It is a stage of infection with human immunodeficiency virus when symptoms are present but AIDS has not yet been developed.
See also:
Acute HIV infection
Asymptomatic HIV infection
HIV Infection
Alternative Names
AIDS-Related Complex (ARC); symptomatic HIV infection and chronic
Causes, incidence and risk factors
HIV infection Early symptomatic have signs and symptoms of HIV infection but not full-blown AIDS. The onset of symptoms signals the transition from HIV infection to HIV disease.
At this early stage of HIV infection, the person has no signs or symptoms of AIDS such as opportunistic infections, certain cancers or a CD4 count below 200.
Risk factors for HIV infection are:
Being born to an HIV positive mother
Getting a blood transfusion or blood products
Intravenous drug use
Sexual contact with an infected partner in which there is an exchange of semen or vaginal secretions
Symptoms
Prolonged diarrhea
Excessive sweating, night sweats
Prolonged fatigue
Prolonged fever
General feeling of discomfort, illness or lack of welfare
Herpes zoster infections reappear
Joint pain
Mouth disorders
gingivitis
Oral hairy leukoplakia of tongue, caused by a viral infection
Oral thrush
Pain, loss of sensation and inability to control muscles (peripheral neuropathy)
Skin
Fungal infection of the skin or nails
Molluscum contagiosum
Seborrheic dermatitis
Enlarged lymph nodes
Weight Loss
Exams and Tests
The patient may have signs of a bleeding disorder in which there are not enough platelets in the blood (idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura).
In women, a Pap smear may reveal precancerous cells of the cervix.
The ELISA / Western blot tests for HIV are positive results for anti-HIV
You can do the following tests to see how the immune system is functioning:
CD4 lymphocyte count
CSC
Platelet count
Skin test anergy
White blood count
Treatment
Many of the symptoms of HIV infection Early symptomatic can be treated successfully with medication.
Antiretroviral therapy slows the growth of HIV in the body. A combination of several antiretroviral medications, termed Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART, by its initials in English) works very well to reduce the number of HIV particles in the bloodstream and as a result, increase the CD4 count.
Although people on HAART HIV levels have been reduced, they can still spread the virus to others through sex or sharing needles. HAART is not a cure for HIV, but the treatment slows disease progression and may strengthen the immune system.
Support Groups
For more information and resources, see AIDS support group.
Expectations (prognosis)
There is no cure for HIV infection or AIDS. However, antiretroviral therapy and HAART can dramatically improve the length and quality of life for people infected with HIV and delay the onset of AIDS. The treatments for conditions that occur with symptomatic HIV disease vary in effectiveness early. Some infections and disease processes are easier to deal with drugs than others.
Complications
You can develop HIV disease (AIDS), which can be opportunistic infections and cancers (malignancies).
Calling your health care
Call your doctor if symptoms of symptomatic HIV infection or suffer from chronic infection and develop new symptoms.
Prevention
The risk of acquiring infection can be reduced by practicing safer sexual behaviors. However, abstinence is the only sure way to prevent sexual transmission of the virus.
Avoid intravenous drug use, but if used, should not be sharing needles or syringes.
People with AIDS or who have had positive antibody tests can pass the disease to others and therefore can not donate blood, plasma, organs or semen. They should not exchange genital fluids during sexual activity.
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