What Hiv Aids Does To The Body – Medically Reviewed by Cameron White, MA, MPH – By Ann Pietrangelo and Christine Cerny – Updated June 30, 2023

HIV destroys CD4 cells, which are responsible for maintaining people’s health and protecting against disease and infection. As HIV gradually weakens the body’s natural defenses, signs and symptoms may appear.

What Hiv Aids Does To The Body

HIV targets the types of cells that would normally fight off invaders such as HIV. As the virus replicates, it damages or destroys the infected CD4 cell and produces more virus to infect more CD4 cells. CD4 cells are also called T cells or helper cells.

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Without treatment, this cycle can continue until the immune system is severely compromised, leaving the person at risk of serious illness and infection.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is the final stage of HIV. At this stage, the immune system is severely weakened, and the risk of contracting opportunistic infections is much higher.

However, not everyone with HIV will go on to develop AIDS. The earlier a person receives treatment, the better their outcome will be.

The immune system prevents the body from acquiring diseases and infections that occur to it. White blood cells defend the body against viruses, bacteria and other organisms that can make a person sick.

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A few days after exposure to the virus, a person with HIV may experience a flu-like illness that lasts for several weeks. This is associated with the first phase of HIV, which is called the acute infection phase, or acute HIV.

An HIV-positive person may not have very serious symptoms during this stage, but they usually have large amounts of the virus in their blood because the virus reproduces rapidly.

The next stage is called the chronic infection stage. It can last from 10 to 15 years. An HIV-positive person may or may not show signs or symptoms at this stage.

Kaposi’s sarcoma, another possible complication, is a cancer of the blood vessel walls. It is rare in the general population, but more common in people with advanced HIV.

Hiv / Aids: Department Of Health

Symptoms include red or dark purple lesions on the mouth and skin. It can also cause problems in the lungs, digestive tract and other internal organs.

HIV and AIDS also put a person at greater risk for developing lymphomas. An early sign of lymphoma is swollen lymph nodes.

HIV makes it harder to fight respiratory problems like the common cold and flu. In turn, an HIV-positive person can develop related infections, such as pneumonia.

Without HIV treatment, advanced disease puts an HIV-positive person at even greater risk for infectious complications, such as tuberculosis and a fungal infection called pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PJP).

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The risk of lung cancer also increases with HIV. This is due to weakened lungs from numerous respiratory problems associated with a weakened immune system.

People with HIV are more likely to develop high blood pressure. HIV also increases the risk of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). PAH is a type of high blood pressure in the arteries that supply blood to the lungs. Over time, PAH will stress the heart and can lead to heart failure.

TB is an airborne bacterium that affects the lungs. It is the leading cause of death in people who have AIDS. Symptoms include chest pain and a bad cough that may contain blood or phlegm. The cough can last for months.

Because HIV affects the immune system, it also makes the body more susceptible to infections that can affect the digestive system.

Hiv / Aids Health Consequences 3 D Display

Problems with the digestive tract can also reduce appetite and make it difficult to eat properly. As a result, weight loss is a common side effect of HIV.

A common infection associated with HIV is oral thrush, which is a fungal infection that causes inflammation and white patches on the tongue and inside the mouth.

Another viral infection that affects the mouth is oral hairy leukoplakia, which causes white lesions on the tongue.

Salmonella infection is transmitted through contaminated food or water and causes diarrhea, abdominal pain, and vomiting. Everyone can get

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This infection affects the bile ducts and intestines and can be particularly severe. It can cause chronic diarrhea in people with AIDS.

While HIV does not generally infect nerve cells directly, it does infect cells that support and surround nerves in the brain and throughout the body.

Although the link between HIV and neurological damage is not fully understood, it is likely that infected supporting cells contribute to nerve injury.

Advanced HIV can cause nerve damage, also known as neuropathy. This usually leads to pain and stiffness in the feet and hands.

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Small holes in the conduction sheaths of peripheral nerve fibers can cause pain, weakness, and difficulty walking. This condition is known as vacuolar myelopathy.

