What are the symptoms of AIDS?

Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
Updated on December 13, 2024
00:00
00:00

The primary symptoms of AIDS are mainly due to immunodeficiency and opportunistic infections caused by a weakened immune system. During the acute phase of AIDS, the virus replicates in large numbers, leading to immune damage and disorder. In the acute phase, symptoms such as rashes, fever, sore throat, weight loss, and diarrhea are common. During the symptomatic phase, symptoms like unexplained fever, diarrhea, chest tightness, coughing, phlegm, and numerous white secretions on the oral tongue are commonly observed.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
40sec home-news-image

Is gonorrhea AIDS?

Gonorrhea is not AIDS. Gonorrhea is a disease caused by the infection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae primarily in the genital area, commonly manifesting as painful urination, urinary urgency, discharge from the urethra, and fever. It is a type of sexually transmitted disease. AIDS, on the other hand, is caused by infection with the HIV virus, which destroys the body's immune system, leading to a severe decline in immune functions and thereby causing a series of related opportunistic infections. The pathogen of AIDS is the HIV virus. AIDS is difficult to cure, whereas gonorrhea can be completely cured.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
33sec home-news-image

Characteristics of AIDS skin symptoms

People with HIV are relatively prone to some skin symptoms. During the acute phase, they tend to develop rashes that are scattered across the body without significant itching, and often accompanied by fever, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes throughout the body. In the late stages of the disease, the skin of HIV-infected individuals is prone to other fungal infections, such as Manifi Penicillium, common psoriasis, and infections like jock itch and ringworm, which must be considered based on the actual circumstances.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
22sec home-news-image

Is AIDS fatal?

Most AIDS patients will die from AIDS, but due to differences in our living conditions, living environment, mental state, treatment plans, and treatment conditions, there are a few people who may just be carriers of AIDS for life without progressing to the AIDS stage. Such people might die from their normal life expectancy rather than from AIDS, which is possible.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Ye Xi Yong
Infectious Diseases
43sec home-news-image

What tests are needed for AIDS and syphilis?

If a general person wants to test for HIV and syphilis, there is a quick and easy method, which is to do a blood test called the "pre-transfusion four tests." This specifically includes four components: HIV antibodies, syphilis antibodies, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. Therefore, by going to the hospital for a blood draw and taking the pre-transfusion four tests, you can early screen for both HIV and syphilis. However, if it is the early stage of infection with these diseases, also known as the window period, it may result in a false negative. You mentioned that you might have HIV or syphilis, but the result could temporarily be negative. Therefore, to be certain, it is recommended to retest after 3-6 months.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
43sec home-news-image

How to test for AIDS?

If you suspect you might have HIV for various reasons, or if you have had high-risk sexual behaviors, we generally recommend that patients go to a formal hospital and have a blood test for HIV screening. It's usually best to get tested between 1 and 2 months after potential exposure. If the test is negative, HIV can generally be ruled out. If the sexual behavior was high-risk, then another test can be conducted at the end of the third month. If there is frequent high-risk sexual activity, then another follow-up test can be done at six months. If all tests are negative, HIV can be ruled out. If a test is positive, further confirmatory tests should be done at a disease control center.