The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that could be contracted by any sexually active person. But contracting HIV no longer spells a death sentence for most patients. Instead, with antiretroviral therapy from HIV clinics in Singapore, HIV patients here can live long and healthy lives. Without the medication, HIV can take a large toll on the body. What happens to the body after you contract HIV? In this article, we will dive deep to understand how our bodies respond and react to the virus and what happens to our immune systems in later stages of the virus.
Early effects of HIV
About two to six weeks after the initial infection, the patient will likely start to develop flu-like symptoms such as sore throat, fever, joint and muscle pain, and skin rash. This happens as the patient’s body is producing antibodies in response to HIV – meaning that their immune system is fighting the infection. During this stage, which lasts up to two weeks, patients may be ill to the point of being bed-ridden or may feel well enough to head to work. Once the symptoms have passed, some patients breathe a sigh of relief, thinking that they had the flu or dengue fever. However, HIV is still latent in the body and will begin to affect the body’s immune system, meaning that they will be much weaker to common illnesses in future.
Effects on the immune system
HIV is a virus, which means that it attacks a patient’s immune system through infecting cells. They will infect T cells, a white blood cell that is a core of the body’s immune system. Once it has invaded the host cell, the virus will begin to multiply, using the cell to create more of such similar HIV-infected cells. Before the symptoms arise, patients are infectious and may infect their sexual partners if they have unprotected sex, regardless of their partner’s gender. As such, it is always recommended for everyone who suspects that they have HIV to get a HIV test before engaging in sexual activity, so as to limit the possibility of spreading the virus.
When HIV becomes AIDS
The Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is one of the last stages of an HIV infection. At this stage, a patient’s immune system may be damaged to a point where they show signs and symptoms of illness and they are extremely susceptible to opportunistic infections – infections that take advantage of the AIDS patient’s weak immune system. As such, AIDS patients would suffer from infections such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, thrush and certain types of cancers. At this stage, the patient’s immune system is so weak that they may not be able to fight off these opportunistic infections, resulting in death.
Getting treatment
While no cure is available for HIV at the time of writing, there are medications that can reduce the amount of virus in the body. With medication, an HIV patient’s blood will no longer test positive for HIV. However, this medication must be taken at regular intervals to prolong the life expectancy of the patient.
For more information on HIV treatment at an STD clinic in Singapore, please contact Elyon Clinic at 6802 7208.