Human immunodeficiency virus or HIV is a viral infection transmitted through exposure to the blood, semen or vaginal fluids of an infected person. As of 2008, over 33 million people throughout the world have received an HIV diagnosis, reports the World Health Organization. During the initial phase of this disease, HIV symptoms can prove difficult to recognize. Patients who believe they have been exposed to HIV should see a doctor as soon as possible for further evaluation and testing.
Acute Phase
Acute phase HIV symptoms typically emerge within two to four weeks following exposure to this virus, explain medical professionals at MayoClinic.com. Symptoms that occur during the acute phase of infection include flu-like symptoms such as fever, sore throat, swollen lymph glands, muscle aches and headache. Certain patients with HIV may also develop oral ulcers or a skin rash across the body during the acute phase of infection. These acute phase HIV symptoms typically persist for a few weeks before resolving.
Chronic or Latent Phase
After the initial acute phase, patients with HIV can enter a chronic or latent phase of HIV infection, explains AIDS.gov, an HIV and AIDS informational website supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. During this phase of HIV, patients typically exhibit no noticeable symptoms and may remain asymptomatic for up to 10 years. Certain patients may experience swollen lymph glands during this phase of infection. Despite this lack of symptoms, HIV patients in the chronic or latent phase are still able to transmit this viral infection to other people.
Advanced Phase
During the chronic or latent phase of HIV, a patient's immune system becomes weaker, says Mayo.Clinic.com. As a result, patients can develop advanced phase HIV symptoms. Symptoms of advanced phase HIV include diarrhea, fever, cough, difficulty breathing, night sweats, chills and swollen lymph nodes. Advanced phase HIV symptoms may also include recurrent infections, such as pneumonia or yeast infections.
AIDS
When the HIV virus has severely damaged a patient's immune system, the HIV infection may progress to AIDS or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Patients in this phase of infection can begin to experience blurred vision or may lose a significant amount of weight. Wasting syndrome, a symptom in which a patient loses more than 10 percent of his body weight while experiencing prolonged bouts of chronic diarrhea or weakness and fatigue, can also develop during this phase of HIV, explains AIDS.gov. Once a patient reaches this phase of HIV infection, his life expectancy is approximately 3 years if he does not receive treatment, warns AIDS.gov.
