What is HIV and AIDS? - Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment Explained

Many people with HIV show no symptoms for years after contracting the virus. About 80% develop flu-like symptoms (acute retroviral syndrome) 2-6 weeks post-infection, including fever, chills, night sweats, enlarged glands, weakness, joint pain, sore throat, thrush, and unintentional weight loss. After this initial phase, the virus can silently damage the immune system for 8-10 years.

When CD4 cells are severely depleted (below 200 cells/mm³), AIDS can be diagnosed. Symptoms include blurred vision, dry cough, night sweats, white spots on the tongue or mouth, shortness of breath, swollen glands, persistent diarrhea, prolonged fever, continuous fatigue, and unintentional weight loss. Without treatment, people with AIDS face significantly increased risks of life-threatening illnesses.

AIDS can lead to various opportunistic infections such as candidiasis, coccidioidomycosis, cryptococcosis, cytomegalovirus disease, herpes, histoplasmosis, tuberculosis, recurrent pneumonia, salmonella septicemia, and toxoplasmosis. It also increases the risk of certain cancers, including lymphoma, Kaposi's sarcoma (caused by human herpesvirus 8), Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and cervical cancer in women.

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) attacks CD4 cells, which are vital immune cells. The virus uses these cells to replicate, destroying them and weakening the body's ability to fight infections. Untreated HIV can advance to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), characterized by a CD4 count below 200 cells per cubic millimeter or the presence of opportunistic infections and specific cancers. Antiretroviral treatments have made progression to AIDS less common.

The primary causes of HIV transmission include unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse, sharing drug injection equipment, and less commonly, mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding. Transmission through blood transfusions is extremely rare due to effective screening.

HIV can be diagnosed using several tests. Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAT) can detect HIV as early as 10 days post-exposure. Antigen or antibody blood tests can detect the virus around 18 days after exposure. Most rapid tests and self-tests are antibody tests, detecting antibodies approximately 21 days after exposure.

While there is no cure for HIV, treatments can halt its progression, reduce transmission risk, and extend and improve quality of life. Emergency HIV pills (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis or PEP) can prevent infection if taken within 72 hours of potential exposure for 28 days. Antiretroviral drugs, often a combination called HAART or cART, fight the virus. These include Protease Inhibitors (e.g., Atazanavir), Integrase Inhibitors (e.g., Dolutegravir), and Nucleoside/Nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs or 'Nukes' such as Abacavir). Other less common medications are Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors, Chemokine Coreceptor Antagonists, and Entry Inhibitors. Common side effects include nausea, fatigue, diarrhea, headaches, and rashes.

Key strategies to prevent HIV transmission include using barrier protection (like condoms), practicing safe injection techniques, and avoiding exposure to relevant body fluids.