HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, is a sexually transmitted disease that weakens the immune system by destroying cells that fight infections and diseases. There’s no cure for HIV, but it is possible to manage the condition with proper medical care.
Some people are more vulnerable to HIV due to many factors, such as numerous sex partners and risky behavior.
We’re going to take a closer look at how HIV is transmitted, the most common signs and your testing options.
What is HIV?
HIV is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system, the CD4 cells in particular. When left untreated, this disease reduces the number of CD4 cells in the body. Eventually, the disease can progress to the point where the body can no longer fight off infections and disease.
Scientists have identified a specific type of chimpanzee in Central Africa as being the root source of the HIV infection. It is believed that the chimpanzee of the virus, known as SIV, was transmitted to humans and mutated into HIV.
Research suggests that this disease may have spread from apes to humans as far back as the 1800s. Over time, the virus spread throughout Africa and eventually, into other parts of the world. In the United States, the virus has existed since the late 1970s.
The 3 Stages of HIV
Those who become infected with this disease and fail to get treatment will typically go through three stages. These stages include:
- Acute Infection
About two to four weeks after becoming infected with HIV, you may experience flu-like symptoms. These symptoms can persist for several weeks, and is the body’s natural response to the infection.
At this stage, the infected person has a large amount of the virus in the body, and is incredibly contagious.
Some people in the first stage may not even realize they’re sick, which makes it easy to spread the disease to others.
- Clinical Latency
The second stage is often called clinical latency, and at this point, the virus goes into a dormant stage. While still active, the virus reproduces at a much slower pace.
If taking medication to control the progress of this disease, a person may remain in the second stage for several decades. However, the disease can still be spread at this point.
If the disease has not been diagnosed yet, a person can remain in this stage for a decade or longer, but most will progress through the second stage much quicker. Towards the end of this phase, the CD4 count starts to drop and the viral load spikes. Symptoms may start emerging as they progress into the final stage.