The scary thing about HIV is that it can be spread even when you don't have symptoms. Some people have lived with the disease for as many as ten years before developing signs and symptoms of HIV. However, as the disease progresses, there are more symptoms of HIV that will develop.
HIV can cause diarrhea, weight loss, fever, and swollen lymph nodes. Swollen lymph nodes are usually one of the first symptoms of HIV. This is where the HIV virus attacks the body and starts killing T4 helper cells. These are the white blood cells that help make up your immune system.
As HIV progresses in your body, more symptoms will occur. In the later stages of HIV, more illnesses will be able to fight against your body. The most severe symptoms of HIV can be persistent, unexplained fatigue, soaking night sweats, shaking chills and high fevers, or even persistent headaches. Many of these symptoms of HIV can be treated with medicines or drug therapies.
In the later stages, as HIV develops into AIDS, the biggest problem is opportunistic infections or cancers. Many viruses or illnesses such as ear infections or pneumonia can attack a weakened immune system and be life threatening. While the normal adult can usually fight off these common colds and illnesses, a patient with HIV will have difficulty. The majority of patients with HIV do not die from the HIV disease, but from the infections that attack their bodies.
Researchers are struggling franticly to develop new drugs to combat these infections in HIV patients. For a patient that has a compromised immune system, antibiotics don't do the trick. Since the HIV infection attacks the immune system, patients get colds and flu more than the general population. Over time, these infections build up a resistance to common treatments. This is why HIV patients must struggle to remain healthy and stay away from those who are sick.
In today's medical world, there have been many new drugs developed to help patients with HIV combat illness. However, there are many things a person with HIV can do to help keep colds at bay. One of the most important things to do is eat a balanced and healthy diet. The human body needs all the help it can get when fighting an illness. You also need to consider your surroundings; try to avoid places where people or animals are sick. Immunizations can also help in the prevention of additional illnesses. Your doctor should have many more suggestions to help you stay healthy. The most important thing you can do is, not to wait until you have symptoms to get treated.