taken?

Since the main mode of transmission of the virus is through sexual contact, only protected penetrative sex should be practiced. Otherwise, the risk of HIV infection increases.

In addition, you need:

• use only personal hygiene products (toothbrush, razor, manicure accessories, etc.