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HIV, if left untreated, leads to AIDS. Although HIV comes under the category of sexually transmitted diseases, it can also be contracted through blood transfusion and sharing syringes with the infected person. But, in most of the cases, HIV spreads through unprotected sexual activities. When infected by the virus, it attacks the immune system of the body. Unfortunately, there is no effective cure for HIV currently. Once someone gets HIV, he or she has it for life. It can be controlled with timely medical care and this is why, an STD test is a must the moment there are symptoms, or even if there is a chance that someone may have come in contact with the virus.
There are three reasons why you should get an STD test done as soon as possible:
- To confirm whether one has HIV or not.
- To start preventive treatment.
- To make sure that the virus doesn’t spread farther from the infected person.
The person who has contracted the HIV STD shows flu-like symptoms within 2-4 weeks of infection. other symptoms may include
- Body rashes
- Night sweats
- Muscle pain
- Sore throat
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Fever
- Mouth ulcers
- Chills
These symptoms can also originate due to other illnesses, but even if there is a slightest chance that these symptoms may be due to HIV (considering your recent sexual activities or incidents of blood transfusion or sharing of a syringe), you should immediately get an STD test done.
When timely HIV treatment is not started, the infection progresses in three stages,
Stage I: Acute HIV infection
During this stage, large amount of HIV is in the blood. People in this stage are highly contagious. They have flu-like symptoms. Some people don’t feel sick at all. This state is dangerous because the person may not even know that he or she is infected and may allow the infection to get worse, and also spread the infection among the others. Through a proper STD test and timely treatment, a person may not progress to stage II.
Stage II: Chronic HIV infection
This is also called asymptomatic HIV infection or clinical latency. The virus is active but it spreads slowly. The infected person may not show any symptoms and may not even feel sick. This period can last for a long time, even a decade or longer. The infected person can transmit the disease. This stage is more dangerous because the infected person may not even know that he or she is spreading the disease. Nonetheless, an STD or an HIV test and then treatment, can stop the person from progressing to stage III.
Stage III: AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome)
This is the most severe phase of HIV. The immune system is badly damaged by now. The body is attacked by severe illnesses. The affected person is highly infectious. Without treatment, the person with AIDS barely survives beyond three years.