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Symptoms & Effects of AIDS

AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is the fourth stage of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) disease. Prior to this stage, an infected patient has passed through acute HIV infection, asymptomatic HIV and symptomatic HIV, which is the first stage at which significant HIV-specific symptoms develop. One to three years after this, AIDS develops. AIDS is a group of conditions (known as AIDS-defining conditions) caused by the weakening of the immune system by HIV.

  1. Symptomatic HIV

    • Symptomatic HIV is the third stage of HIV disease and occurs after the longest stage, asymptomatic HIV. After an absence of symptoms lasting an average of ten years, a chronic flu-like illness develops. According to HIV-Symptoms.info, symptoms of this illness include swollen lymph nodes, digestive troubles, fever and respiratory problems, along with other symptoms such as night sweats, severe weight loss, fatigue and fungal infections.

    Diagnosis

    • HIV targets certain cells of the immune system, particularly CD4 T-cells. CD4 cells are white blood cells involved in the body's immune response by signaling other cells (B cells) that produce antibodies. An HIV-positive person is diagnosed with AIDS when the CD4 cell count falls below 200 per cubic milliliter of blood.

    Opportunistic Infection and Wasting

    • One group of AIDS-defining conditions includes opportunistic infections. These are infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa and other parasites that the body of someone with a healthy immune system can successfully fight off.

      One, for instance, is cytomegalovirus, a virus that infects almost all adults but which does not cause disease unless the immune system is compromised. In people with advanced HIV, however, this virus can lead to retinitis, a condition that can cause blindness. To learn more about opportunistic infections, please see Resources below.

      Another AIDS-defining condition is wasting, a condition of severe weight loss. Both HIV and the treatment for HIV can contribute to wasting, as both can cause symptoms like loss of appetite and diarrhea.

    Cancers

    • AIDS is associated with two major types of cancers, including Kaposi's sarcoma and lymphomas. Kaposi's sarcoma is a skin cancer that presents as purple lesions; it is caused by opportunistic infection by human herpesvirus-8. Lymphomas are cancers of lymph (immune) cells called lymphocytes.

    Neurological Conditions

    • The last group of AIDS-defining conditions are those that affect the nervous system. The most important of these is AIDS dementia complex (ADC). According to HIV InSite, ADC can lead to changes in or problems with cognition, motor skills and behavior; there is also a high mortality rate associated with the development of ADC.

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