When a person is infected with HIV, several years may pass by without any visible symptoms. Even when they occur, symptoms are similar to many other harmless diseases, so they can stay undetected. However, when the disease enters its final phase, there are visible symptoms.
The symptoms of AIDS are primarily the result of opportunistic infections. They do not normally develop in person with healthy immune system. If patient is infected with HIV, the immune system must be severely damaged, in order to develop AIDS. The first thing that can be noticed is that patient rapidly loses weight. After a short while, patient starts to look like a living skeleton. Hair suddenly begins to turn gray and it starts to fall off, appearing of the wrinkles on the face is a common symptom too, and it all contributes to an older look of the patient. Fever, chills, constant diarrhea, skin lesions, enlargement of glands … All these symptoms are visible and can be seen with the naked-eye, and that means that the disease has reached its final phase.
One of the most prominent symptoms that accompany AIDS is Kaposi’s sarcoma (if it develops at people younger than 60 years). It is a cancer-like disease. This sarcoma usually shows up in the skin, or in the linings of the mouth, eye, or nose. Kaposi’s sarcoma also spread to the lungs, stomach, liver and intestines. Also, tuberculosis and herpes simplex are often being developed in this stage. The organism is susceptible to numerous infections because the immune defense system is destroyed and all of these complications are reflected in the appearance of the patient. He decays.
So, since there are no visible signs of illness, until it reaches the final stage, every one of us should take care of proper protection. The only possible way to determine whether a person is HIV positive or not is that that person takes a test.
There are several things that can be done to prevent all forms of transmission of HIV. One of the most important things to do in the fight against this disease is to promote awareness of HIV. It is very important that people get information on this subject, to know all the consequences, and learn how they can protect themselves.