There are significant neurological complications of AIDS. HIV and AIDS can cause HIV-related dementia, a condition that severely affects cognitive function.

Having a weakened immune system puts people with AIDS at increased risk for inflammation of the brain and spinal cord from this parasite. Symptoms include confusion, headaches and seizures. Seizures can also be caused by certain infections of the nervous system.

In very advanced cases, hallucinations and frank psychosis may occur. Some people may also experience headaches, balance or coordination problems, and vision problems.

The Effects Of Hiv/aids On The Immune System

A weakened immune response leaves a person more vulnerable to viruses such as herpes. Herpes can cause people to develop sores around the mouth or genitals.

HIV also increases a person’s risk of shingles. Reactivation of herpes zoster, the virus that gives people chicken pox, causes shingles. The condition causes a painful rash, often with blisters.

A viral skin infection called molluscum contagiosum involves the appearance of bumps on the skin. Another condition called prurigo nodularis causes crusty lumps on the skin as well as severe itching.

HIV can result in a range of symptoms, from mild flu-like symptoms in the early stages to neurological symptoms if the condition progresses to AIDS.

Central African Republic: Expanding Access To Care For People Living With Hiv/aids

Many of the effects described above are associated with continued compromise of the immune system in the progression of HIV and AIDS.

However, many of these effects can be prevented with antiretroviral treatment, which can preserve and repair the immune system.

A health care professional may recommend additional treatments, such as blood pressure medication or skin creams, to address the effect of HIV and AIDS on other body systems.

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Our experts are constantly monitoring the health and wellness space and we update our articles as new information becomes available. Medically Reviewed by Dr. Elizabeth Tottachery, MD – By Rachel Nall, MSN, CRNA – Updated January 6, 2023

HIV can affect anyone, and some symptoms may be different for women. As well as flu-like symptoms and skin changes, a person may notice menstrual irregularities, more frequent vaginal infections and mood swings.

Transgender women surveyed in seven major US cities have HIV, with two-thirds of African American/Black transgender women and one-third of Latina transgender women reporting that they are HIV positive.

Below, we describe the symptoms of HIV in women, how doctors diagnose the condition, and what treatment options are available.

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Sex and gender exist on spectrums. This article will use the terms “male,” “female,” or both to refer to the gender assigned at birth. Click here to learn more.

Within weeks of becoming infected with HIV, the body undergoes seroconversion, a period in which the virus multiplies rapidly.

These symptoms may resemble those of a cold or flu, so a person may not initially associate them with HIV.

After acute HIV infection, the virus continues to multiply at a slower rate. A person may or may not have symptoms.

Illustrated Infographic Depicting Impact Hivaids On Stock Vector (royalty Free) 2348908349

Treatment can slow or stop the progression of the virus. Even without treatment, some people do not experience additional symptoms for up to a decade after the initial infection.

The neck may feel swollen just below the jaw and behind the ears. The swelling can cause problems with swallowing and can last from a few days to months.

If a person does not receive HIV treatment, the virus can cause nausea, diarrhea, poor absorption of food, and loss of appetite.

This can include depression, which can cause feelings of hopelessness and intense sadness. People may also experience stress and memory loss.

Major Factors That Influence The Spread Of Hiv/aids In The Developing World

To form unusual spots on the skin. They can be red, pink, brown or purple. These spots can appear inside the mouth, eyelids, or nose.

Some menstruating people who have HIV notice lighter or heavier periods. If a person experiences rapid weight loss, they may also begin to miss periods.

In addition, hormonal fluctuations can cause menstrual symptoms such as cramping, breast tenderness, and fatigue to change or worsen.

It is important to note that menstrual changes are common and not necessarily a sign of HIV. But if they present with other symptoms, HIV screening may be warranted.

Hiv And Aids: The Basics

While almost all people who have a vagina have yeast infections from time to time, HIV can cause these infections to occur more often.

When a person has HIV, their immune system uses a lot of energy to respond to the virus. As a result, their body is not as

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