AIDS, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, is the final stages of the HIV illness, according to the National Library of Medicine. Contraction occurs during unprotected sex with an infected individual or through direct contact with infected blood, such as from sharing needles or during pregnancy and childbirth. In some cases, HIV may not appear for several years; in others, however, there are warning signs of its presence and progression. Should a person suspect the disease, immediately seek medical testing and treatment.
Enlarged Lymph Nodes
Upon contracting the HIV virus, few symptoms can indicate its presence without the necessary testing. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, about one to two months following infection the lymph nodes of the neck and groin enlarge. As the virus attacks the immune system, it quickly proliferates in the lymph nodes by hijacking specialized cells known as T-cells, necessary for a properly functioning immune system, according to the Mayo Clinic. The enlarged size is a result of disease taking over the body, causing pronounced swelling in the groin and neck. HIV can remain dormant for up to nine years but eventually it resurfaces, causing complications to the lymph nodes. However, AIDS may not be the culprit in all instances of swollen lymph nodes as it is also common to the flu. If it worsens or pain becomes exceedingly bothersome, contact a physician immediately.
Persistent Fatigue, Weight Loss, Night Sweats and Thrush
As the immune system comes under attack, the body's ability to keep things in check can become unbalanced. According to the Mayo Clinic, persistent fatigue, weight loss, night sweats and thrush are indicative of the later stages of AIDS. Weight loss occurs due to abnormal signals sent to the brain's hypothalamus that cause a loss of appetite and the improper intake of nutrients, according to the website TheNakedScientists.com. Thrush is a yeast infection of the mouth in which white patchy lesions appear on the tongue and cheek lining. A healthy body can often keep the amount of yeast balanced, but according to the Mayo Clinic individuals with AIDS do not have functioning immune responses, resulting in a proliferation of micro-organisms, including yeast. Persistent fatigue and night sweats are due to the body's continual production and killing of the virus.
Kaposi's Sarcoma
During the end stages of HIV and the beginning of AIDS, the Mayo Clinic says that Kaposi's sarcoma can develop. As a form of skin cancer, Kaposi's sarcoma begins with abnormal growth patches underneath the skin, lining of the mouth, nose and throat, or possibly in organs, according to the National Library of Medicine. They appear red or purple due to their cancer and blood-cell composition. The emergence of this skin cancer is slow in individuals without HIV or AIDS. Infected individuals, however, experience an aggressive progression of this cancer in which lesions quickly appear all over the body. Those healthy enough to endure it usually undergo chemotherapy. Generally, however, regular AIDS treatment also reduces the lesions.
