Definition
AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is a chronic, potentially life-threatening condition caused by the HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). By damaging your immune system, HIV interferes with your body's ability to fight the organisms that cause disease.
HIV is a sexually transmitted infection. It can also be spread by contact with infected blood or from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth or breast-feeding. It can take years before HIV weakens your immune system to the point that you have AIDS.
Symptoms
- Primary infection
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Rash
- Chills
- Sore throat
- Mouth or genital ulcers
- Swollen lymph glands, mainly on the neck
- Joint pain
- Night sweats
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Rash
- Chills
- Sore throat
- Mouth or genital ulcers
- Swollen lymph glands, mainly on the neck
- Joint pain
- Night sweats
- Diarrhea
Early symptomatic HIV infection
-
As the virus continues to multiply and destroy immune cells, you may develop mild infections or chronic signs and symptoms such as:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Swollen lymph nodes — often one of the first signs of HIV infection
- Diarrhea
- Weight loss
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
As the virus continues to multiply and destroy immune cells, you may develop mild infections or chronic signs and symptoms such as:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Swollen lymph nodes — often one of the first signs of HIV infection
- Diarrhea
- Weight loss
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
Progression to AIDS
-
If you receive no treatment for your HIV infection, the disease typically progresses to AIDS in about 10 years. By the time AIDS develops, your immune system has been severely damaged, making you susceptible to opportunistic infections — diseases that wouldn't trouble a person with a healthy immune system.
The signs and symptoms of some of these infections may include:
- Soaking night sweats
- Shaking chills or fever higher than 100 F (38 C) for several weeks
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Chronic diarrhea
- Persistent white spots or unusual lesions on your tongue or in your mouth
- Headaches
- Persistent, unexplained fatigue
- Blurred and distorted vision
- Weight loss
- Skin rashes or bumps
If you receive no treatment for your HIV infection, the disease typically progresses to AIDS in about 10 years. By the time AIDS develops, your immune system has been severely damaged, making you susceptible to opportunistic infections — diseases that wouldn't trouble a person with a healthy immune system.
The signs and symptoms of some of these infections may include:
- Soaking night sweats
- Shaking chills or fever higher than 100 F (38 C) for several weeks
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Chronic diarrhea
- Persistent white spots or unusual lesions on your tongue or in your mouth
- Headaches
- Persistent, unexplained fatigue
- Blurred and distorted vision
- Weight loss
- Skin rashes or bumps
Complications
Infections common to HIV/AIDS
- Tuberculosis (TB)
- Salmonellosis
- Cytomegalovirus
- Candidiasis
- Cryptococcal meningitis
- Toxoplasmosis
- Cryptosporidiosis
Cancers common to HIV/AIDS
- Kaposi's sarcoma
- Lymphomas
Other complications
- Wasting syndrome
- Neurological complications
- Kidney disease
Tests and diagnosis
Tests to tailor treatment
- CD4 count
- Viral load
- Drug resistance
Tests for complications
- Tuberculosis
- Hepatitis
- Toxoplasmosis
- Sexually transmitted infections
- Liver or kidney damage
- Urinary tract infection
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