TOPICS

THE PROGRESS OF THE DISEASE – AIDS DEVELOPS IN FOUR PHASES

An HIV infection develops in four phases. The first phase, called the acute phase, lasts four to six weeks. For the first two to six weeks after the initial infections patients report flu-like symptoms – fever, tiredness, headaches, loss of appetite, rashes, nausea, night fever and diarrhea. Not quite so common are symptoms like mouth ulcers, loss of weight and light sensitivity. The second phase is the latent phase that can last up to ten years. During this time the virus multiplies in the body. The infected person shows no symptoms of the disease but can suffer psychologically if aware of the infection. The third phase is described as the (A)ids (R)elated (C)omplex. Here the patient experiences similar symptoms as in the first phase but these remain and become chronic. In the fourth and final phase the illness breaks out. At this point the patient is then diagnosed as having Aids. The patient begins to suffer from so-called opportunistic infections. The weakened immune system cannot defend the patient against pathogens that would normally be harmless for a healthy immune system.