What Are The Late Symptoms Of HIV And AIDS? 

Late symptoms of HIV and AIDS can include extreme fatigue, rapid weight loss, impaired memory, and infections. Without treatment, HIV can progress to advanced stages of the disease and AIDS. Opportunistic infections in these stages can cause severe symptoms. This article looks at the stages and symptoms of HIV, treatment, and outlook. Symptoms of AIDS may include the following: unexplained fatigue, or extreme tiredness rapid unintentional weight loss decreased appetite body rashes or skin hypersensitivity frequent fevers or night sweats swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, or groin diarrhea lasting for longer than a week sores on the genitals or anus mouth ulcers discolored patches, which may be purplish, pink, red, or brown, on or underneath the skin, inside the mouth, eyelids, or nose pneumonia depression memory loss or other neurological conditions Without treatment, HIV progresses and worsens over three stages. Although there is currently no cure for HIV, medications can help prevent HIV from progressing. Acute HIV infection Stage one is acute HIV infection. This occurs when people have the initial exposure to HIV infection. Symptoms may develop 2–4 weeks after exposure. The virus quickly spreads throughout the body and destroys CD4 T cells, which are white blood cells that form part of the immune system and help fight off infections. In the acute stage, HIV can pass on easily to others due to high virus levels in the bloodstream. Chronic HIV infection Stage two is chronic HIV infection. People may also refer to this as clinical latency or asymptomatic HIV infection. During this stage, the HIV virus continues to grow and multiply, but at much lower levels. Treatment can help prevent transmitting the virus to others. People may not experience any symptoms at this stage. Without treatment, people may remain in this stage for 10 years or more before HIV progresses to AIDS. AIDS AIDS is the final stage of HIV. People may have severe symptoms due to opportunistic infections. Opportunistic infections are infections that are more frequent and severe in people with weakened immune systems. A doctor-confirmed AIDS diagnosis takes place when people have a CD4 cell count of less than 200 cells per cubic millimeter (mm3), or when certain opportunistic infections are present. Although they cannot cure HIV, doctors can reverse AIDS back to stage 2 HIV with antiretroviral therapy (ART), a medication that increases the CD4 cell count. Opportunistic infections are infections that affect people with weakened immune systems more frequently and severely than those without a compromised immune system. Opportunistic infections and conditions that may affect people with AIDS include: fungal infections, including candidiasis, cryptococcosis, and histoplasmosis parasitic infections, including crypto, cystoisosporiasis, and toxoplasmosis invasive cervical cancer, which occurs if cervical cancer spreads to other areas of the body encephalopathy, a brain disorder herpes simplex virus Kaposi’s sarcoma, a type of cancer affecting soft tissue lymphoma, cancer of the lymph nodes tuberculosis pneumonia pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP), a fungal infection of the lungs wasting syndrome, a severe loss of muscle and fat Treatment for any stage of HIV is antiretroviral therapy (ART). ART is a combination of HIV medications that people will need to take each day. ART reduces the risk of passing HIV to others and reduces the viral load, which is the amount of the virus in a blood sample. ART can reduce HIV to an undetectable viral load. This means laboratory testing is unable to detect the virus in a person’s blood, and there is no risk of passing on HIV through sex. Without treatment, people with AIDS may live on average around 3 years. People with AIDS also have a high viral load, which means it is very easy to pass HIV to others. Beginning HIV treatment in the later stages of the disease can mean there is more time for damage to occur to the immune system, which may lead to a less favorable outcome and shorter life expectancy. Starting HIV treatment as soon as possible and taking it as a doctor prescribes increases the likelihood that people with HIV can live long, healthy lives. If people experience any signs of HIV, at any stage, they need to contact a doctor. Getting a diagnosis and beginning treatment as soon as possible is important in helping them stay healthy, preventing HIV from progressing, or preventing passing the virus to others. People living with HIV may find the following resources helpful: This section answers some frequently asked questions about late-stage symptoms of HIV and AIDS. What are the last stages of AIDS before death? In the last stages of AIDS, people may have severe symptoms due to opportunistic infections, which can affect multiple systems within the body. In the final stages of AIDS, people may experience: extreme fatigue pain insomnia depression severe weight loss HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND), such as impaired memory and concentration, nerve damage, and dementia Can Stage 4 AIDS be treated? Treatment and outlook for a person diagnosed with late-stage AIDS may depend on the types and severity of opportunistic infections present. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), ART helps reduce inflammation that occurs with chronic HIV infection. The chronic infection can lead to other severe diseases. Antimicrobial treatments are also an important part of treatment for advanced stages of HIV. These treatments may help prevent or treat common opportunistic infections that can occur with AIDS. Late symptoms of HIV and AIDS can include severe weight loss, fever, extreme fatigue, or impaired memory, and opportunistic infections that can affect multiple systems in the body. Treatment with ART can help prevent HIV progressing and can increase the chances that people live longer, healthier lives.


