Nowadays, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is one of the most severe infection that anyone could suffer from. This infection makes the patient weak day by day and it affects different body parts also. The patient’s body deteriorates as soon as it gets infected by this virus. One can slow down its impact by providing certain medicines. These medicines can help by slowing the progress of the virus from proceeding from one stage to another. Also, by consuming proper medicines, one can avoid passing the infection to other people. Proper medicines can also help in living a longer and a better life.

Stage 1
This stage is commonly known as acute primary infection. At this stage, some people will show symptoms like having high fever similar to the flu. This stage starts one to four weeks after one gets an HIV infection. Some people don’t show any symptom at all at this stage. If anyone has this flu-like symptom, then this symptom will also go away in a few days. And also, having flu-like symptom doesn’t mean one has an HIV infection. But, if one thinks they have a chance of developing this infection, then they must visit a doctor for a diagnosis. The symptoms at this stage include a high temperature of the body, body rash, sore throat, swollen glands, headache, upset stomach, joint aches, and pain in the muscle. One can feel these signs as their body is fighting with HIV at this stage. The HIV virus is trying to infect all the body cells and the immune system is protecting the body. This can be done by producing HIV antibodies. This process is known as seroconversion. At this stage, an accurate result of an HIV test is not possible.

Stage 2
This stage is also known as clinical latency or chronic HIV infection. At this stage, HIV will be active but it will be reproduced at a very slow rate. Most of the people don’t show any symptom at this stage of infection. This stage can vary differently in different people. In some people, this stage lasts for a longer time and there will be no sign of any infection. Some people have a faster progression of this infection at this stage. It is quite possible that one might transmit infection at this stage. But if one takes some treatment, then they can suppress the virus growth for a longer time. At the end of this stage, the third stage will start, and the level of the virus will increase in the body.

Stage 3
This stage is commonly known as the beginning of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). One can observe blood CD4 cell count drops for about below 200 per microliter at a certain point of this stage. With the growth of this stage, there will be an increase in HIV count in the body.

These are the three stages of the HIV infection and one can have treatment according to the stage of infection. It is always advisable to consult a general physician if one has any signs or risks of having an HIV infection.