The early stages of AIDS are extremely mild and are often mistaken for other illnesses. Once someone recovers from the initial stage of infection, she may go without symptoms for many years. During this time, there is damage occurring to her body, but until she becomes symptomatic, she often won't realize she has HIV/AIDS. Early diagnosis is important to prevent the spread of the disease and ensure the best response to health care.
Infection Stage
The infection stage occurs shortly after exposure to the HIV virus. Typically, within two to six weeks, the body mounts an immune response to the foreign invader. The person will often experience what they consider a mild case of the flu, with a sore throat, headache and fever. The symptoms fade within a month, and the illness is often mistaken for a cold or the flu. The person may then experience years without showing any signs of HIV/ AIDS infection.
Symptomatic Stage
The first symptoms many people experience when they become symptomatic are swollen lymph glands. Other symptoms are shortness of breath, coughing, weight loss and diarrhea. A person may be symptomatic with HIV/AIDS for years before progressing into full-blown AIDS. While there is no cure for AIDS, the medical community has developed many effective treatments for the health problems that develop because of AIDS.
AIDS
The final stage of HIV/AIDS infection is AIDS. An official AIDS diagnosis occurs when the patient's CD4 lymphocyte cell count falls below 200. These cells, which help the body fight infection, measure between 800 and 1200 in healthy people. A person may be diagnosed with AIDS with a higher CD4 count if they have other health conditions, such as tuberculosis, which are used as indicators of full-blown AIDS.
