From HIV to AIDS

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An HIV diagnosis begins with the acute stage where HIV is rapidly replacing white blood (CD-4) cells in the body.

Symptoms: swollen glands, sore throat, rash, fatigue, and headaches.

HIV then progresses into the clinical latency stage (~10 years with modern medicine) where HIV reproduces slowly, and has few symptoms, but can still be transmitted.

If left untreated, a person living with HIV can develop AIDS; that happens when the CD-4 blood cells drop below 200/mm of blood.


No treatment will result in three painful final years.

Antiretroviral drugs slow the growth of HIV which can help prevent the development of AIDS.