When a person contracts HIV, if they do not receive treatment, the infection will typically progress through three stages :. However, HIV treatment, also known as antiretroviral therapy , is effective in slowing or preventing this progression.
Antiretroviral therapy has been a treatment option since The availability of effective treatment has meant that many people with HIV can have a typical life expectancy and never develop stage 3 HIV. The incidence of opportunistic infections is much lower than before. When a person first comes into contact with HIV, they may develop flu-like symptoms. These symptoms usually appear within 2—4 weeks of exposure and may last for several days or weeks. Doctors refer to this as seroconversion illness.
Many people do not experience any symptoms at this stage, making it easy to have HIV without knowing it. In fact, an estimated 1 in 7 people do not know that they have HIV, which makes testing very important. If symptoms do occur, the person may feel as though they have the flu. Symptoms of acute HIV infection can include:. After the seroconversion period, the person may not experience any symptoms for a decade or longer. This stage is known as chronic HIV infection.
Although people tend to feel well during this stage, the infection is still active. The virus continues to reproduce, attack new cells, and damage the immune system.
It is also possible that the virus will spread to others. HIV primarily affects the body by targeting and damaging cells in the immune system. The immune system protects the body against viruses, bacteria, and fungi.
After attaching itself to a type of white blood cell called a CD4 T cell, the virus merges with it. These T cells are an important part of the immune system. Once inside the CD4 T cell, the virus multiplies. HIV Basics. What is HIV? Info Sheet: HIV This info sheet provides basic information about HIV. Other Resources.
Get tailored information about your risk and learn how to protect yourself. Top of Page. The key to living with HIV is to continue seeing a healthcare provider for regular treatments. New or worsening symptoms are reasons enough to visit one as soon as possible. Read this article in Spanish. For many people, the media is a main source of information about diseases.
Find out how advancements in treatments and our understanding of HIV are allowing people to live fuller lives. Also view lists of FDA-approved drugs. HIV treatment and prevention have come a long way in recent years. We explain the treatments and prevention methods that are bringing us closer to an…. Learn about HIV organizations in the United States and Africa working to support their communities through education and empowerment.
Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Daniel Murrell, M. Symptoms timeline. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile.
Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. This is when the immune defenses have been compromised, and the body is less able to defend itself against potentially life-threatening infections.
Differences in time can be due to any number of factors, including:. This is, of course, if the person receives no treatment. The picture changes entirely if he or she does. Since , the introduction of antiretroviral drugs has dramatically altered the natural progression of HIV infection. While HIV still cannot be cured, people newly diagnosed with HIV who get treated and stay in care can be expected to have near-normal to normal life expectancies.
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