Sunday, September 25, 2011

Later Symptoms Of HIV Infection

Later Symptoms Of HIV Infection

Usually, it takes about eight to nine years between the time of infection and the appearance of later symptoms, although this varies from person to person. These symptoms signal that immune system function is deteriorating, due to declining numbers of CD4+ T cells.

Not all people with HIV infection develop further symptoms. For those who do, however, symptoms may include:

  • Persistent, enlarged lymph nodesSmall, round or oval bodies connected by a network of vessels; they help remove bacteria and foreign particles from the circulation, and play a role in the body's immune defenses
  • Excessive fatigue
  • Weight loss
  • Frequent fevers
  • Night sweats
  • Chronic or frequent diarrhea
  • Genital sores (sores around the penis or vagina)
  • Thrush   Oral candidiasis, an infection of the mouth caused by caused by the yeast-like fungus      (an infection of the mouth caused by Candida, a yeast-like fungus) and mouth lesions
  • Skin rash or flaky skin
  • Joint stiffness and pain
  • Bone pain
  • Blurred vision
  • Short-term memory loss
  • Repeated bacterial, viral, or fungal infections

As the CD4+ T cell count continues to drop and the immune system deteriorates further, individuals may continue to experience the above symptoms as well as develop new ones.

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