Last Stage Signs of AIDS

AIDS is a disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV is spread through blood or sexual contact with another person infected with the disease. The first stage of HIV infection can be completely asymptomatic; people should always use condoms with sexual partners. As the disease progresses, symptoms become more severe, and the body's immune system is unable to protect itself from the common microbes that normally do not cause disease. Without the help of antiviral medications, the virus eventually destroys white blood cells, and the patient dies from opportunistic infections.

Stage Three

• Stage one and two of HIV are generally mild. Stage two can last for up to ten years before stage three starts to develop. Stage three is when symptoms become severe, and the immune system is generally destroyed. Because of all the years of chronic activity, the lymph nodes give out and no longer function well. In the beginning of stage three, symptoms are generally mild. As it progresses, the symptoms become more severe.

Opportunistic Infections

• Between stage three and stage four, several opportunistic infections can start to invade. What little is left of the immune system attempts to fight off the disease, but it ultimately fails. Additionally, cancers can start to take over the body's tissue. Respiratory diseases like tuberculosis erode the respiratory system. The bacteria that are normally harmless in the gastrointestinal tract invade, and viruses like herpes simplex erode the skin.

Stage Four

• Stage four is the final progression to AIDS. AIDS is described as two or more opportunistic infections that the immune system is unable to fight off. AIDS is also given as a diagnosis if the body's T cell count is extremely low. This stage involves invasion of diseases such as pneumonia, HIV encephalopathy and lymphoma.

Late Stage Care

• Late stage care such as hospice is optional for patients and family members. Late stage care makes the patient as comfortable as possible and provides medication and health care for late stages of AIDS. They provide supportive care for the patient, and they also provide therapy and facilitate discussions with family members during the final months of AIDS.