AIDSBefore going to discuss about AIDS, it is essential to know the term HIV. The reason behind it is that HIV and AIDS are complimentary to each other. If you understand the term HIV it would be easy for you to learn about AIDS. HIV that is described as a Human Immuno Deficiency Virus is a virus that leads to the development of AIDS. This virus enters in the body by several ways and hides itself in the CD4 cells. CD4 cells are the chief element in immune system. Actually, the immune system is made up of CD4 cells. The chief function of the CD4 cells is to resist or protect the body from the invaders like various infections and diseases. However, the HIV replicates itself in order to damage the immune system. It destroys the immune system slowly and is responsible for allowing the opportunistic infections on the body.
Opportunistic infections take the advantage of the weakened immune system and attack on the body. That is the reason that they are called as opportunistic. On the other hand AIDS that stands for Acquired immuno deficiency syndrome is an advanced stage of HIV infection. It is the final stage of the HIV infection, that cannot be revert back to the HIV infection again. HIV does not develop at once, but it takes time to develop in the body. There are four stages of the HIV infection that leads a person to develop the AIDS. The virus takes certain time and develops through the stages that cause to AIDS. These stages have certain symptoms that appear in the infected person. However, some stages do not show any symptoms or fewer symptoms. As well as HIV tests' results differ in the every stage. So let us see the HIV stages that lead to develop AIDS: Primary stage When a person gets infected with HIV, the first stage starts soon after that. However, the stage takes few weeks to develop the infection in an individual. Once the infection leads to develop the further stages develop automatically. Flu like infection can be experienced by a person in this stage but the noticeable thing is that these symptoms can be misdiagnosed by assuming the other viral infection. Moreover, the significant thing is that if an individual gets through the HIV test, the results will be negative in this stage though a person actually has actually been infected with HIV. It is advisable for those who think that they may get infected with HIV, should go through the tests after certain months i.e. six months. Asymptomatic HIV As its name shows, it means no symptoms; this stage does not hold any symptoms. The stage is also called as a symptoms free stage. However, keep in mind that it does not mean that an individual is not infected with HIV. The reason for being symptom free is that the intensity of the HIV in the blood is less. It exists in low levels in the blood. Moreover, it can be found out in the blood. If a person undergoes HIV testing the results will be positive in this stage. In this stage HIV continues to reproduce itself in order to lead to the next stage. Symptomatic HIV This is the stage where HIV damages the immune system severely. As a result of this the symptoms appear on the scene. At the beginning, the symptoms are mild but later on they become severe. This is the stage where opportunistic infections take the advantage of the destroyed immune system and help to HIV to develop AIDS. AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) This is the last stage of HIV infection. HIV completely converts itself in AIDS. So, the stage is called as AIDS. In this stage the virus takes the hold on immune system completely and does not allow immune system to resist any infection or disease. The immune system even cannot resist the simple diseases and the body eventually becomes the victim of AIDS. AIDS is the final stage of HIV infection. It is not possible for an individual to get back to the HIV infection, once he/she reaches to AIDS. |
