Early Infection Stage

• If you have contracted HIV, you may not know you have it because the early stage of infection may produce no symptoms or a mild flu-like illness beginning two to four weeks after infection. The symptom-free period can last for eight years or more.
  
  

Later Stage

• During the later stage of HIV infection, you may begin to experience mild infections and chronic symptoms like swollen lymph nodes, diarrhea, weight loss, fever, cough and shortness of breath.
  
  

Last Stage of Infection

• The last phase of HIV usually surfaces about 10 years after the initial infection. Symptoms intensify. If your T-cell count drops below 200 and you develop an opportunistic infection (an infection due to an impaired immune system) such as pneumonia, you are then considered to have full-blown AIDS.
  
  

Complications

• HIV infection compromises the immune system, leaving you vulnerable to many infections and conditions. Advances in treatment help reduce the risk, but complete protection is not possible.
  
  A number of bacterial infections are possible including bacterial pneumonia, mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), tuberculosis, salmonellosis and bacillary angiomatosis.
  
  Viral infections include cytomegalovirus (CMV), viral hepatitis, herpes, human papilloma virus (HPV) and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).
  
  Possible fungal infections are candidiasis and cryptococcal meningitis. Parasitic infections include pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), toxoplasmosis and cryptosporidiosis.
  
  Other possible complications are certain forms of cancer (such as Kaposi's sarcoma and non-Hodgkins lymphoma), wasting syndrome and neurological complications.
  
  

Medication

• Your physician may prescribe medications, often combined in drug cocktails, to help manage symptoms and prevent infections. HIV cannot be cured, only managed. With advances in treatments, however, you may become one of the many people who live for many years symptom-free. The goal of treatment is to reduce the amount of the virus to extremely low or undetectable levels. (Undetectable does not mean the virus is gone.)
  
  Antiretrovirals impede the growth and multiplication of HIV-infected cells. There are seven classes of antiretroviral medications. Your physician will prescribe one or more depending upon your individual symptoms.
  
  

Self-care strategies

• Find a physician who is familiar with the disease and with whom you feel comfortable. HIV is a serious disease and will require a lot of interaction with your doctor. Taking medications as directed is important. Do not stop taking your medicine or alter doses without consulting your doctor. Immunizations can protect you against common infections like pneumonia and the flu, which become much more serious in patients with compromised immune systems.
  
  Have other people handle your pet's waste if possible; if you must clean up after a pet, be sure to wear gloves and wash your hands afterward. Wash your hands regularly or carry around an alcohol-based sanitizer when washing your hands is not possible.
  
  Eat a healthy diet rich in wholesome foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein to keep you strong. Avoid unpasteurized dairy products, raw eggs and raw seafood: They carry risk of an infection. Do not drink, smoke or use drugs. Drink purified water. Get plenty of rest and exercise.