HIV and Fatigue

HIV and fatigue are correlated to each other, as fatigue is one of the early symptoms of HIV infection. It normally appears in the first stage of HIV infection that is known as the acute HIV infection. Before learning about the symptoms of HIV, it is essential to know about the term HIV and how it leads to develop AIDS. HIV is responsible for developing AIDS. AIDS that is the last or advanced stage of HIV infection causes death of a person. There are two types of cells: CD8 and CD4. Out of them CD4 cells form the immune system. Immune system fights against the different diseases and infections. However, when HIV, damages it in course of time, it does not remain capable to fight with the diseases and infection. It occurs in the third and forth stage of HIV infection, where opportunistic infections enter in the body and become the cause for damaging the immune system. Basically, the HIV attacks on the CD4 cells and destroys them for seizing the whole immune system. Nevertheless, it has to take some years for that. The replication process of the virus continues at the end of the last stage.

Let us study the HIV symptoms including HIV fatigue

Fatigue is one of the symptoms of HIV. However, flu-like illness is the most common symptom of HIV. Early symptoms take months or years to appear on the scene. As the HIV stages lead to progress, the other symptoms such as fatigue, weight loss, memory loss, headache fever, tiredness and enlarged lymph nodes can be seen in an infected person.

However, the early symptoms disappear in a week or a month. These symptoms can be considered as other viral infection. An infected person is highly infectious during the first stage of HIV infection, as HIV exists in large extent in the genital fluids such as semen and vaginal fluids. Moreover, in certain stages, an individual becomes symptom-free. It is called as the asymptomatic stage. This stage exists for a long period of time. However, the virus keeps continuing its work of destroying the CD4 cells. The virus kill CD4 in large extent, as a result of this, the immune system no longer remains capable to fight with the diseases and infections. At the beginning of the HIV infection, swollen glands or large lymph nodes can be seen. They may remain for more than three months.

• Short-term memory loss
• Constant skin rashes or flaky skin
• Lack of energy
• frequent fever and sweats
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Constant oral or vaginal infection

There are other common symptoms that may take eight to ten years to develop

• Mental symptoms like confusion
• Frequent fever and night sweats
• Genital sores and rash of flaky skin
• Blurred vision
• Excessive fatigue and weight loss

HIV and fatigue are complementary to each other, as fatigue is one of the symptoms that appear in the first stage of HIV infection. The given information would help you to learn about the HIV early symptoms as well as the common symptoms of the disease.