Asymptomatic HIV

Asymptomatic HIV is the second stage of the infection. It is the period that arrives after the first stage of seroconversion. This may be called a chronic stage of the disease, when there is no apparent symptom of HIV. There are hardly any signs of clinical disease that can make a patient susceptible about the presence of HIV in his body.

However, the apparent dormancy does not mean that nothing deadly is happening at all. Deep within the patient's body, the virus plays an active role is destroying the CD4 cells and the T-cells in the lymph nodes and the Central Nervous System.

The process of Asymptomatic HIV is the longest stage and takes about seven to twelve years to transit into third stage of the disease. Therefore, these years often turn out to be the most critical period. Because, the patient is unable to perceive that he is suffering from HIV. Due to that reason, he does not visit the doctor or conduct a test.

This leads to constant growth of HIV antibodies within the blood and cells and a rapid simultaneous collapse of the immune system. The carelessness or rather ignorance of 50% of the patients at this stage, culminates into lack of treatment and eventual initiation of AIDS.

A proper diagnosis at this stage, can very accurately detect the presence of HIV antibodies. Unlike the first seroconversion period, where the detection of these antibodies is illusive, this stage assures its detection. By the latter half of the seroconversion period, antibodies start developing. Therefore, a test conducted at the beginning of the asymptomatic period, can surely find its mighty presence within the body.

Symptoms of Asymptomatic HIV:

One cannot assure the occurrence of any relevant disease in this period. However, a few common ailments of this stage are:

• Weight loss
• Infection in the respiratory track
• Fungal infection in the nails
• Oral ulcer/ thrush
• Rashes
• Normal fever

Tests for Asymptomatic HIV:

• The HIV antibody test, ELISA, can be conducted at this stage
• This should be followed by a Western Blot Test
• The Oral HIV test like Orasure can give proper result
• The Rapid HIV tests like Oraquick and UniGold can be equally helpful

Treatment for Asymptomatic HIV:

A treatment at this stage can be very useful, as it decreases the inevitable fatality.

• Antiretrovial therapy should be the ideal treatment, as this strives to improve the immune system, fight opportunistic infections and generate the number of CD4 lymphocytes. This therapy should be conducted when the number of lymphocyte falls below 200.

As the asymptomatic HIV stage is apparently very dormant, a patient may not find it necessary to visit the doctor at this stage. However, in order to avoid the spread of the disease, all High Risk Group should get a test done, and seek for a proper antiretroviral therapy. A diagnosis at this stage can prevent the patient from transmitting the virus to other healthy bodies, and delay the possibility of AIDS. A failure in doing so can be fatal for the patient and even those who are sexually or biologically related to them.