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Details about first signs of HIV in men at different stages

HIV-the symptoms of which men have their specifics, is one of the most dangerous viral diseases affecting the human immune system. HIV infection is incurable and always ends in death of the host. The disease is dangerous and the fact that long been dormant without any symptoms. According to reports, HIV infection affects up to 1% of men. That is why next we look at signs of HIV in men, to learn when to recognize this disease.

In the natural course of the disease there are four main stages of development HIV-infection:

  • sharp;
  • latent;
  • manifestou;
  • terminal.

Acute effects

Acute infection usually is diagnosed in the vast majority of HIV-infected men. The clinical picture at this stage resembles the first signs of infectious mononucleosis or has significant similarities with the flu. The first signs of disease usually appear after one to three weeks after infection (in some men after 10 months and more) and can be stored up to six months.

Acute syndrome is expressed by fever, headache, sore throat, myalgia, dyspepsia, enlargement of lymph nodes. Often a symptom of HIV infection at this stage acts as a rash covering the trunk and face, less often the limbs. Neurological symptoms associated with meningoencephalitis, neuropathy, psychosis. In the picture of blood, there is a moderate decrease of leukocytes, lymphocytes, the appearance of atypical mononuclear cells. Antibodies to HIV at this stage, as a rule, are not detected.

Latent

This phase of the disease continues the acute stage and can last long enough from infection, sometimes up to 10 years. At this time, the man, despite the presence of HIV infection remains clinically healthy, without any signs of immunodeficiency.

The only sign of the disease can be considered permanently enlarged lymph nodes, which are found under the armpits, groin and neck. The blood picture shows an intense production of antibodies to HIV.

The duration of this phase is very individual and determined by some specific factors: drug addiction, alcoholism, low social status men, etc.

Symptomatic

At this stage of the disease begins symptoms pre-AIDS and AIDS develop opportunistic infections that arise as a result of HIV-tumors. As a rule, the clinical picture in this stage is entirely dependent on the immune status of man, his genetic characteristics, presence of concurrent infection.

The first symptoms pre-AIDS detected lesions of the mucous membranes and skin (seborrheicdermatitis, mycoses, candidiasis, herpetic lesions, etc.). Occur recurrent urogenital and respiratory disease with moderately severe General symptoms (hyperthermia >38,5 °C, prolonged diarrhea with weight loss more than 10%).

Terminal

End-stage HIV is AIDS. This pronounced immune deficiency syndrome, accompanied by severe manifestations of opportunistic infections and tumors.

At this stage, patients having atypical illnesses (candidiasis of the trachea and/or bronchi, cerebral toxoplasmosis, tuberculosis, HIV-dementia), detected HIV-tumors, including Kaposi's sarcoma, some types of lymphomas. Also, this stage is characterized by pronounced depletion of the patient and his extreme weakness. Very rarely the AIDS in men can occur in the absence of obvious clinical symptoms.

To date the treatment of HIV infection, is able to eliminate the virus from the body, yet to be developed.

The modern way of combating HIV is with highly active antiretroviral therapy. It can greatly slow down or almost stop the development of the disease and its transition into the terminal stage of AIDS, which allows infected people a long time to live a normal, fulfilling lives.