INFORMATION  ON HIV

Go to other sections:

 

Stages:

Stages of HIV Infection

Asymptomatic Infection

There are usually no clinical signs and symptoms during this stage. The CD4 count is >500 cells/mm3. A number of laboratory values may be abnormal (e.g. anemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and abnormal liver function tests). CD4 cells generally decline at a rate of 40-80 cells/mm3 per year in untreated individuals.

Although the stage is labeled "asymptomatic", HIV viral replication is continuing constantly and the immune system is slowly weakening. HIV can be transmitted at all stages.

The illustration below symbolically depicts the number of infected cells in the clinically silent asymptomatic phase of HIV disease. Ten billion viruses are produced each day. The immune system eventually is unable to maintain its own integrity.

 

 

Antiretroviral therapy is now commonly  offered at all stages of HIV infection and usually includes at least three  drugs, one of which is a protease inhibitor.

Basic blood work, lymphocyte  profiles and viral load are done approximately every three months. Some  other baseline investigations are done (e.g. Hepatitis A, B, and C serology,  VDRL, and confirmatory test for syphilis, toxoplasma antibody determination,  Mantoux test with 5 units of PPD, CMV antibody, etc).

 Stages Menu: