What Are The Symptoms Of HIV/AIDS?

HIV/AIDS is a condition characterized by the progressive impairment of the immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This leads to a spectrum of symptoms that can vary widely from person to person.

Key Insights:

The most prevalent and bothersome symptoms reported by patients with HIV include muscle aches/joint pain, fatigue, and poor sleep, with a significant number of patients experiencing seven or more symptoms.
HIV-infected women report a high prevalence of symptoms such as depression, muscle aches, weakness, and painful joints, with depression being particularly common and intense .
Common symptoms in the asymptomatic phase of HIV include fatigue, night sweats, rash, cough, diarrhea, headache, fever, weight loss, and sore throat/mouth, with a higher total number of symptoms reported compared to HIV-negative controls.
Fatigue is a significant symptom among ambulatory AIDS patients, associated with physical and psychological morbidity, including poorer physical functioning and quality of life.
Neurological complications of HIV infection can include cognitive, motor, and behavioral symptoms, with HIV dementia presenting forgetfulness, slowed mental and motor abilities, loss of balance, leg weakness, apathy, and social withdrawal.
Pain and other physical and psychological symptoms are common in ambulatory HIV patients, with psychiatric illness and intravenous drug use being strong risk factors for these symptoms.
Clinical features of HIV/AIDS can include opportunistic infections, autoimmune diseases, malignancies, and symptoms such as a mononucleosis-like syndrome during the primary illness, with increased risk as CD4 T-cell counts decline.
Advanced AIDS patients in South Africa report pain as the most common symptom, along with weight loss, loss of appetite, low mood, and weakness.
Initial HIV infection may present with no symptoms or a brief period of influenza-like illness, followed by a prolonged asymptomatic period, with late-stage symptoms including opportunistic infections, tumors, and weight loss.

Conclusion:

Symptoms of HIV/AIDS are diverse and can affect multiple systems of the body. Patients commonly experience muscle and joint pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and depression. As the disease progresses, neurological symptoms such as cognitive and motor impairments may develop. Pain is a prevalent issue, with psychological factors and substance abuse exacerbating the experience. Opportunistic infections and malignancies become more common as the immune system weakens, particularly when CD4 T-cell counts fall below critical levels. The initial phase of infection may be asymptomatic or present with flu-like symptoms, but without treatment, the disease advances to more severe symptoms and complications associated with AIDS.

Summary

Not a yes or no question

Sources and full results

Identifying Symptom Patterns in People Living With HIV Disease

Symptom experience and functional status among HIV-infected women

Signs and symptoms of "asymptomatic" HIV-1 infection in homosexual men. Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study.

Fatigue in ambulatory AIDS patients.

The Influence of Symptoms on Quality of Life among HIV-Infected Women

Neurologic Manifestations of HIV Infection

Pain and physical and psychological symptoms in ambulatory HIV patients in the current treatment era.

HIV infection and AIDS.

Symptoms and sites of pain experienced by AIDS patients.

SYMPTOMS OF INFECTION REFERRED TO AS HIV/AIDS

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