Understanding HIV and AIDS: Causes, Symptoms, and Prevention

What is HIV and AIDS?

HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system, leading to progressive damage and weakening of its functions. AIDS, or acquired immune deficiency syndrome, is the final stage of HIV infection, characterized by the development of opportunistic infections and malignant diseases.

What Causes HIV?

There are two types of HIV viruses – HIV-1 and HIV-2, with HIV-1 being the cause of the global pandemic. The virus is transmitted through contact with infected bodily fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk. Risk factors include unprotected sexual intercourse, sharing contaminated needles, transfusion of infected blood or blood products, and from an infected mother to her child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.

How Does HIV Infection Progress?

The incubation period of HIV infection, from exposure to the onset of primary symptoms, typically ranges from 1 to 4 weeks. After this initial phase, there is a long latent period, averaging about 10 years, during which the virus gradually weakens the immune system. As the infection progresses, the number of T-lymphocytes decreases, leading to the development of AIDS.

Clinical Manifestations of HIV Infection

Primary HIV Infection

Not all individuals infected with HIV experience symptoms during the primary stage. However, common symptoms include flu-like illness such as fever, sore throat, muscle and joint pain, headache, and fatigue. Other symptoms may include rash, mucous ulceration, oral candidiasis, nausea, and vomiting. This stage typically lasts about a month, but prolonged symptoms may indicate rapid disease progression.

Latent Phase

Following primary HIV infection, there is a period without symptoms, lasting around 8 to 10 years on average. During this time, various complaints may arise, including:

• Skin issues like itching, dryness, seborrheic dermatitis, and folliculitis
• Oral health problems like dry mouth, aphthous ulcers, gingivitis, and oral ulcers
• Gastrointestinal issues such as chronic diarrhea due to intestinal damage
• Endocrine and reproductive system changes like testicular atrophy and loss of libido
• Weight loss exceeding 10% despite a normal diet, leading to the term “wasting disease”
• Neurological symptoms like behavioral changes, memory problems, and concentration disorders
• Musculoskeletal issues including proximal muscle weakness, muscle pain, and gait abnormalities
• Renal and rheumatological complications like nephropathy, acute renal failure, and various rheumatological syndromes.

AIDS

The third phase of HIV infection, AIDS, is characterized by a severe decline in immune function, making the individual vulnerable to opportunistic infections and diseases such as pneumococcal infections, candidal esophagitis, fungal infections, cryptococcal meningitis, and recurrent herpes infections.

Prevention of HIV Infection

To prevent HIV infection, it’s important to:

• Avoid unprotected sexual contact with multiple partners
• Use protective measures such as condoms and gloves during sexual activity
• Use sterile needles and medical equipment to avoid contamination when working with blood or bodily fluids.

HIV infection is a complex condition with various manifestations, but with proper prevention measures, transmission can be significantly reduced.