Stay Safe! Atlanta Ranks 3rd In New HIV Infections Nationwide 

by Rafael Pena April 4, 2024 The latest data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has unveiled a reality about HIV infections in Atlanta. FOX5Atlanta reported that the latest data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has unveiled a troubling reality about the prevalence of HIV infections in the Southeast, with Metro Atlanta standing out as a focal point of concern. According to the CDC, Metro Atlanta secured the unenviable third position, trailing behind Memphis and Miami, for the highest number of new HIV cases reported in 2021, with over 1,500 cases documented. Jeff Cheek, the director of HIV Elimination for Fulton County, underscored the severity of the situation, emphasizing, “We’ve seen that HIV is growing in the south, and Atlanta has some of the highest numbers in the south.” In Georgia alone, new cases accounted for more than half of the 2,371 reported instances in 2021. Cheek highlighted the persistent challenges of stigmas surrounding HIV and barriers to accessing adequate healthcare as key contributors to these alarming statistics. Larry Scott-Walker, co-founder of Thrive Atlanta, expressed both dismay and determination in response to the CDC findings. “I am jarred by it, I am saddened by it but also motivated… my work is fueled by that,” he said. Scott-Walker, who received his HIV diagnosis in 2007, co-founded Thrive Atlanta with the mission of addressing the needs of HIV patients, particularly in regions like Georgia, where access to resources is limited. “We wanted to do something that centered Black culture that centered Black queer men…raising our rates of undetectability in our communities…having stigma-reducing conversations with our friends,” Scott-Walker shared. As BLACK ENTERPRISE reported in December 2023, recent revelations from a Center for Immigration Studies interview with Richard Lee, a retired DHS adjudicator, shed light on a concerning federal privacy policy upheld by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers. Lee’s accounts suggest that this policy may have endangered the health of many African American women and children due to marriages to African men who concealed their HIV-positive status. According to Lee, DHS prioritized the privacy of HIV-positive male immigrants over the health of their African-American spouses and potential offspring. Lee stated, “DHS had ruled that privacy was regarded as more important than the health of the woman involved, usually a Black U.S. Citizen, any babies born to that couple, and by extension, the public health of Americans generally.” Between 2003 and 2008, immigrants seeking entry to the U.S. Were required to provide proof of a negative HIV test, with positive results potentially barring entry. However, Lee noted that many applicants successfully waived their HIV status. Lee revealed that DHS officers were prohibited from disclosing the husband’s health condition to the wife, despite knowing about it.


7 Ways To Manage HIV Medication Side Effects 

Medications for HIV have many side effects and can make it challenging to continue treatment. Learn how to manage the side effects to ensure successful treatment and maintain quality of life. Although HIV remains incurable, various medications are available to help people living with HIV live longer, healthier lives and reduce the likelihood of virus transmission. Treatment for HIV — known as antiretroviral therapy (ART) — involves taking a combination of medications that target different parts of the viral life cycle to prevent replication of the virus in the body. These drugs can help suppress the amount of virus in the body to the point where doctors consider it under control. However, all medications have a risk of side effects, and HIV treatments are no exception. The side effects a person experiences may vary based on the types of drugs they are taking. Most side effects due to HIV medications are mild, but some can be serious or may make it difficult to continue treatment. According to an older study involving more than 1,000 people living with HIV, the following side effects that most often led to discontinuation of treatment within the first year of ART were: gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea hematological effects — changes in blood cell counts metabolic effects, such as changes in blood sugar or lipid levels Other possible side effects of HIV medications may include: weight changes difficulty sleeping dry mouth headaches rash dizziness or fatigue injection site pain, for medications given as a shot Many of these side effects can improve after a few weeks of taking HIV medications. Additionally, people can better tolerate some newer HIV medications. A person with HIV must take ART for life, but some side effects can affect willingness or ability to continue with treatment. Therefore, it is important to be proactive about managing these effects to help ensure treatment is successful and to preserve quality of life. The infographic below outlines seven steps a person can take to help manage the side effects of HIV medications and continue with their HIV care plan. Before starting treatment, a healthcare professional can help set expectations for the types of side effects a person may experience based on the specific medications they are taking and the possible steps to prevent or manage these effects. If any side effects arise, it is important for a person to discuss them with a healthcare professional right away to ensure they can manage them appropriately. Some HIV medications can interact with other types of drugs, leading to additional side effects or potentially reduced efficacy. Before a person starts ART — or any new medications — it is important to make sure the prescribing physician knows all of their current medications and supplements. Some common medications and supplements known to interact with HIV medications include: proton pump inhibitors or other antacids iron supplements warfarin or other blood thinners oral birth control statins Nausea is a common side effect of several HIV medications, including a group of drugs known as protease inhibitors, which are part of most ART combination regimens. Eating smaller meals and avoiding spicy foods can help prevent or manage nausea so that it will not be as much of an issue. A heart-healthy diet can also help prevent complications that may develop due to metabolic or weight changes. These types of effects are common with nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors, another kind of medication often part of ART combination regimens. A registered dietitian can help ensure that a person is still getting all the nutrients they need from their diet while helping manage medication side effects. A person can take additional medications to help manage many of the side effects of ART, such as nausea, diarrhea, or headaches. A healthcare professional can help identify supportive treatment to add to a person’s care plan to help prevent these effects. Due to the potential risk of drug interactions, a person should not take new medications or supplements without consulting a healthcare professional. Many HIV medications cause side effects that are not detectable without blood work, urine tests, or imaging. People living with HIV should have regular checkups with a primary care physician who can provide preventive screening to detect changes to their health before they cause severe complications. Types of screening that may help detect medication side effects include: blood counts and chemistry, including kidney and liver functions urine tests bone scans to check for bone loss People with HIV are at a higher risk for heart disease due to the viral infection itself. Heart disease may also result from the effects of ART, but newer medications pose a lower risk. In combination with a heart-healthy diet, regular physical activity can help prevent the cardiovascular and metabolic complications of HIV and HIV treatment, such as: weight gain glucose intolerance diabetes elevated cholesterol If side effects of ART become too much to tolerate, a healthcare professional can help determine whether switching to a different ART regimen may provide relief. Treatment switching is generally not recommended unless viral levels are well-controlled and a person is not experiencing any disease-related effects.