What are the different stages of HIV infection?

(m)

The Different Stages of HIV Infection

HIV infects cells in the immune system and the central nervous system. The main cell HIV infects is called a T helper lymphocyte. The T helper cell is a crucial part of the immune system, and co-ordinates the actions of other immune system cells. A large reduction in the number of T helper cells seriously weakens the immune system.

HIV infects the T Helper cell because it has the protein CD4 on its surface, which HIV uses to attach itself to the cell before gaining entry. This is why the T helper cell is sometimes referred to as a CD4+ lymphocyte. Once it has found its way into a cell, HIV produces new copies of itself, which can then go on to infect other cells. The infected cells are often destroyed or stop working properly.

However, battling against HIV the immune system is rapidly killing virus particles and HIV-infected cells, and replacing the T helper cells that have been lost.

HIV infection can generally be broken down into four distinct stages: primary infection, clinically asymptomatic stage, symptomatic HIV infection, and progression from HIV to AIDS.

STAGE 1 : Primary HIV Infection
This stage of infection lasts for a few weeks and is often accompanied by a short flu-like illness. In up to about 20% of people the symptoms are serious enough to consult a doctor, but the diagnosis of HIV infection is frequently missed.

During this stage there is a large amount of HIV in the peripheral blood and the immune system begins to respond to the virus by producing HIV antibodies and cytotoxic lymphocytes. This process is known as seroconversion. If an HIV antibody test is done before seroconversion is complete then it may not be positive.

STAGE 2 : Clinically Asymptomatic Stage
This stage lasts for an average of ten years and, as its name suggests, is free from major symptoms, although there may be swollen glands. The level of HIV in the peripheral blood drops to very low levels but people remain infectious and HIV antibodies are detectable in the blood, so antibody tests will show a positive result.

Research has shown that HIV is not dormant during this stage, but is very active in the lymph nodes. Large amounts of T helper cells are infected and die and a large amount of virus is produced.

A test is available to measure the small amount of HIV that escapes the lymph nodes. This test which measures HIV RNA (HIV genetic material) is referred to as the viral load test, and it has an important role in the treatment of HIV infection.

STAGE 3 : Symptomatic HIV Infection
Over time the immune system loses the struggle to contain HIV. This is for three main reasons:

The lymph nodes and tissues become damaged or 'burnt out' because of the years of activity;

HIV mutates and becomes more pathogenic, in other words stronger and more varied, leading to more T helper cell destruction;

The body fails to keep up with replacing the T helper cells that are lost.

As the immune system fails, so symptoms develop. Initially many of the symptoms are mild, but as the immune system deteriorates the symptoms worsen.

Where do opportunistic infections and cancers occur?
Symptomatic HIV infection is mainly caused by the emergence of opportunistic infections and cancers that the immune system would normally prevent. These can occur in almost all the body systems, but common examples are featured in the table below.

As the table below indicates, symptomatic HIV infection is often characterized by multi-system disease. Treatment for the specific infection or cancer is often carried out, but the underlying cause is the action of HIV as it erodes the immune system. Unless HIV itself can be slowed down the symptoms of immune suppression will continue to worsen.

System - Examples of Infection/Cancer

Respiratory system -
Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia (PCP)
Tuberculosis (TB)
Kaposi's Sarcoma (KS)

Gastro-intestinal system
Cryptosporidiosis
Candida
Cytomegolavirus (CMV)
Isosporiasis
Kaposi's Sarcoma

Central/peripheral Nervous system
HIV
Cytomegolavirus
Toxoplasmosis
Cryptococcosis
Non Hodgkin's lymphoma
Varicella Zoster
Herpes simplex

Skin
Herpes simplex
Kaposi's sarcoma
Varicella Zoster


STAGE 4 : Progression from HIV to AIDS
As the immune system becomes more and more damaged the illnesses that present become more and more severe leading eventually to an AIDS diagnosis.

At present in the UK an AIDS diagnosis is confirmed if a person with HIV develops one or more of a specific number of severe opportunistic infections or cancers. However people can still be very ill with HIV but not have an AIDS diagnosis.

http://www.avert.org/hivstages.htm

Buy the book 'World without Aids' by Phillip Day an investigative journalist (Amazon will have it actually) and if you want more info on what he talks about email me and I'll point you in the right direction, This is GREAT news for all aids sufferers

Stages of HIV infection
The different stages of HIV infection including primary, asymptomatic, symptomatic stages and progression from HIV to AIDS. ... The Different Stages of HIV Infection. HIV infects cells in the immune system and the central nervous system. The main type of cell that HIV infects is the T helper ...
Saved by 1 person
www.avert.org/hivstages.htm - 13k - Cached - More pages from this site - Save

4stages