SEX-RELATED DISEASES: THE AIDS VIRUS (HIV)-WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS?
Posted by adminAs we have pointed out, the actual first infection causes no immediate symptoms. As the antibodies begin to appear some people have a short glandular-fever type illness with such symptoms as sore throat, enlarged glands, muscle pains, diarrhoea and vomiting. Many
conditions can cause such symptoms so the fact it is due to HIV infection is not likely to be realised unless, perhaps, the patient is in a high-risk group. Many sufferers might not even see their doctor.
It is thought that most people who have the virus – who are HIV-positive – are highly infectious about this time but thereafter that infectivity declines until they develop the signs and symptoms of AIDS. In the meantime they may appear fit and well. Some, however, continue to be infectious and may be troubled by persistent enlarged glands. In others symptoms occur intermittently and these include feeling unwell, fevers, night sweats, arthritis, weight loss, Candida infections of the mouth (thrush), and diarrhoea. Such people are referred to as suffering from AIDS related complex (ARC).
Currently available evidence suggests that around 75 per cent of people infected with HIV will eventually develop AIDS. The disease can present itself in many different ways including heart disease or mental symptoms (such as an inability to concentrate; a loss of memory; or even schizophrenia). Most commonly the first symptoms are a special form of pneumonia and purplish patches on the skin known as Kaposi’s sarcoma. Once AIDS has started death is
inevitable but progress to AIDS and AIDS itself can be slowed down by treatment with a drug called Zidovudine. Many other drugs are being researched but it is thought that it will be a long time before a drug cure is found.
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