When we talk about AIDS symptoms, it is necessary to distinguish the different stages of disease progression, so as not to cause confusion. “We first have HIV infection then the AIDS stage. The first stage is contact with the virus during risky sex, which is called primary infection. Then comes the chronic stage and finally the AIDS stage after 10 years, on average, infection without treatment“explains Dr. Radia Djebbar, doctor, medical coordinator at AIDS Info Service Association. Today the objective is to diagnose people at the time of contamination to prevent the disease from reaching the AIDS stage. here are the symptoms suggestive of primary infection by the HIV virus and those who may appear at a more advanced stage of the disease.

What are the early symptoms of HIV?

“Between 20% and 50% of infected people develop symptoms at the time of the primary infection, the others are asymptomatic“says the expert. Symptoms of HIV infection resemble those of flu:

• Fever
• Swollen glands
• Fatigue
• Skin rashes
• weight loss
• Diarrhea

“The problem with these symptoms is that they are not not specific to HIV so if the patient does not have the reflex to do a serological test after a risky reporthe can enter the chronic phase without being aware of having been infected“alerts the medical coordinator. Conversely, if he gets tested, he can be taken care of in time and benefit from treatment”allowing him to live normally“.”With the treatment, patients are no longer forced to resort to medically assisted procreation (MAP), they can have children naturallylike everyone“rejoices the expert.

What are the symptoms at the AIDS stage?

During 10 yearsthe patient will not have no symptoms but the virus will destroy immune cells in the absence of treatments until weaken his immune system. Symptoms then occur :

• a fever moderate but persistent
• of the night sweats
• A weight loss (in approximately 1 in 5 patients)
• an increase in volume of lymph nodes
• a diarrhea chronic
• of the ulcerations mouth or genitals
• of the infections of the skin (cutaneous mycosis, seborrheic dermatitis, condyloma, shingles, etc.)

“At the time of the AIDS stage [au bout de 10 ans] grow the so-called “opportunistic” diseases because they take advantage of the decline in immunity. The patient is at risk of pneumocystosisthere toxoplasmosiscertain cancers such as Kaposi’s sarcoma (disease characterized by the presence of nodules, purplish patches on the body) among others“explains Dr. Radia Djebbar.

How long does it take for symptoms of AIDS to appear?

A distinction must be made between the occurrence of symptoms linked to infection by the AIDS virus, HIV and those of opportunistic diseases at the AIDS stage.

► In the primary infection, symptoms appear 15 to 21 days after contact with the HIV virus the time it reaches the target cells.

► Then, we count on average 10 years before the evolution to the AIDS stage with diseases related to immunosuppression. As mentioned above, it can be pneumocystosis, toxoplasmosis, cancers, Kaposi’s sarcoma…

What are the symptoms of AIDS in men?

There is no male-specific symptoms but men with the AIDS virus are more prone to anal canal cancers than uninfected men.

What are the symptoms of AIDS in women?

There are no female-specific symptoms. On the other hand, “women with AIDS cause 4 to 5 times more cancers of the cervix than uninfected women and should therefore be regularly monitored by a gynecologist“ warns the expert.

What are the symptoms of AIDS on the skin?

At all stages, there may be Rashes. “In the first symptoms, can occur maculopapular lesions. Macules are flat red plates and the papules of raised red patches. These rashes can affect the whole body but more particularly the chest, back and face” indicates Dr. Djebbar. The risk is that these lesions can be mistaken for an allergic reaction. “If rashes appear on the soles of the feet and the palms of the handsthere is no possible confusion with an allergy that never causes symptoms in these specific areas” informs our interlocutor.

Thanks to Dr Radia Djebbar, doctor, medical coordinator at Sida Info Service Association.